HB 781 requires municipalities in Mississippi to hold separate elections in both the city and the territory proposed for annexation whenever a city seeks to expand its boundaries. The bill mandates that annexation can only proceed if a majority of voters in *both* areas approve the measure, replacing previous court-based processes. It also prohibits municipalities from proposing the same annexation for five years if either election rejects the plan. This directly affects cities seeking to grow and residents in unincorporated areas targeted for annexation, shifting decision-making from chancery courts to voter approval.
HB 785, the Mississippi On-Farm Sales and Food Freedom Act, prohibits local governments (counties, municipalities) from regulating how farmers grow or raise agricultural products on private property or restricting direct sales of unprocessed farm goods from producers to consumers. It eliminates permit requirements for non-commercial home gardening, backyard chickens, rabbits, or milk goats used by residents for household consumption, and requires "buyer beware" labels on unprocessed products to disclose consumption risks. The bill does not override local zoning laws or nuisance regulations, and specifically expands raw milk sales rules to include cow milk. It affects Mississippi farmers selling directly to consumers and local governments managing land use.
HB 765 prohibits elected and appointed Mississippi state officials from appearing visually or audibly in public advertisements funded by state legislative appropriations. This includes TV, radio, online, or print ads where the official's image or voice is featured. Officials may still help create such ads during planning, as long as their image or voice isn't used in the final public version. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all state offices, agencies, and commissions.
HB 803 requires Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Leflore County officials, to study the feasibility of building an elevated pedestrian crossing or skybridge at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Sunflower Road (County Road 507) in Itta Bena. The study must examine funding sources, cost-benefit analysis, existing examples in Mississippi and other states, community benefits, previous efforts, and constraints like highway expansion plans. The report, due by December 15, 2026, will inform future decisions but does not authorize construction. This bill directly affects MVSU students, staff, visitors, and the local community seeking safer campus access.
HB 822 would allow Mississippi community and junior colleges bordering other states to create policies reducing or waiving out-of-state tuition for students from neighboring states. The bill requires college boards to establish specific eligibility criteria for these tuition reductions, such as residency near the border. It maintains that state funds must primarily serve Mississippi residents, with a limited exception for associate degree nursing students. This change would directly affect nonresident students at border colleges seeking lower tuition costs.
HB 812 would make it a felony for out-of-state individuals or entities to supply abortion drugs to Mississippi residents, targeting those who mail, ship, or place such drugs into commerce knowing they’ll be used in Mississippi. It imposes penalties of up to $100,000 fines or 10 years in prison for violations, while allowing pregnant women to sue foreign senders for $10,000 per violation. The bill defines "abortifacient" as drugs requiring FDA approval or primarily used for abortion and includes defenses for licensed in-state medical providers. It does not criminalize pregnant women or lawful medical procedures. (Note: The bill died in committee in February 2026 and is not law.)
HB 764 requires all law enforcement interrogations in Mississippi to be recorded on video from start to finish, with agencies mandated to preserve these recordings for at least 10 years. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and the individuals they interrogate by establishing a standard for documenting questioning processes. Key provisions include the mandatory video recording of every interrogation and the 10-year retention requirement for all such recordings. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 836 requires courts to hold hearings when individuals challenge asset forfeitures. It allows property owners to argue that forfeiting their assets (like vehicles or homes) would be disproportionate to the offense, considering factors such as the offense's seriousness, impact on the owner's livelihood, and hardship to family members. If a court finds forfeiture excessive, the property must be returned within 15 days. This bill directly affects people whose property is seized by law enforcement, particularly in drug-related cases, by strengthening due process before assets are taken.
HB 960 requires all new documents and instruments of record (like land deeds, legal filings, and property records) filed after July 1, 2026, to be written in English. This applies to county clerks and courts recording documents in Mississippi, directly affecting property owners, legal practitioners, and government offices handling official records. The bill amends existing laws to mandate English language use, with limited exemptions for documents executed before 2009, military papers, foreign documents, certified copies, and records involving deceased parties. It focuses on standardizing record-keeping for clarity and accessibility without altering substantive legal content.
HB 962 adds Madison-Ridgeland Academy to a list of organizations eligible for special license tags in Mississippi. Residents who pay a $30 annual fee can get a distinctive license tag displaying the academy's name, with $24 of each fee going directly to the academy. The remaining fee portions fund the Mississippi Burn Care Fund ($1), highway maintenance ($2), and another state fund ($1). This bill does not change existing tax rates but creates a new revenue stream for the listed organizations through license tag fees.
HB 1017 amends Mississippi's workers' compensation laws to clarify when employers or insurers can seek reimbursement from third parties responsible for employee injuries. It states that employers or insurers are not required to join third-party lawsuits, but if they fail to join, they cannot recover the compensation they paid from the lawsuit settlement. Additionally, if an employer is found negligent for the injury, the amount they can recover from a third party is reduced by their percentage of fault. These changes apply to cases where an employee sues a third party for injury or death, affecting employers, insurers, and injured workers.
HB 1058 would make it illegal to own, operate, install, or sell vehicles containing hidden compartments designed to conceal people (for unlawful purposes) or contraband like illegal drugs or other prohibited items. It defines "false or secret compartments" broadly, including modified fuel tanks or added spaces, and creates criminal penalties for violations. Violators could face fines up to $10,000, up to two years in prison, or both. The bill applies to all vehicle types (cars, boats, aircraft, etc.) and directly affects vehicle owners, modifiers, and sellers who create or use such compartments.
