SB 2067 requires Mississippi high school graduates to pass at least 60% of the civics questions on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test (the same test used for citizenship applications) to earn a diploma. It also mandates the same 60% passing score for individuals seeking a high school equivalency diploma (GED) starting January 1, 2026. Students and applicants may retake the test until they pass, and those who passed a similar test within the previous three years are exempt. The bill requires schools to provide accommodations for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) during testing.
SB 2068 establishes a formal process for removing Mississippi school board members who fail to fulfill duties or engage in misconduct. It authorizes removal for specific grounds like neglecting responsibilities, breaching public trust, or abusing authority, including chronic absenteeism from meetings. The bill requires the school board to formally recommend removal, triggers a hearing with notice to the member, and mandates a majority vote by the local governing authority to approve removal. It also creates an appeals path to circuit court for those challenged. This bill directly affects school board members in Mississippi school districts by defining removal procedures.
SB 2095 would prohibit law enforcement officers in Mississippi from conducting warrantless searches of homes, vehicles, or private property based solely on the odor of marijuana. It explicitly states that smelling marijuana alone cannot establish probable cause for such searches, requiring officers to have additional evidence. The bill would have applied to all state law enforcement and taken effect July 1, 2026. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
SB 2061 would have defined "Hinshaw natural gas pipeline systems" (pipelines in Mississippi engaged in interstate commerce that are exempt from federal regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938) as public utilities under Mississippi law. This would have required these pipelines to seek approval from the Mississippi Public Service Commission for operations and certification, placing them under the Commission's regulatory jurisdiction. The bill directly affected Hinshaw pipeline operators by subjecting their services to state oversight previously not applied. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
SB 2054 would standardize removal petition requirements for three county offices in Mississippi, requiring petitions to collect signatures from at least 30% of qualified electors in the relevant district. It directly affects county supervisors, justice court judges, and constables by replacing varying existing signature thresholds with a uniform 30% requirement for removal petitions. The bill specifies that petitions must include a concise statement of grounds (under 200 words) for the removal demand. This is a procedural change to election rules, not a substantive policy shift, and would have taken effect July 1, 2026, though it died in committee in February 2026.
HB 365, titled "Early voting; authorize at the office of the registrar and additional early voting polling places," would have established a statewide early voting framework in Mississippi. It would have allowed voters to cast ballots during specified early periods at their county registrar's office (7 days before elections, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays) or at additional designated polling places (15 days before, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). The bill required 14-day public notice in three locations (including courthouses/city halls) and outlined voter ID verification procedures for both locations. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 374 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover non-pregnant adults under 65 who are not enrolled in Medicare and have household income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This change would directly affect low-income adults who currently do not qualify for Medicaid under Mississippi's existing eligibility rules. The bill implements a federal provision under the Affordable Care Act that allows states to broaden Medicaid coverage to this group. The expansion would provide health insurance access to these individuals, who would otherwise have limited options for affordable care.
HB 376, the "Mississippi Voter Protection Act," would have banned voter intimidation (using force/threats to influence voting) and voter suppression (spreading false information to deter voting), creating felony penalties of up to 3 years in prison for intimidation and 2 years for suppression. It required posting a "Voter's Bill of Rights" at all polling places - listing seven specific rights like casting a ballot while in line at closing or receiving language assistance - and mandated the Secretary of State to create a uniform polling procedures manual for election officials. The bill directly affected voters, election officials, and anyone engaging in prohibited voting interference tactics. However, it died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 373, the "Electronic Recording of Custodial Interrogations Act," would require Mississippi law enforcement to electronically record all custodial interrogations (interviews of people in custody for felony investigations) to prevent false confessions and ensure evidence accuracy. Exceptions include routine booking, consent, safety concerns, or equipment failure, but if a required recording is missing, courts must instruct juries about the potential unreliability of unrecorded testimony. Law enforcement agencies would also need to preserve recordings for specified periods. The bill died in committee in 2026 without becoming law.
HB 369 would authorize municipalities in Mississippi with existing municipal drug courts to establish separate Veterans Treatment Courts. It allows municipal court judges to create these programs as standalone initiatives or components of current drug courts, specifically for veterans with military service records who face criminal charges. Key provisions require court approval, exclude individuals charged with violent crimes, mandate participation in treatment programs, and specify that eligibility depends on verification of veteran status and court discretion. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 378 would require businesses in Mississippi offering automatic renewal or continuous service subscriptions to clearly disclose all terms (including pricing after trials) before you subscribe, obtain your explicit permission before charging your card, and provide simple, one-click online cancellation options with prominent links or buttons. Businesses must also send advance notices (3-45 days before renewal) detailing renewal terms and cancellation methods, and notify consumers of any major changes to service terms. This applies to any business selling subscriptions or ongoing services that automatically renew without explicit consumer action. The bill aims to prevent surprise charges and simplify cancellation for consumers.
HB 366 prohibits discrimination in Mississippi's criminal justice system and requires state and local government agencies involved in law enforcement, courts, and corrections to eliminate discriminatory practices. The bill mandates that agencies like police departments, prosecutors' offices, public defenders, courts, and mental health agencies provide employee training on antidiscrimination laws and adopt clear policies to prevent bias. It specifically targets equal treatment for people of protected classes (such as race or gender) during interactions within the criminal justice system. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, if enacted.
