SB 2123 requires background checks for firearm transfers at gun shows when the seller is not a licensed dealer. It mandates that non-dealer sellers arrange for a licensed dealer to conduct a background check through the Department of Public Safety before a transfer occurs. The bill exempts antique firearms, family gifts, estate transfers, shooting range use, firearm repairs, and short-term loans (up to 72 hours). Violating the law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a two-year firearm possession ban, with potential civil liability for damages if the firearm is misused.
SB 2122 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include disabled children living at home who have developmental disabilities, severe autism, intellectual disabilities, communication disabilities, or other functional limitations - without requiring a complex medical diagnosis. It directly affects these children and their families by allowing eligibility determinations based solely on their functional needs (e.g., difficulty with daily activities) rather than medical complexity. The bill amends Section 43-13-115 of Mississippi Code to add this provision under paragraph (10)(b), shifting the eligibility standard from medical diagnosis to functional impact. The Mississippi Department of Medicaid would determine eligibility under this new standard.
SB 2121 requires Mississippi health insurers to cover standard fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) when a patient undergoes medically necessary treatment - such as cancer therapy - that may cause infertility, as defined by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on prior health conditions, disability, age, gender identity, or other personal characteristics. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed in Mississippi after July 1, 2026. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.
SB 2139, the Mississippi Guaranteeing Fair Banking Act, would require large financial institutions (banks with over $10 billion in assets or payment processors handling over $10 billion in annual transactions) to provide customers with specific written reasons for adverse actions - such as loan denials or account closures - within 30 days of a request made within 90 days of the action. The bill prohibits discrimination in banking based on protected activities like religion, free speech, lawful economic activity, or related factors, and mandates that institutions explain if such criteria influenced their decision. Violations would be treated as unfair or deceptive practices under existing law, enabling customers to seek legal remedies, including potential recovery of attorney fees if a lawsuit was filed without merit.
HB 569 shortens the State Department of Health's (SDH) deadline to determine feasibility for centralized wastewater systems in subdivisions from an unspecified longer period to 20 days after receiving a developer's request. It also reduces the deadline for determining suitability of individual on-site wastewater systems to 20 days. If SDH misses these deadlines, all sites in the subdivision are automatically approved (subject to installer certification or environmentalist confirmation). The bill directly affects developers seeking wastewater system approvals for new subdivisions in Mississippi.
SB 2128 requires businesses operating in Mississippi that maintain personal information (like names, Social Security numbers, or credit card details) to notify the Attorney General's Office in writing if a security breach affects over 100 state residents. It specifies the notice must include breach details, the number of affected people, available support services, and contact information. Businesses must provide this notice "without unreasonable delay" after an investigation, with exceptions for ongoing law enforcement investigations. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2141, titled the "Protecting Women and Children Act," creates a private civil lawsuit allowing individuals to sue those who distribute abortion-inducing drugs in Mississippi, including through internet platforms or mail. The bill prohibits manufacturing, mailing, distributing, or facilitating access to such drugs within the state, but exempts internet service providers, search engines, and cloud services that only offer basic access (not content creation or modification). It defines key terms like "abortion-inducing drug" and "abortion assistance organization" to clarify who is affected, and specifies that enforcement occurs solely through private lawsuits - not criminal penalties. The law aims to address the distribution of these drugs while protecting certain internet services from liability.
SB 2136, the Mississippi Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, would require state employers to provide paid leave for eligible employees. It would offer six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave at 100% salary for primary caregivers of newborns or adopted children under 18, and two weeks (80 hours) of paid medical leave for serious health conditions or military family care. To qualify, employees must work full-time for 12+ consecutive months, and leave must be taken within 12 weeks of the qualifying event. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, and required state agencies to report leave usage annually.
HB 558 prohibits health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to use only pharmacies they own for prescription drugs. It specifically bans insurers/PBMs from charging higher costs (like increased copays or deductibles) or offering lower reimbursements to independent pharmacies when patients choose them over insurer-owned pharmacies. The bill also prevents insurers/PBMs from denying preferred network status to independent pharmacies that agree to standard terms. This directly affects patients seeking pharmacy choice and independent pharmacies competing for reimbursement under health plans.
SB 2125 would require drivers in Mississippi who operate a vehicle without the state's minimum required liability insurance to pay for injuries caused in accidents. This would directly affect uninsured drivers by making them fully liable for damages without needing to prove the driver was at fault. The bill would rely on existing insurance requirements under Mississippi law and take effect on July 1, 2026, though it died in committee in February 2026.
SB 2130 would require the state of Mississippi to pay for court-ordered mental examinations of indigent defendants (those unable to afford legal costs) in felony cases, instead of having counties cover these costs. Currently, counties pay for non-indigent defendants' exams under Mississippi law, but this bill would shift that responsibility to the state for indigent defendants. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed. It directly affects indigent defendants in criminal cases where mental competency is in question.
SB 2120 would require most group health plans and insurers in Mississippi to cover annual prostate cancer screenings without any out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays) for men identified as high-risk. This includes men with a family history of prostate cancer (first-degree relatives affected), men aged 40-49 with specific risk factors, and all men aged 50 and older, as defined by the bill. The screenings must follow the latest National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and be medically necessary. The law would not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, or certain limited policies like accident-only insurance, and would take effect July 1, 2026.
