This bill prohibits municipal executive committee members and primary election officials from campaigning for candidates on municipal primary election ballots. It bans activities like fundraising, endorsements, or making contributions to candidates listed on the primary ballot. Violators face misdemeanor charges and mandatory removal from their election-related positions. The law directly affects local election officials in Mississippi municipalities who serve on executive committees or manage primary elections.
HB 90 creates a 17-member Children's Advocacy Commission to coordinate Mississippi's child-related services. The commission would map all state and federal funding for children's health, safety, education, and welfare (from birth to age 18), assess program effectiveness, and recommend merging or discontinuing overlapping or inefficient services. It requires all state agencies providing child services to submit annual program lists, which the commission would compile with data from the Stennis Institute and report to the governor and legislature by December 1 each year. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 55 (Mississippi Code § 97-3-5) would prohibit the manufacture, mail order, sale, distribution, or advertising of medicines that cause abortions prohibited under Mississippi law. It directly affects pharmacies, healthcare providers, and anyone distributing such medicines within the state, making these actions a felony punishable by fines ($1,000-$10,000) and/or 2-5 years in prison. The bill specifically targets mail-order access to abortion-inducing medicines, expanding existing restrictions to include online or mailed delivery. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and would not take effect (as planned for July 1, 2026), so it remains unenacted.
HB 164 requires Mississippi public school teachers to include specific daily homework (written and reading assignments) and weekly vocabulary/spelling assignments in their classroom lessons. It directly affects all teachers in Mississippi public school districts and their students. The bill mandates that school boards enforce these requirements, with daily assignments covering written and reading tasks, and weekly assignments focusing on vocabulary and spelling. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law. It would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 9 would amend Mississippi law to allow the State Department of Health to issue a certificate of need (state approval) for nursing home bed construction or expansion in Jones County, up to 60 beds, without the usual statewide review process. This specifically affects nursing facilities in Jones County seeking to add or convert beds, bypassing standard Certificate of Need requirements for that location. The bill targets nursing home bed capacity changes under Section 41-7-191 of Mississippi Code, authorizing the state department to approve projects that would otherwise require broader planning review. It does not change general Certificate of Need rules for other areas or facility types.
HB 70 would have created Mississippi's Small Business Bridge Loan Program, providing short-term loans (up to $250,000 for 90-180 days) to small businesses operating in Mississippi for at least one year. The program would have established a revolving loan fund starting with $6 million over three years ($3M in 2027, $2M in 2028, $1M in 2029), funded by state appropriations and other sources, to help businesses access immediate financial assistance until they secure longer-term financing. Loans would require repayment into the fund to support future borrowers, with strict use limitations and department-determined terms. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 185 requires the Mississippi State Department of Education to pay a salary supplement to licensed teachers working in critical shortage subject areas (such as math, science, or special education) at public schools rated "D" or "F" under state accountability standards. This supplement would be paid in addition to base salaries established under existing law, directly benefiting teachers in high-need schools facing recruitment challenges. The bill amends Section 37-19-7 of Mississippi Code to mandate this state-funded supplement for eligible teachers. It does not specify the exact supplement amount but creates a new funding mechanism targeting districts with the lowest performance ratings.
HB 147 revises Mississippi's minimum weekly unemployment compensation benefits based on prior earnings. It sets new minimum weekly amounts: $250 for workers earning $25,000 or less annually, $500 for $25,001-$50,000, $650 for $50,001-$75,000, $750 for $75,001-$100,000, and $1,000 for earnings over $100,000. These changes apply to individuals receiving benefits starting July 1, 2026, and directly affect unemployed Mississippi workers qualifying for state unemployment compensation. The bill modifies Section 71-5-503 of Mississippi Code to establish these revised minimums, while Section 71-5-505 remains unchanged for now.
HB 87 would have changed Mississippi's sentencing rules for repeat drug offenses by revising how prior convictions count toward "second or subsequent" offenses. Specifically, it required that prior drug convictions must have arisen from "separate incidents at different times" (not just long sentences) to count toward enhanced penalties. This would have directly affected individuals convicted of drug-related offenses who had prior separate convictions under Mississippi or federal drug laws. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 174 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to develop age- and grade-appropriate conflict resolution and peer mediation curricula for all public school districts, to be fully implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. It specifically mandates that "D" and "F" rated failing school districts use these programs under supervision of school resource officers to address violence and bullying. The bill also creates an alternative to suspension or expulsion: students facing disciplinary action may choose community service with youth peer counseling instead, at their discretion. School districts must integrate these conflict resolution methods into their disciplinary plans as a standard approach for handling student behavior. This policy directly affects all Mississippi public school students, particularly those in underperforming districts, by shifting disciplinary focus toward prevention and mediation.
HB 56 would have designated September 11 as "Patriot's Day" in Mississippi to honor the 2,977 victims and injured in the 2001 terrorist attacks. The bill specified this day would be a commemorative observance, not a legal holiday requiring government office closures. It was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law. This proposal would have directly affected Mississippi residents through state observances and school activities. The bill's text explicitly stated such days of remembrance should not be recognized as legal holidays, consistent with other similar designations in the code.
HB 26 requires Mississippi's Department of Corrections to ensure at least 10% of eligible incarcerated individuals participate in joint state-county work programs before housing offenders in private correctional facilities. This means the Commissioner of Corrections cannot use private facilities for inmate housing unless these programs are active and meet the 10% participation threshold. The bill amends several sections of Mississippi law to implement this requirement, including provisions about contracts between the state and counties for these work programs. The bill directly affects the Department of Corrections' inmate placement decisions and private correctional facility contracts.
