SB 2237 establishes a two-year pilot program in up to ten Mississippi public school districts for student-led cleaning activities, such as sweeping floors and organizing materials, under adult supervision. Participating schools must obtain written parental consent for each student, submit approved age-appropriate activities to the Department of Education, and ensure all tasks are nonhazardous and suitable for students' abilities. The Department of Education will collect data on student participation, school climate, and program effectiveness, then submit a report to the legislature by December 31, 2028. Funding for materials, training, and administration is contingent on legislative appropriation.
SB 2218 revises penalties for simple possession of controlled substances in Mississippi, primarily affecting individuals caught with small amounts of drugs. It establishes new weight and dosage-based sentencing thresholds for marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, and other drugs across different scheduling levels (e.g., marijuana under 30 grams faces up to 3 years in prison or $3,000 fine). The bill defines "dosage units" for pills/liquids and sets penalties based on the substance's schedule and quantity, while referencing Mississippi's medical cannabis law for lawful possession. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2207 would have required Mississippi's Department of Corrections to revise prison uniforms by removing the word "CONVICT" and replacing it with "M.D.O.C.", while also eliminating stripes from the uniforms. This change would directly affect all state offenders housed in Mississippi's correctional facilities. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed this specific uniform modification as part of Section 47-5-124 amendments, with a planned implementation date of July 1, 2026. The bill did not alter other provisions in the referenced section (like radio restrictions or air conditioning rules), which were unrelated to the uniform change.
SB 2275 would create a new Office of Workplace Safety and Health within Mississippi's Department of Health, directly affecting all employers (including public employers) and workers across the state. The office would establish and enforce occupational safety and health standards, conduct inspections (including mandatory annual visits to workplaces using child labor), and collect data on work-related injuries. It would also handle child labor enforcement, requiring inspections of mills and factories employing minors, and coordinate with federal OSHA without replacing its authority. The bill specifies the office could develop safety rules, provide employer consultations, and impose fines for non-compliance with safety or child labor regulations.
HB 705, titled "Enhanced penalties for use of mask in commission of a crime; authorize," would have required Mississippi courts to add a mandatory 1-2 year prison sentence for anyone convicted of a crime while wearing a facial mask, hood, or other face-covering that concealed their identity. The bill directly affected individuals convicted of crimes committed with facial concealment during sentencing. Key provisions mandated the enhanced penalty be added to the standard sentence for such offenses, with no judicial discretion to reduce it. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
SB 2268 adds Old State Highway 6 and Old State Highway 9 in Pontotoc County to Mississippi's official state highway system. This technical amendment updates the state's highway designation list under Section 65-3-3 of the Mississippi Code. It directly affects these specific county roads by formally placing them under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Transportation Commission for maintenance, rather than local county control. The bill makes no changes to funding, construction, or road conditions - only clarifies their administrative classification within the state system.
SB 2213, titled "Early voting; authorize up to 20 days before any election," would have allowed Mississippi registered voters to cast ballots at their county registrar's office up to 20 days before an election, ending at noon on the Saturday before Election Day. The bill required voters to present photo ID, cast ballots in person like on Election Day, and ensured votes were final and announced simultaneously with Election Day results. It would have applied existing Election Day voting rules to this early period, including candidate challenges at the registrar's office. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
SB 2251 allows counties in Mississippi without a local newspaper to publish certain official notices (like bond resolutions) on their official county website instead of in print. For notices requiring 21 days of public posting, counties without a newspaper can post them online for the same duration. The bill requires counties to ensure online notices are secure, verifiable, and publicly accessible. This change applies to specific notice requirements in sections of Mississippi law governing county bond issuances and resolutions.
SB 2223 would amend Mississippi law to require that both prior felony convictions for an offender must have been violent crimes, as defined by state law, to qualify for a mandatory life sentence without parole. This applies to individuals convicted of a new felony who have two prior felony convictions (each from separate incidents, each resulting in at least one year of imprisonment, and both classified as violent crimes). Under the bill, such offenders would face a life sentence with no possibility of parole, probation, or early release, replacing the current standard that may have allowed one non-violent prior conviction. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.
HB 692 would allow county sheriffs and deputies to use radar speed detection equipment on county roads, which is currently prohibited under Mississippi law. It requires approval from the county board of supervisors via majority vote, with the approval recorded in official minutes. This directly affects all Mississippi county law enforcement officers who currently cannot deploy radar on county roads without this authorization. The bill would not change existing allowances for municipal police in large cities or campus police.
SB 2245 requires all Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to evaluate long-term costs (including repair expenses and resale value) before purchasing technology like computers or tablets. Each school board must annually report device break/fix rates (percentage of malfunctioning devices), total devices in use, repair costs, and replacement needs to the State Board of Education by August 15. The State Board then compiles these reports into an annual summary for the legislature by November 15, including recommendations to reduce repair rates. The bill directly affects all public schools by mandating standardized tracking of technology performance and costs. Its key mechanism is creating a transparent reporting system to identify and address recurring technology failures.
HB 701, the "Fatherhood Begins at Conception Act," requires Mississippi courts to order fathers of unborn children to provide financial support for the pregnant mother, including medical expenses during pregnancy and for two years after birth. It amends multiple statutes to extend a father’s legal obligation to cover the mother’s pregnancy-related medical care, mental health needs, and dietary requirements traceable to childbirth, regardless of marital status. The bill specifies that court-ordered support must include these costs as a default, with adjustments only if a court finds the guidelines unjust in a specific case. This directly affects unmarried pregnant women seeking financial support from non-marital fathers and alters how Mississippi calculates child support obligations under state law.
