HB 566 prohibits Mississippi counties and municipalities from using camera systems or automated devices to enforce auto insurance requirements on public roads. It bans local governments from adopting ordinances that authorize such equipment for checking insurance compliance, traffic signals, or speed limits. Existing systems used specifically for insurance enforcement must be removed by October 1, 2026. The bill directly affects local law enforcement and traffic enforcement practices, preventing automated penalties for uninsured vehicles.
Mississippi HB 552 defines "geoengineering" as the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere within state borders to alter temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. The bill amends existing pollution control laws to explicitly prohibit such activities and grants the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission authority to enforce the ban and impose penalties for violations. It directly affects any entity - federal or private - planning to conduct atmospheric geoengineering within Mississippi. The legislation aims to protect public health and environmental welfare by adding geoengineering to the state's regulatory framework under air and water pollution laws.
HB 568 would require Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to place all new first responders hired on or after March 1, 2026, into Tier 4 membership. This affects law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service providers who join PERS after that date. The bill amends retirement system codes to establish this specific tier requirement for future first responder hires, without changing current membership rules for existing members. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
SB 2124 amends Mississippi tax sale procedures to clarify notice requirements and strengthen purchasers' rights. It states that a tax sale is voidable only if the clerk fails to send required notice (not if the purchaser provided it), and requires property owners to provide a mailing address to the county clerk when filing taxes - failure to do so bars claims of missing notice. The bill also allows tax sale purchasers to collect future property taxes, maintenance costs they paid, and attorney fees if defending their title, while prohibiting homestead exemptions in certain cases. These changes aim to reduce disputes over tax sales and provide clearer legal rights for both property owners and purchasers.
SB 2129 prohibits Mississippi courts and other authorities from enforcing foreign laws or religious legal systems in specific contexts. It specifically bans applying foreign law in divorce or child custody cases if it violates constitutional rights, and prohibits enforcing religious codes entirely. The bill also allows courts to award attorney fees to parties successfully opposing the enforcement of foreign law. Business contracts are exempt from these restrictions under the bill. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee in February 2026.
HB 579 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing Mississippi Code sections related to state agency procurement by moving over 100 code sections to new locations within the code. It does not change any substantive rules or policies but simply relocates references for administrative clarity. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and had no direct effect on agencies, contractors, or the public since it only adjusted the code's structure.
HB 577 simplifies the process for retired Mississippi teachers to return to classroom work. It reduces the required separation period from 90 to 30 days, removes minimum service year requirements, and eliminates the need for hiring districts to have critical teacher shortages. The bill also allows school districts to cover part or all of returning retirees' health insurance premiums and adjusts pension contributions to reflect their new teaching roles. Retirees can teach for up to five years total (consecutively or intermittently) while continuing their retirement benefits, with salaries calculated under specific guidelines.
HB 575 would have required all Mississippi state agencies and institutions of higher learning to use the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS) for all information technology needs, including computer equipment, data storage, and retrieval. The bill removed existing exemptions that allowed some agencies to contract directly with third-party vendors and expanded the definition of "agency" to include all state institutions. This centralized procurement approach aimed to streamline IT services, enhance cybersecurity coordination through MDITS' Enterprise Security Program, and eliminate redundant spending across state operations. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.
HB 553 directs Mississippi's Department of Human Services to request a federal waiver allowing the state to ban SNAP (food stamp) benefits from purchasing candy and soft drinks. If approved, this would restrict SNAP recipients in Mississippi from using benefits for candy (sugar-based treats excluding flour-based items) and nonalcoholic sweetened beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or juices over 50% fruit/veggie). The bill requires a formal waiver request to the USDA within 90 days, with implementation planned for October 2026 if approved. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not advanced further.
HB 574 would increase the paid military training leave allowance for Mississippi state and local government employees who are reserve military members, raising the current 30-day limit. The bill requires employers to grant additional leave without loss of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating, and mandates reinstatement to the employee's original position or an equivalent after training. It also establishes a process for enforcement through county or district attorneys if reinstatement is denied. This change would directly affect reserve members working for state agencies, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions.
HB 551 prohibits all Mississippi state and local government entities - including agencies, departments, and political subdivisions - from using central bank digital currency (CBDC) for payments, transactions, or government functions. The bill defines CBDC as digital money issued by central banks (like the Federal Reserve) or foreign central banks, while explicitly excluding national currencies, bank deposits, and certain stablecoins. It also amends state law to clarify that "money" does not include CBDC, ensuring government entities cannot adopt such digital currencies. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 564 renames Mississippi's Adolescent Opportunity Programs to Juvenile Justice Diversion Programs (JJDPS) and authorizes these programs to divert juveniles from detention both before formal charges (pre-petition) and after court adjudication (post-adjudication). The program must offer after-school and weekend alternatives to detention, including job readiness training, community service, restorative justice practices, and other structured activities like tutoring and counseling. This diversion approach aims to reduce juvenile detention by providing community-based alternatives, but its operation depends on available state funding. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
