HB 207 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi law related to motor vehicle tax credits. It brings forward Sections 27-51-101, 103, 105, and 107 (which govern a tax credit for private passenger carriers and light property carriers) and Section 27-65-75 (which handles sales tax revenue distribution) to a new location in the code. The bill does not change the credit amount (currently 4.25% of assessed value for qualifying vehicles) or the mechanism of the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which reimburses counties for lost tax revenue due to the credit. It only aims to update the legal structure for potential future amendments. The bill died in committee in 2026.
HB 208 requires all Mississippi state agencies, departments, institutions, and local governments providing child-related services to create annual itemized reports. These reports must detail program descriptions, funding sources (federal/state), costs, outcomes, performance metrics, and the number of children served. The reports must be submitted to Mississippi State University's Stennis Institute by September 1 each year, with the compiled data shared with specific legislative committees by December 1. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law. It would have affected all state entities delivering services to children, aiming to improve transparency in child-service funding and outcomes.
HB 251 would create a new legal right for Mississippi employees to sue in state court for workplace sexual harassment that violates federal law. It directly affects workers subjected to unwanted sexual advances, requests for favors, or other prohibited sexual conduct during employment. The bill's key provision prohibits employers from requiring employees to waive this right through employment contracts. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 220 creates a 13-member committee to study Mississippi's hospice and palliative care system. The committee, including state health officials, hospice providers, medical professionals, and advocacy representatives, will examine service gaps, workforce shortages, cost savings from reduced hospital visits, and care for incarcerated individuals. It must submit a final report to state leaders by December 1, 2026, detailing findings and recommendations for improving end-of-life care access. The committee will dissolve on July 1, 2027, unless the legislature reauthorizes it. This bill directly affects hospice providers, patients, and correctional facilities by focusing on systemic improvements in care delivery.
HB 227 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services, State Department of Health, and Division of Medicaid to create a 20-minute video covering nutrition, healthy eating, obesity prevention, and breastfeeding benefits. The video must be offered in agency offices and on websites to applicants and recipients of TANF, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and CHIP benefits. It must include specific topics like dietary guidelines, physical activity recommendations, breastfeeding tips, and local resources, with annual updates. The video must be available by January 1, 2028, and the law clarifies that breastfeeding information is included in this single video rather than requiring separate materials.
HB 235 creates a scholarship program for former Mississippi college athletes who did not complete a bachelor's degree, allowing them to pursue teaching degrees at state institutions. The scholarship covers full tuition, fees, and living costs (up to the maximum state institution rate) for up to three years, but recipients must teach in Mississippi public schools for 1-5 years after graduation, depending on how many years of scholarship they received. Failure to complete the teaching obligation or the degree requires repayment plus interest at the Stafford Loan rate. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 199 changes Mississippi's penalty for simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana from a criminal offense to a civil penalty. Instead of facing potential jail time (up to 3 years) or a $3,000 fine, individuals caught with this amount would now receive a civil fine only. The bill amends Section 41-29-139 to specify this reduced penalty for small amounts and updates Section 21-23-7 to give municipal courts authority to handle these civil violations. This policy shift directly affects people possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana without criminal charges.
HB 242 allows Mississippi public school districts to hire licensed social workers and psychologists to support students. Districts meeting the requirement of one professional per 1,000 enrolled students qualify for the state to reimburse 50% of their salaries through the State Department of Education. The reimbursement requires districts to apply for funding, with payments made from state education funds. This policy aims to expand mental health support in schools by reducing financial barriers for districts.
HB 201, the "Donald J. Trump Ban-the-Box Act," prohibits Mississippi public employers (including state agencies, colleges, hospitals, and government institutions) from asking about an applicant’s criminal history before an interview. It requires employers to delay criminal history inquiries until after a conditional job offer and to consider factors like the offense’s severity, time elapsed since the offense, and relevance to the job before denying employment. The bill also bans disqualification based solely on unconvicted arrests and mandates employers to inform applicants of adverse decisions tied to background checks and allow applicants to dispute inaccuracies. This law directly affects public hiring practices across Mississippi state government and public institutions, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 244 increases the minimum age requiring Coast Guard-approved life jackets on certain boats from 12 to 18 years old. It applies to people on motorboats, sailboats, or vessels under 26 feet in length while underway. The bill also doubles the maximum penalty for boating law violations from $250 to $500. These changes aim to adjust safety requirements for younger passengers and strengthen enforcement. The bill died in committee and was not enacted.
HB 226 would have expanded Mississippi's Medicaid program to include low-income adults who qualify for coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This change would directly affect low-income adults aged 19-64 who previously did not meet Mississippi's existing Medicaid eligibility criteria. The bill aimed to amend two sections of state law to align Mississippi's Medicaid rules with the ACA's expanded eligibility standards and include essential health benefits for these new enrollees. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.
HB 273 updates Mississippi's sentencing and parole rules for habitual offenders convicted of violent crimes. It requires courts to impose maximum sentences for repeat violent offenders (defined under Section 97-3-2) unless they provide a written explanation for deviation. The bill explicitly bars parole eligibility for these offenders and sets life sentences under this statute to be calculated at 50 years for parole consideration. This directly affects inmates classified as habitual offenders who committed violent crimes, removing their parole options and tightening sentencing requirements. The changes apply to convictions involving two prior separate felony convictions with one-year-plus sentences in any penal institution.
