SB 2229 would have reclassified simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana as a civil infraction instead of a criminal offense. This change would directly affect individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana for personal use, shifting penalties from potential jail time to civil fines. The bill proposed a maximum $3,000 fine for such possession, to be handled by municipal courts under amended law. It did not become law, as it died in committee on February 3, 2026.
SB 2211 requires Mississippi's Public Service Commission to study security risks to the state's electric grid - including electromagnetic pulse attacks and solar flares - and recommend measures to strengthen security and diversify the grid. The commission must evaluate current grid vulnerabilities, assess threats, and propose actions by December 1, 2027, then submit findings to state leadership. This bill does not create new laws but mandates a security study to inform future policy. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance further.
SB 2254 would have banned geoengineering activities in Mississippi by defining "geoengineering" as intentionally releasing chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight. It would have prohibited such activities statewide and granted the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality authority to issue enforcement orders and impose penalties for violations. The bill directly affected entities or individuals attempting atmospheric interventions within Mississippi, including private companies or government entities. The legislation never became law, as it died in committee on February 3, 2026.
HB 681 would remove the $50,000-per-year cap on damages for Mississippi residents wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, replacing it with unlimited compensation based on the court's finding of innocence. It requires proof of innocence through a pardon stating innocence or reversal of conviction (e.g., dismissal, new trial acquittal), excluding pre-indictment detention. The bill also maintains attorney fee provisions (up to 25% of the award) and specifies damages won't be subject to taxes or civil lawsuit caps. This bill died in committee in February 2026 and remains pending.
This bill prohibits Mississippi local governments from charging a processing fee when residents pay property taxes (ad valorem taxes) using a debit card. It directly affects property taxpayers who choose debit card payments and local tax collectors who collect these taxes. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban such fees for debit card payments on property taxes, while allowing processing fees for other payment methods like credit cards or for non-property tax payments (e.g., fines or fees). The law would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but the bill died in committee before passing.
SB 2234 creates a Mississippi Study Committee to examine alternatives to statewide standardized testing for measuring student outcomes in public schools. The committee, composed of 9 members including the State Superintendent, school superintendents, teachers, and education committee chairs, must evaluate methods like project-based assessments and competency measures by December 2026. It will prioritize models that promote equity, reduce testing burdens, and improve data accuracy for classroom instruction. The State Department of Education will provide staff support, and the committee must submit final recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2026. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 677 prevents Mississippi's governor or state agencies from returning federal funds to the federal government as long as there is a demonstrable need for those funds in the specified program, with the Attorney General determining that need. It allows transferring funds to nonprofits or other non-governmental entities if they can better administer the program, provided federal rules permit it. The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee on February 3, 2026. It directly affects how Mississippi manages federal funds for state programs, requiring continued use rather than premature return.
SB 2206 revises Mississippi's conditional medical release rules for inmates, primarily affecting nonviolent offenders with serious, long-term health conditions. It allows the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to release eligible inmates regardless of sentence time served if they are bedridden or have a debilitating condition with no recovery prospect, and creates a separate "medical parole" pathway through the State Parole Board for "medically frail" inmates meeting strict criteria. Both pathways require medical certification, exclude sex offenders and death row inmates, mandate supervision by community corrections, and require inmates to agree to medical record sharing with prosecutors. The bill also specifies revocation if an inmate recovers or violates release terms, and sets a 2026 effective date.
HB 689 would require Mississippi's Department of Human Services to set aside $10 million annually from federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds to provide marriage counseling, preparation, and support services. It specifically directs these funds to nonprofit organizations serving military families (including active/reserve forces and National Guard) and first responder families (firefighters, EMTs, police, correctional officers, etc.). The bill mandates this funding supplement, not replace, existing support programs. The legislation died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
HB 673 redirects 18.5% of Mississippi's sales tax revenue collected from business activities on property owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (outside municipal limits) to fund the district directly. This specifically affects the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, which serves multiple counties in Mississippi, by providing a dedicated revenue stream for its operations. The bill amends existing tax distribution rules to allocate this portion of sales tax revenue - previously distributed to municipalities or other entities - exclusively to the water district. The policy change creates a permanent funding mechanism for the district's water supply infrastructure without altering other tax distribution formulas.
SB 2241 would provide an annual $6,000 salary supplement plus fringe benefits to occupational therapists working in Mississippi public schools. To qualify, therapists must hold National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) registration, work for a local school district or the State Board of Education, and not serve as administrators. The supplement would be added to their existing base salary under Mississippi's teacher pay scale. This policy mirrors existing supplemental pay provisions for certified teachers, nurses, and counselors already in state law.
HB 704, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, would prohibit intentionally sharing personal information like home addresses, phone numbers, or emails of law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and criminal informants with the intent to harass, threaten, or facilitate a crime against them or their close relations. It would also amend public records laws to keep this information confidential, preventing it from being publicly accessible. Violations would be misdemeanors for first offenses (up to $2,000 fines or six months in jail) and felonies for repeat offenses (up to $10,000 fines or five years in prison), with harsher penalties if violence is involved. The bill aims to protect these individuals from harassment by making doxxing a criminal offense with specific, enforceable penalties.
