HB 361 would have made Mississippi's county election commissioner position nonpartisan, prohibiting candidates from campaigning or qualifying based on political party affiliation. The bill required that commissioner candidates' names appear alphabetically without party labels on ballots, grouped separately from partisan races. It amended Mississippi election laws (sections 23-15-213, 23-15-367, and 23-15-511) to implement these changes. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 372 would prohibit Mississippi employers from denying employment to job seekers or terminating current employees solely due to a felony conviction. It specifically bans refusing applications, disqualifying qualified candidates, or firing someone for this reason, applying to crimes punishable by over one year in prison under state or federal law. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting individuals with felony convictions seeking or holding jobs. This policy change aims to expand employment opportunities for this group by limiting one specific barrier.
HB 375 would allow disabled veterans to appeal court decisions without paying fees if the case involves collecting debts from their disability benefits (from VA, Social Security, or other sources) or if they were already permitted to proceed without fees in the trial court. To qualify, veterans must file a motion with an affidavit confirming their disabled veteran status. If denied at trial, they could appeal the denial to the Mississippi Supreme Court within 30 days, attaching the trial court's written reasoning. The bill specifically protects veterans whose disability benefits are targeted for collection, ensuring they aren't barred from appealing due to inability to pay court costs. (Note: The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.)
HB 370, the "Racial Profiling Prevention Act," would require all Mississippi law enforcement agencies (including sheriff's offices, police departments, and the Department of Public Safety) to collect and report specific data during traffic stops to prevent racial profiling. Key provisions mandate recording the race, ethnicity, gender, and reason for stops, submitting complaints about alleged profiling to local district attorneys, and providing annual reports to the Attorney General for compilation and submission to the Governor and Legislature. The bill aims to increase transparency by tracking stop data and complaints, with penalties for noncompliance including state fund withholdings. It died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 371 would amend Mississippi's state law to remove the Confederate Memorial Day designation from the official holiday calendar. Currently, the last Monday of May is listed as "National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' birthday" (Jefferson Davis was the Confederacy's president), but this bill would change it to list only "National Memorial Day" for that date. The key provision deletes the reference to Jefferson Davis' birthday from Section 3-3-7 of the Mississippi Code, eliminating the state's recognition of a Confederate holiday. This change directly affects Mississippi's legal holiday schedule without altering Memorial Day's federal status or observance.
HB 379 would create a program for the Mississippi State Department of Health to screen and approve the retail sale of products containing substances with potential for recreational use or abuse, such as bath salts, kratom, and tianeptine. The State Health Officer would decide whether to allow such products based on available evidence, and manufacturers could appeal denials to the State Board of Health within 30 days. The bill requires the department to develop implementing rules and ensures local governments' existing or new restrictions on these products remain in effect. This legislation would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 380, the "Mississippi Students Voicing Opinions in Today's Elections (VOTE) Act," would have created a pilot program to provide voter registration information to 12th-grade students in Mississippi public schools during the 2027 fiscal year. It required the Secretary of State to fund eligible public school districts (via applications detailing their voter education plans) to share registration resources, with schools collaborating with local election officials and political parties. The bill mandated reports from schools to the Secretary of State and from the Secretary to the legislature, along with legislative funding approval. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
Mississippi's SB 2098 designates June 19 as "Juneteenth Freedom Day" for commemoration, specifically referencing the 1865 announcement of freedom to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. The bill clarifies this is **not** a legal holiday requiring state paid time off or expenses, distinguishing it from recognized holidays like Independence Day. It affects state agencies and entities by requiring only non-paid commemorative observance, consistent with other designated days like Elvis Presley Day. The bill aims to formally recognize Juneteenth as a day of reflection on freedom and the African-American experience, without altering work schedules or public holiday status.
SB 2115 updates Mississippi's definition of "polygraph examiner" in the Polygraph Examiners Law to specify that it refers to "any person who uses a polygraph instrument to test or question individuals for the purpose of verifying the truth of statements." The bill directly affects individuals who currently work as polygraph examiners by clarifying the legal scope of the term under state law. It revises Section 73-29-3 of the Mississippi Code without adding new requirements or restrictions. The bill was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.
SB 2116 amends Mississippi law to clarify that a "technical violation" of probation or parole does not include the commission of a new criminal offense. This change affects individuals on probation or parole, ensuring that new crimes are handled as separate criminal matters rather than being treated as a violation of supervision terms. The bill revises Sections 47-7-2 and 47-7-38 of the Mississippi Code to explicitly exclude new criminal offenses from the definition of "technical violation," aligning with existing legal intent. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance further.
This bill would require that people charged with crimes punishable by more than one year in prison (referred to as "bail restricted offenses") must post a secured bond for pretrial release. A secured bond means they must provide collateral, such as cash, property, or a surety bond, rather than being released on their own promise (like "own recognizance"). It prohibits judges from granting unsecured release for these serious offenses, though judges retain discretion for less serious charges. The bill would take effect January 1, 2027, if enacted.
SB 2111 requires Mississippi applicants for a driver's license or learner's permit to provide two separate documents proving they live at the address listed on their application. This directly affects all new license applicants in Mississippi, including both adults and minors. The bill specifies that the Department of Public Safety will determine acceptable proof (e.g., utility bills, lease agreements), but it must include two distinct indications of residence at the applicant's listed address. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all new applications under Section 63-1-9(i) of Mississippi law.
