HB 664, the Mississippi Firearms Parental Amnesty Act, would create legal immunity for parents or legal guardians who voluntarily turn in firearms owned or controlled by a minor under 18 to law enforcement. It protects them from civil or criminal liability for the firearm’s prior possession or use, regardless of whether it was involved in a crime. Parents could surrender firearms at police stations or request an officer to collect them, without needing to provide ID, photos, or fingerprints, and no payment would be required. The bill also amends related firearm storage and surrender laws (Section 45-9-53) to align with this provision. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.
SB 2216, the EASE Act, would create a program under Mississippi's Secretary of State to help people regain voting rights lost under the state's 1890 Constitution. It requires publishing clear criteria (like time served in prison, payment of fines, and completion of rehabilitation programs) and establishing a public portal for submitting applications to restore voting rights. The program would track application status, require applicants to work with a legislator to sponsor a "suffrage bill," and mandate a media campaign to raise awareness. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law, so it has not affected any voters.
HB 695 would have removed the bond requirement for deputy chancery clerks in Mississippi, directly affecting those appointed to assist circuit court clerks. The bill amended Section 9-7-123 of the Mississippi Code to eliminate the need for deputies to post a bond, streamlining their appointment process. This change would have applied to all deputy chancery clerks statewide, removing a financial barrier for the position. The bill was referred to committee in 2026 but died there without further action, so it never took effect.
SB 2280 would require most Mississippi public bodies (like city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to create and maintain public email lists for meeting notifications. It mandates that these bodies email meeting details (date, time, location, and agenda) at least 72 hours in advance to those on the list, and post minutes within 48 hours of meetings. The bill also requires public bodies to maintain accessible online lists of members and staff, and to include contact information for joining the notification list on their websites. These changes aim to improve public access to meeting information and government transparency, applying to all entities using public funds except specific exemptions like courts and law enforcement. The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee.
HB 675 gives Mississippi law enforcement officers who test positive for drugs in a urine test the right to request a more reliable hair follicle test before facing termination or unpaid suspension. Officers have two business days to contest the initial test result and up to five additional days to get a hair test (paid by the officer initially, but reimbursed if negative). If the hair test is negative, the officer is reinstated immediately and reimbursed for the test cost; if positive, they keep the cost and face disciplinary action. The bill directly affects all full- or part-time law enforcement officers in Mississippi who receive a positive drug test result under current policies.
SB 2265 would have allowed all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) to operate on county rural, gravel, or paved roads in Mississippi, subject to specific rules. Key provisions included requiring vehicle licensing and tags (capped at $100), prohibiting operation on highways with speed limits over 40 mph (except for short crossings), and mandating safety measures like helmets for riders under 16. The bill also exempted these vehicles from windshield wiper requirements but required headlights/taillights during road crossings. However, the bill "Died In Committee" on February 3, 2026, and never became law, so these changes were never implemented.
HB 668 requires private landowners or renters in Mississippi with cemeteries, graves, or burial sites to allow reasonable access to family members, plot owners, and researchers who provide advance notice. The bill specifies that access is limited to visiting graves, maintaining sites, or conducting research, and landowners can set reasonable hours, frequency, and routes for entry. Visitors must not damage the property and are liable for any damage caused, while landowners gain legal immunity from lawsuits related to this access. The law, set to take effect July 1, 2026, died in committee before becoming law.
HB 694 would require most new driver's license applicants in Mississippi to pass a road test demonstrating safe vehicle operation in real traffic conditions, instead of only taking a written test. The bill affects new drivers applying for their first license (including teens and adults), with alternatives available like completing a state-approved driver education course or having a parent/guardian certify 50 hours of supervised driving. The road test must be conducted in a vehicle meeting safety standards (e.g., working lights, brakes), administered by the Commissioner of Public Safety. This change, scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, aims to ensure applicants can safely operate a vehicle in traffic.
HB 686 would have allowed Mississippi residents to purchase special license tags supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mississippi, Inc., for a $30 annual fee. Owners paying this fee would receive distinctive tags (with color/design specified by the Department of Revenue and the charity), while the fee would be distributed as follows: $24 to the charity, $1 to the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, $2 to highway maintenance, and $1 to a special fund. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, aimed to reauthorize this program for vehicles registered in the owner's name. It did not change existing vehicle registration requirements but created a new revenue stream for specific causes through license tag sales.
SB 2247 (Education Leadership Accountability Act) would have created a formal process for removing Mississippi school board members who violate their duties, including neglecting safety responsibilities, breaching public trust, or abusing authority. It required school boards to formally recommend removal to local governing authorities, triggered a 30-day response period for the accused member, and mandated a hearing with a majority vote by the governing body to approve removal. The bill also amended existing law to include chronic absenteeism from board meetings as grounds for removal. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2209 requires Mississippi public universities and the Department of Public Safety to coordinate enhanced security measures for large campus events, directly affecting university campuses, law enforcement agencies, and students. Key provisions mandate unified command during high-risk events, stricter access controls, threat assessment protocols, and mandatory posting of a public safety tip submission platform on all university websites. The bill also creates a statewide safety training officer role to provide campus law enforcement with specialized training on mental health response, conflict de-escalation, and active threat scenarios. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance further.
SB 2231 reclassifies the first offense of procuring prostitution (arranging or paying for sex) as a felony, increasing penalties to up to two years in prison or a $5,000 fine, compared to previous misdemeanor penalties. It requires law enforcement to impound any vehicle used in the commission of the offense, with the arrested person responsible for all impoundment costs regardless of income. The bill also significantly increases penalties for offenses involving minors under 18, imposing mandatory prison terms of 5-30 years or fines up to $500,000. These changes apply to individuals and entities (like businesses) that facilitate prostitution, with no defense for minor consent.
