HB 1030 allows nurse practitioners primarily responsible for a patient's care to sign Physician Orders for Sustaining Treatment (POST) forms, which direct end-of-life care decisions like CPR, treatment limits, antibiotics, and nutrition. Previously, only physicians could sign these forms, but this bill expands that authority to qualified nurse practitioners. The POST form standardizes patient preferences for critical care scenarios (e.g., "full treatment," "limited interventions," or "comfort measures") and must be reviewed annually. This change directly affects patients receiving end-of-life care, their families, and healthcare teams in Mississippi, streamlining decision-making for nurse practitioners managing patient care. The bill died in committee in February 2026.
HB 1010 prohibits no-knock warrants in Mississippi by requiring law enforcement officers to provide notice of their identity, authority, and purpose before entering any residence or dwelling, and to read the warrant aloud while giving a copy to the occupant or person in control of the premises. The bill limits issuance of such warrants to specific judicial authorities (county courts, chancery courts, or the Supreme Court) rather than allowing general police discretion. It directly affects law enforcement officers executing search warrants and residents living in homes or dwellings. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
This bill (HC 27) proposes a constitutional amendment in Mississippi that would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies once they complete all court-ordered sentences (like prison time, probation, or fines). It directly affects individuals with felony convictions who are otherwise eligible voters. The amendment would replace current law, which allows the legislature to restore voting rights for felons through a two-thirds vote (Section 253), by eliminating that legislative process and requiring automatic restoration after sentencing is fully satisfied. The proposal is a constitutional amendment, not a regular bill, and died in committee in February 2026 without advancing further.
HB 1012 would have required commercial tree care professionals (arborists) to register and hold a state license to practice in Mississippi. It exempted property owners performing tree work on their own land, government employees on public lands, and employees working under licensed arborists. The bill created a state board to manage licensing, set a $100 application fee, and mandated exams for applicants. However, it died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 971 clarifies that Mississippi landowners who allow recreational use of their property (including ATVs and off-road vehicles) maintain legal immunity from liability for injuries, as long as they don’t charge fees or operate concessions. The bill expands the definition of "outdoor recreational purposes" in state law to explicitly include ATVs and off-road vehicles, aligning with existing immunity protections. It maintains that landowners owe no duty of care for safety or hazardous conditions, unless the injury was deliberate or malicious. This change directly affects landowners who host recreational users and users of ATVs/off-road vehicles on private property.
HB 1033 would have required Mississippi's Department of Human Services to request a federal waiver allowing the state to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) benefits from being used to purchase soft drinks, energy drinks, and candy. The bill defined these items narrowly - excluding milk-based drinks, flavored water, protein bars, and certain candies - to specify which products would become ineligible under SNAP. If approved by the USDA, this change would have taken effect on October 1, 2026, restricting what SNAP recipients could buy with their benefits. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
HB 997 would have authorized an additional funding round for Mississippi counties and municipalities to purchase fire trucks through the existing Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program. The bill would have allowed eligible jurisdictions to apply for new fire trucks at tiered cost rates - $50,000 per truck for the first six, $70,000 for the next five, and $90,000 for subsequent trucks - capping total funding at $1.1 million per county. It would have amended program rules to permit this new round while maintaining fund management provisions, including unspent money rolling over annually. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.
HB 929 creates a study committee to examine how to fund and fully cover health insurance for retired certified law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders who have already met retirement eligibility under Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System. The committee, composed of nine members including representatives from law enforcement and fire associations, state legislators, and retirement system officials, will study the issue and report by January 1, 2027. This bill does not change current insurance policies or funding - it only establishes a process to study the matter. The committee will receive staff support from the state's PEER committee and gather input from relevant agencies.
HB 961 requires Mississippi healthcare providers and facilities to automatically refund patients any overpayments within 60 days of determining the overpayment. An overpayment is defined as any amount paid by a patient that exceeds their final obligation after all insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid payments are finalized. Providers must issue refunds using the same payment method used by the patient (or by check/electronic transfer) and provide a written notice explaining the refund amount, reason, and determination date. Failure to comply may be enforced by the Mississippi Attorney General under consumer protection laws.
HB 841 establishes the Mississippi Workforce Innovation Performance Loan Fund to provide zero-interest loans to eligible training providers like community colleges, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships. Loans range from $250,000 to $1 million per project and are partially or fully forgiven based on trainee job placement rates: 80%+ placement results in 100% forgiveness, 70-80% results in partial forgiveness, and below 70% requires repayment. The Mississippi Development Authority administers the program, requiring providers to verify outcomes through wage records or employer confirmation and submit performance reports. Unforgiven loan amounts are repaid into the fund for future use, with all funds maintained separately in the state treasury.
HB 851 removes a limit preventing counties from receiving additional fire truck funding after eight rounds of assistance under Mississippi's Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Program. It allows counties and municipalities to apply for new fire trucks even if they previously received multiple rounds of funding, expanding access to the program. The bill does not change existing funding tiers (e.g., $50,000-$90,000 per truck based on prior acquisitions) or eligibility rules. This change enables more rural communities to secure matching funds for fire truck purchases without hitting the prior eight-round cap.
This bill requires Mississippi's insurance commissioner to suspend a bail agent's license if a court rules against them for owing money to an insurer or former employer related to their work. The suspension can be lifted after the debt is paid and a hearing is held to reinstate the license. It also clarifies that certain transaction fees, like credit card processing charges and bond transfer fees, should not be counted as part of the premium or commission charged by bail agents. These changes aim to strengthen financial accountability and clarify fee structures within the state's bail industry.
