HB 485 increases Mississippi's MCOPS grant program funding for school resource officers (SROs) from a minimum of $10,000 to $40,000 per officer annually, requiring school districts to provide a 50% local match. It also raises reimbursement for required SRO training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy from $1,000 to $2,400 per officer. The bill directly affects school districts and law enforcement agencies hiring SROs, mandating that at least 75% of an SRO's time be spent in schools and requiring a Memorandum of Understanding between schools and law enforcement. The funding supports new SRO hires, rehiring previously laid-off officers, or covering SRO salaries/benefits, with applications due by May 31 each year.
HB 423 repeals Mississippi law creating the "Coordinator of Mental Health Accessibility" position within the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). The bill eliminates this specific role, including its duties, qualifications, and funding requirements as outlined in existing statutes. This change directly affects the DFA's organizational structure by removing a dedicated mental health coordination position. The bill does not create new programs or alter mental health services; it solely removes an existing administrative role. The repeal takes effect upon the bill's passage.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights in Mississippi to individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes after five years from completing their sentence, probation, or restitution. It directly affects people with nonviolent criminal convictions who have met these requirements. The amendment would eliminate the need for separate legislative action to restore rights for nonviolent offenses, while still requiring a two-thirds legislative vote (with documented reasons) to restore voting rights for those convicted of violent crimes. The amendment must be approved by voters in the November 2026 election.
HB 509 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover low-income adults under age 65 who are not pregnant, not enrolled in Medicare, and have incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This change would allow more Mississippi residents - particularly working adults and families currently excluded from Medicaid - to qualify for health coverage under the state's program. The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 43-13-115 to implement the Medicaid expansion authorized by the federal Affordable Care Act. The policy change directly affects non-elderly adults in Mississippi with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level who would otherwise lack access to Medicaid.
HB 537, titled "State employees; authorize to use major medical leave for their mental health care or treatment," expands existing major medical leave policies to explicitly include mental health care. The bill allows all Mississippi state employees (excluding certain university staff) to use accrued major medical leave for treatment by psychiatrists, psychologists, or licensed counselors under the same rules that apply to physical health leave, including the requirement to first use personal leave for most absences. It specifies that leave for regular mental health appointments requires prior physician certification, mirroring existing provisions for chronic physical conditions. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.
HB 496 raises the threshold for requiring performance bonds and general liability insurance on public works contracts in Mississippi from $25,000 to $75,000. This means contractors working on projects under $75,000 with local governments can now choose a lump-sum payment at completion instead of providing bonds. For contracts over $75,000, contractors must provide $1 million in general liability insurance coverage, and general contractors become liable if subcontractors lack this coverage. The bill directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and public authorities managing construction, alteration, or repair projects for public buildings or infrastructure.
This bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to update signature requirements for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. It changes the rule that limited signatures from any single congressional district to a fixed percentage of the total required, instead aligning that limit with the current number of congressional districts (as determined by the latest federal census). This adjustment directly affects citizens collecting signatures for initiative petitions, requiring them to distribute signatures more evenly across all current districts rather than the outdated district count used when the constitution was written. The change ensures the signature distribution rule matches Mississippi's current congressional map.
HB 427 establishes the Mississippi Transit Corporation as an independent state agency within the Department of Transportation, responsible for providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective bus, rail, and light rail transit services across Mississippi. The corporation is governed by a 17-member board of directors, including state officials (House Speaker, Lieutenant Governor, Transportation Department Executive Director), airport chair, and city-appointed members from Jackson, Meridian, Vicksburg, Canton, Clinton, and Madison, plus a transit user representative. Board members must have transit experience or transportation expertise, serve staggered four-year terms without pay (reimbursed for expenses), and hold at least 10 public meetings annually. This bill directly affects Mississippians who rely on public transit and local governments in the specified cities by creating a centralized agency to manage and improve statewide transit services.
HB 492 raises the spending limit for single-source purchases exempt from competitive bidding requirements from $5,000 to $7,500. This directly affects Mississippi state agencies and local governing authorities (like counties and schools) when purchasing commodities, printing, or certain services without competition. The key mechanism adjusts the dollar threshold, allowing these entities to avoid formal bidding processes for smaller purchases without increasing administrative burden. Purchases over $7,500 still require competitive bidding as previously mandated.
HB 521 would have established clear procedures for removing Mississippi school board members for specific reasons like neglecting duties (including missing over 50% of meetings), breaching public trust, or abusing authority, requiring a recommendation from the school board and a majority vote by the local governing authority after a hearing. It also directly affected school districts by eliminating school boards' power to raise property taxes by more than 2% annually without voter approval via referendum. The bill amended several Mississippi Code sections (including 37-6-13, 37-57-104, and 37-57-107) to implement these changes. This legislation died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
HB 518 would increase penalties for illegally dumping solid waste in Mississippi. The bill sets higher fines (up to $75,000) and potential jail time based on the amount dumped (e.g., felony charges for over 500 pounds or commercial dumping) and requires offenders to clean up waste, repair damage, and pay related costs. It directly affects individuals and businesses that discard waste without authorization, including those who dump on public roads, waterways, or private property without consent. The bill also includes provisions for seizing vehicles used in felony violations and requires defendants to prove they had permission to discard waste.
HB 488 amends Mississippi Code §27-41-77 to remove a provision allowing landowners to reclaim excess proceeds from tax-sale land within two years if the property isn’t redeemed. Previously, if land sold for unpaid taxes generated excess funds (above taxes and costs), landowners could request payment of that excess within two years if the land wasn’t redeemed. The bill now directs counties to deposit all such excess funds into general county funds immediately upon sale, eliminating the landowner’s two-year claim window. This change takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting landowners whose properties are sold for unpaid ad valorem taxes.
