HB 666 would allow counties, municipalities, tribes, or state agencies in Mississippi that permit alcohol sales (so-called "wet" jurisdictions) to authorize package liquor retailers to sell alcohol on Sundays between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. This bill directly affects local governing authorities in wet areas and the package retailers operating within them. It does not require retailers to sell on Sundays - businesses could continue operating Monday through Saturday only. The bill amends existing law to permit these Sunday hours while maintaining other restrictions, such as sales only between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on other days. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2227 would require a jury, rather than a judge, to decide whether to impose life imprisonment without parole on individuals convicted of a felony who have two prior felony convictions (including at least one "crime of violence") and served at least one year in prison for each prior conviction. The bill mandates a separate sentencing hearing where the jury must consider specific aggravating factors (like prior violent acts or targeting government functions) and mitigating factors (such as mental health or substance abuse issues) and unanimously find that aggravating factors outweigh mitigating ones to justify life imprisonment. If the jury does not choose life, the court would sentence the defendant to the maximum term allowed for the current felony. The bill, which died in committee, was intended to take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 2240 would require Mississippi high school students to complete a civics course demonstrating knowledge of U.S. government, history, and principles, beginning with the Jamestown settlement in 1607. The bill mandates that the U.S. History curriculum include content from 1607 to the present, and students must show civics proficiency to earn a standard diploma. This requirement applies to all students graduating in the 2026-2027 school year or later. The State Board of Education would develop the curriculum and assessments to meet these standards.
SB 2214 would have expanded Mississippi's absentee voting rules to allow any qualified voter to request an absentee ballot, removing current restrictions that limited absentee voting to specific categories like the elderly or military personnel. This change would have directly affected all eligible Mississippi voters seeking to cast ballots by mail. The bill amended Section 23-15-713 of the Mississippi Code to state that "any duly qualified elector" could vote via absentee ballot. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
SB 2282 would allow veterinarians educated at foreign veterinary schools to practice in Mississippi if they hold specialty board certification. The bill amends licensing laws to include these graduates under specific qualifications, expanding the definition of "veterinarian" in Mississippi Code sections 73-39-53, 59, 61, 67, and 71. It directly affects foreign-trained veterinarians seeking licensure or endorsement in Mississippi, provided they meet the new specialty certification requirements. The bill also permits such veterinarians to teach specialty courses at Mississippi veterinary schools as part of continuing education. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was not enacted.
SB 2239, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have required all Mississippi public and charter schools to display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments (min. 16x20 inches) and a U.S. flag (min. 36x24 inches) in every classroom, and to conduct a daily non-denominational prayer at the start of each school day. The bill also prohibited school staff from discrimination based on religious views and allowed students or faculty to opt out of participating in prayer or the Pledge of Allegiance without penalty. It would have applied starting in the 2026-2027 school year but has not become law.
SB 2212 would repeal Mississippi's current ban on convicted felons voting or running for office. It specifically removes provisions requiring the removal of convicted felons from voter rolls (Sections 23-15-19 and 23-15-151) and amends other election codes to ensure felony convictions no longer disqualify individuals from voting or candidacy. The bill directly affects Mississippi residents with felony convictions who are otherwise eligible voters. If enacted, it would restore voting and candidacy rights for this group without additional requirements. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.
This is a symbolic resolution (not a law), designating April 8-12, 2026, as "Week of the Young Child" in Mississippi. It highlights challenges in early childhood education, including low wages for childcare providers (averaging under $13/hour) and high costs for families. The resolution expresses support for investments to stabilize childcare systems but does not create new policies or funding. It died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has no direct impact on legislation or affected individuals.
SB 2226 would revise Mississippi's rules for transferring youth court cases to adult criminal court. It specifically restricts transfers to children aged 13-15, requiring they have previously been found delinquent for three felonies and committed to state training school twice. The bill mandates youth courts to conduct transfer studies, ensure legal counsel for the child, and consider 13 specific factors - including offense severity, danger to the public, and the youth's background - before transferring jurisdiction. If transferred, the youth court loses authority over future offenses, and the adult court assumes full jurisdiction without further proceedings. This bill directly affects minors aged 13-15 facing serious charges who might otherwise be tried as adults.
SB 2222 would allow Mississippi courts to remove certain felony conviction records from public files after 20 years of good behavior. It applies to people who completed all sentence terms and paid fines, but excludes serious offenses like rape, sexual battery, repeated DUI, failure to register as a sex offender, and witness intimidation. To qualify, individuals must petition the court (with 10 days' notice to the district attorney) and prove rehabilitation. If approved, the record is cleared as if the conviction never occurred, restoring legal rights without requiring disclosure in most employment or housing contexts.
HB 698 would have prevented Mississippi health insurance plans from changing benefit levels for specific prescription drugs during policy renewals. It directly affects residents taking medications covered in the prior year for medical or mental health conditions, prohibiting insurers from removing drugs from coverage, increasing costs, adding prior authorization requirements, or changing formulary tiers for those drugs. The bill allowed exceptions only if the FDA issues safety alerts, the drug manufacturer discontinues production, or the drug is removed from the market. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never took effect.
SB 2284 allows Mississippi residents who own up to nine cows, goats, or sheep to use the milk from those animals for personal consumption and to sell raw milk directly to consumers from their farm. It permits "incidental sales" (not for institutions) under strict conditions: no advertising, mandatory risk warnings to buyers, clean milking environments, and use of sterile containers. The bill explicitly excludes public schools and state institutions from certain regulatory fees but maintains penalties for non-compliance (up to $100 fines). This amendment to existing dairy law clarifies that personal raw milk use and small-scale farm sales are legal, while preserving public health regulations for commercial operations. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
