HB 813 would prohibit the State of Mississippi from complying with or recognizing any federal government actions (including mandates, orders, or laws) that the state deems to violate the Tenth Amendment's separation of powers between state and federal governments. The bill directly affects Mississippi state agencies and officials by requiring them to reject such federal directives starting July 1, 2026. It bases this on the state's interpretation of federal overreach, without defining specific criteria for what constitutes a violation. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and is not currently law.
HB 783 requires food containing mRNA vaccines or vaccine material to carry a conspicuous label, but it is based on a scientific misunderstanding since mRNA vaccines are medical products not used in food. The bill directly affects food manufacturers and sellers in Mississippi by prohibiting the sale of any food containing mRNA vaccines unless labeled with a clear notice of their presence. It includes an exception allowing "mRNA free" labeling for meat products derived from animals not given mRNA vaccines. The law does not change actual food safety standards but mandates specific labeling for a non-existent scenario, as mRNA vaccines are never added to food products.
HB 820 requires Mississippi school districts with 25% or more of students eligible for free lunch (based on the prior year's enrollment) to apply to the federal USDA Food and Nutrition Service for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). If approved, the CEP would make school breakfast and lunch free for all students at those schools, regardless of family income. Districts must submit eligibility data by April 1 and complete the application by June 30 each year. The bill also allows for financial viability waivers if a school or group of schools would not benefit financially from the program.
HB 766 increases the authorized number of full-time assistant public defenders in Mississippi's Seventh Circuit Court District (which includes Hinds County) from the current level to six. It requires that these new staff members receive office space, equipment, supplies, two investigators, two legal secretaries, and operational expenses at a level equal to or exceeding those provided to the District Attorney's office, subject to available legislative funding. The bill directly affects public defenders serving Hinds County and the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) Inferior Court within the Seventh Circuit. Key provisions mandate resource parity with the District Attorney's office and bring forward related sections of law for potential future amendments. The changes take effect July 1, 2026.
Mississippi's HB 760 prohibits elected officials from changing political party affiliations during their term. If an official publicly declares they are leaving their original party or joining a different one, it is treated as a resignation, creating a vacancy in their office. The vacancy must then be filled according to existing state law for that position. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting all current and future elected state officials in Mississippi.
HB 816, the Fresh Start Act of 2019, revises Mississippi's occupational licensing laws to reduce barriers for individuals with criminal records. It prohibits licensing authorities from disqualifying applicants based on prior convictions unless the crime directly relates to the occupation's duties, replacing vague terms like "moral turpitude" with a specific evaluation framework. The bill requires authorities to consider the crime's nature, time elapsed, relevance to the job, and rehabilitation efforts when reviewing applications. Licensing bodies must implement these changes within 120 days of the effective date and provide written explanations for denials. The law applies to most licensed professions but excludes admission to the Mississippi Bar for attorneys.
HB 762 amends Mississippi law to change how license suspensions for refusing a chemical test during a DUI stop are handled. Currently, if a driver refuses a test and later pleads guilty to DUI, the license suspension is terminated. This bill would prevent that termination, requiring drivers to serve the full suspension period (90 days for a first offense, one year for a repeat) regardless of a guilty plea. The bill directly affects drivers who refuse a test and are convicted of DUI.
HB 823, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have authorized Mississippi counties and municipalities to contract with other states to house youth offenders when local juvenile detention facilities reached capacity. It specifically required that facilities in other states meet American Correctional Association Standards and the Mississippi Juvenile Detention Facilities Act, and that youth must have been adjudicated for a delinquent act (not involving escape history). The bill also referenced Mississippi’s existing Interstate Compact for Juveniles, ensuring ongoing Mississippi court jurisdiction over these youth. This proposal aimed to address overcrowding in state facilities by enabling interstate partnerships under defined safety and legal standards.
HB 810 expands Mississippi's literacy program to cover grades 4 through 8, requiring schools to implement evidence-based reading interventions. The bill mandates teacher training in "science of reading" methods (excluding "three-cueing systems"), universal screening three times yearly, and identifies "Middle Literacy Support Schools" using reading data from state assessments. It requires targeted interventions for struggling readers, evidence-based instructional materials, and annual progress reports to the legislature. The law directly affects educators and students in grades 4-8 by establishing structured literacy approaches focused on phonics, decoding, and comprehension.
HB 821 would increase Mississippi's minimum teacher salary by $4,000 for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. The bill amends state law to adjust the salary scale table, raising the base pay for all teachers based on experience and license type. This change directly affects new teachers and those with less experience by setting a higher starting salary floor. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.
HB 770 amends Mississippi law to allow law enforcement agencies to use proceeds from selling forfeited weapons to purchase equipment for their own use. Specifically, if a weapon seized during a crime investigation is deemed "merchantable" (in good condition), it can be sold at auction through federally-licensed dealers, with the funds directed solely toward agency equipment purchases. This applies to agencies that seized the weapon, such as local police departments or sheriff's offices. The bill does not change seizure rules but redirects existing forfeiture proceeds toward operational equipment needs. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 825 revises Mississippi's death penalty procedures by requiring the Commissioner of Corrections, Deputy Commissioners for Finance and Institutions, the Public Safety Commissioner, and the county district attorney to select the execution method (lethal injection, nitrogen hypoxia, electrocution, or firing squad) through majority vote, with cost efficiency as a key factor in the decision. It designates lethal injection as the preferred method but mandates that cost considerations influence the choice, while also requiring confidentiality for execution team members, suppliers of lethal chemicals, and certain witnesses. The bill also grants legal immunity to participants acting in good faith during executions and clarifies that execution-related activities do not constitute the practice of medicine. These changes directly affect state officials responsible for administering executions and condemned individuals facing capital punishment.
