This bill, titled "Donald J. Trump Voting Rights Restoration Act," would amend Mississippi election laws to suspend voting rights for individuals convicted of specific non-violent crimes - including voter fraud, bribery, theft, arson, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, or bigamy - until they complete all sentencing requirements (including parole but not probation). It affects people convicted of these offenses, excluding murder and rape, by requiring their names to be removed from voter rolls until sentencing is fully satisfied. The bill updates multiple election code sections to enforce this suspension and automatic restoration upon completion of sentencing. The misleading title references Donald J. Trump, but the policy would restrict voting access for certain convicted individuals, not restore rights. (Note: The bill died in committee in 2026.)
HB 88 amends Mississippi law to expand the crime of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" by adding two specific offenses: knowingly causing a child to violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Law (drug laws) or to participate in gangs or gang-related activities. This targets adults (such as parents or guardians) who facilitate these illegal activities involving minors, making them liable for a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or one year in jail. The bill was introduced in 2026, referred to the Judiciary Committee, and died there on February 3, 2026, without becoming law. It focuses solely on holding adults accountable for enabling minors' involvement in drug offenses or gang activity, not on new penalties for the minors themselves.
HB 43 would allow Mississippi offenders on probation or parole (including intensive supervision) to earn up to 5 days of reduced supervision time per month by participating in faith-based activities. Specifically, offenders could earn 40 hours of participation credit per month (equating to 5 days reduction) through approved faith-based programs. A designated leader from the faith-based organization must submit a monthly report by the 15th of the following month to the Department of Corrections to verify participation. This change would apply to eligible offenders starting July 1, 2026, and would be integrated into the existing earned-discharge program. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 59, if passed, would allow Mississippi nurse practitioners and registered nurses (RNs) to administer vitamin-infused IV fluids for immune health support in clinical settings, without limits on the number of vitamins or requiring compound pharmacy preparation. This would directly affect healthcare providers and patients seeking IV vitamin therapy in clinics. The bill removed current restrictions that previously limited such administration. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 85 revises Mississippi's expungement rules for misdemeanor convictions by reducing the required rehabilitation period from two years to one year. It directly affects first-time misdemeanor offenders (excluding traffic violations) who have completed their sentences and demonstrated good conduct. The bill amends Section 21-23-7 of the Mississippi Code to allow courts to expunge misdemeanor records after one year of rehabilitation, making individuals legally appear as if they were never convicted. This change applies only to cases where the court determines the person's rehabilitation serves society's best interests.
HB 134 would establish a program to help rural Mississippi counties with unemployment rates over 10% and current shortages of health care workers (including doctors, nurses, EMTs, and social workers) and teachers attract professionals. The program would provide a minimum of $5 million annually from the Mississippi Works Fund, requiring counties to apply with a detailed plan, adopt a resolution, and contribute 30% of the funds they receive. Counties must demonstrate both past unemployment above 10% and current shortages of targeted professionals to qualify. The bill was referred to committee but died in 2026.
Mississippi's HB 8 allows courts to issue hardship driver's licenses to people whose licenses were suspended for failing to pay child support. To qualify, applicants must prove hardship (like job loss) with documentation and a recommendation from the Mississippi Department of Human Services, and the license is only valid for driving to work or religious services. The bill establishes a $25 fee for the license, sets a four-year term, and prohibits use for commercial vehicles. It modifies existing laws to create this hardship license option while maintaining strict usage limits.
HB 71 creates the Mississippi Hospital Recovery Trust Program within the Department of Finance and Administration to provide grants to public hospitals facing severe financial distress. The program establishes a special fund to award grants to eligible hospitals that submit documentation proving they meet the defined "high financial risk" criteria (such as poor profits, high debt, or large uninsured patient volumes). Grants must be approved and distributed within five business days of application, with priority given to hospitals at immediate risk of closing. Hospitals receiving grants must report how funds were used annually to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. This bill directly affects Mississippi public hospitals, aiming to prevent closures and maintain community healthcare access.
HB 54 requires Mississippi courts to pay court-ordered restitution to crime victims in full before disbursing any court costs or fines to the court. This applies specifically to justice, county, and municipal courts handling criminal cases where restitution is ordered. The bill changes the payment sequence by mandating victim restitution take priority over other court collections. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, if enacted.
HB 184 would provide an annual $1,500 salary supplement to assistant teachers in Mississippi school districts rated "C," "D," or "F" under the state's accountability system. This would raise their minimum annual salary from $17,000 to $18,500. The supplement applies specifically to non-licensed assistant teachers working in kindergarten through third grade and continues even if a district later improves its accountability rating. The bill does not change the existing minimum salary requirement for assistant teachers in higher-rated districts.
HB 187 proposed establishing the "Mississippi Senior Cadets Program," requiring the State Department of Education to create a mentoring initiative targeting high school seniors who would mentor K-8 students in their districts. To participate, seniors must mentor at least five hours weekly, collaborate with teachers twice monthly, and maintain a "C" average or higher. Successful participants would receive scholarship preference, three high school elective credits, and three college credits at public Mississippi institutions. The bill aimed to address low academic performance and high dropout rates but died in committee in February 2026 without becoming law.
HB 38 restores voting rights to Mississippi residents convicted of specific disenfranchising crimes (listed in Section 241 of the state constitution) after they complete their sentence. It automatically reinstates voting rights upon finishing incarceration (including parole) or when sentenced solely to probation, without requiring additional steps. The bill mandates updates to the statewide election system, voter rolls, and pollbooks to remove disqualification markers once rights are restored, and requires election officials to verify restoration status through court-certified sentence details. It directly affects individuals with qualifying convictions who have served their sentences or received probation-only terms.
