HB 489 would amend Mississippi's income tax law to exclude compensation received for property taken by eminent domain (or condemnation) from taxable gross income, but only if the property was purchased at least five years before the taking. This change would directly affect property owners who receive such compensation and meet the five-year ownership requirement. The bill modifies the state tax code's definition of "gross income" to specifically exclude these eminent domain payments, without altering tax treatment for other income sources.
HB 715 removes the requirement that food sold to charitable organizations must be nonperishable to qualify for Mississippi's sales tax exemption. This change directly affects food banks, shelters, and other nonprofits that distribute food, allowing them to receive tax exemptions on both perishable and nonperishable food items. The bill amends Mississippi Code § 27-65-111 to expand the existing exemption for food sales to these organizations. This policy change simplifies access to the exemption, ensuring all food types used for charitable purposes qualify.
SB 2840 allows businesses that pay property taxes on inventory (like manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) to either sell unused tax credits on the market or opt for a 75% rebate of the credit amount instead of carrying it forward. It repeals multiple local business taxes, including those on motor vehicle rentals, flea markets, pawnbrokers, and retail stores, eliminating these fees for affected businesses. The bill directly affects businesses paying local property taxes on inventory or operations, reducing compliance burdens and providing cash flow options through credit sales or rebates. These changes simplify tax treatment for eligible businesses while removing specific local tax requirements.
SB 2865 creates an income tax credit for Mississippi casinos that invest at least $2 million in non-gaming projects (like hotels, restaurants, or RV parks) at existing properties. The credit equals 50% of the increased gaming taxes generated by the new facilities, calculated as the difference between post-project tax payments and the three-year average before the project started. Casinos can use the credit against annual income tax liability, but the total credit per project cannot exceed the project cost, and unused credits can carry forward for up to five years. The Mississippi Gaming Commission must approve qualifying projects, and no new credits can be claimed after December 31, 2030.
HB 1789 provides an additional $5,309,560 in state funding to Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources (DMR) for projects originally planned but not fully funded during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This funding comes from the Tidelands Fund and is specifically designated for prior-year projects, ensuring completion of marine resource initiatives that were budgeted but lacked full financial support. The bill directs the State Treasurer to disburse these funds upon proper requisitions from the DMR. This is a straightforward budgetary adjustment, not a new policy, directly affecting DMR's ability to manage existing marine infrastructure and conservation projects.
HB 655 designates a specific 12.32-mile segment of roads in Chickasaw County as the "Davis Lake Road Scenic Byway," running from the intersection of MS Highway 15 and County Road 124 east to MS Highway 41. The bill formally establishes this route under Mississippi's scenic byway program (per Section 65-41-1 et seq.) without creating new funding or regulations. It directly affects local transportation planning and signage within Chickasaw County, effective July 1, 2026. This is a procedural designation focused solely on naming and recognizing the route, with no additional policy changes.
SB 2849 extends the repeal date of Mississippi's SMART Business Act from 2028 to a future date (as specified in the bill), allowing the existing law to remain in effect longer. The bill brings forward the original sections of the SMART Business Act (Sections 37-148-1 through 37-148-9) for potential future amendments. This procedural change does not alter the act's core provisions, which include a 25% rebate for investors funding qualified research at Mississippi colleges (capped at $1 million per investor annually) and a separate initiative for developing state-owned intellectual property. The extension provides time for lawmakers to review and modify the program before its current sunset.
SB 2027 creates a rebuttable presumption that joint custody with equal parenting time is in a child's best interest for all Mississippi custody cases. Courts must assume this arrangement unless a parent provides evidence showing it would harm the child, such as a domestic abuse protection order against them. The bill requires courts to document reasons for deviating from the presumption unless both parents agree to a different arrangement. It applies to all custody determinations and clarifies that domestic violence concerns override the presumption. This change aims to standardize custody decisions while prioritizing child safety and parental involvement.
HB 520 requires the Mississippi Gaming Commission to work with the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create rules that automatically withhold gaming winnings from individuals with outstanding child support debt. This directly affects people who owe child support arrears by allowing DHS to collect payments from their gambling winnings. The bill establishes a new procedure (via Section 43-19-63) for encumbering these winnings to satisfy child support obligations. It amends existing laws to align with this new collection mechanism, streamlining enforcement without creating new programs. The policy change focuses on using existing gaming revenue streams to recover unpaid child support.
HB 717 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's income tax credit program for railroad infrastructure investments, which currently ends January 1, 2030. The bill directly affects Class II and Class III railroads operating in Mississippi by allowing them to continue claiming tax credits for eligible reconstruction/replacement (up to 50% of costs or $5,000 per mile) and new infrastructure projects (capped at $1 million per project). Key provisions maintain the existing credit structure, including annual spending limits ($8 million total), credit transfers to other taxpayers, and carry-forward rules for unused credits. This extension preserves the program's current rules without altering the credit amounts or eligibility criteria.
HB 1015 revises the membership structure of Mississippi's Title V Advisory Council, which studies and recommends fees for an environmental program administered by the Department of Environmental Quality. The bill requires replacing any inactive or non-existent member groups on the council, which currently includes four industry representatives (appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker), plus officials from the Mississippi Development Authority, Business Alliance, and Farm Bureau Federation. Council members serve four-year terms without salary but receive expense reimbursement for travel related to their duties. This change ensures the council maintains active representation from relevant stakeholder groups to review program costs and fee structures annually.
HB 1041 authorizes Mississippi's Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River in Yazoo County. The bill allows the Commission to handle construction, environmental protections, and land acquisition, and to contract with local governments for maintenance up to 99 years or transfer the project to the federal government. This directly affects Yazoo County residents by potentially improving flood protection along the river. The Commission must follow existing rules for funding and environmental compliance, as outlined in the amended Section 69-27-13.
