HB 1004, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed creating a voluntary state program for high school reproductive health education. The bill would have required parental permission for students aged 16+ to participate in curriculum covering reproductive anatomy, contraception, STI prevention, and healthy relationships, delivered by trained medical professionals or advocates. School districts could opt in to receive state support, but participation would not affect academic standing, and the curriculum must be inclusive and evidence-based. The program was intended to be funded through state budgets or grants, with annual reviews mandated, though it never advanced beyond committee.
HB 1051, the Mississippi Consumer Privacy Protection Act, would create new privacy rights for Mississippi residents by requiring businesses with over $25 million in annual revenue operating in the state to implement specific data practices. It grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete, or opt out of the processing of their personal information, with businesses required to respond within 45 days and provide clear privacy notices. The law would mandate security measures for businesses, exempt health data under HIPAA, and give Mississippi’s Attorney General exclusive enforcement authority, including civil penalties for violations. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.
This bill (HC 28) is a procedural resolution to bring forward Section 241 of Mississippi's 1890 Constitution, which lists crimes that disqualify individuals from voting (such as murder, rape, theft, and forgery). It does not change voting rules but makes this existing constitutional section available for potential future amendment. The resolution would have submitted the section to voters in November 2026 for consideration, though the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026. It directly affects voting eligibility for people convicted of the listed offenses under current law.
HB 860 requires bars and restaurants with on-premises alcohol permits (under Mississippi's Local Option Alcohol Law) to keep at least one breathalyzer device available for patrons to request a blood alcohol test. The bill also states that these businesses cannot be held liable for inaccurate or false results from such tests. This law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly impacting licensed establishments that serve alcohol on-site. It focuses on providing a tool for patrons to check their BAC levels, not on changing alcohol sales rules or penalties.
HB 984 modifies Mississippi's zoning change process by requiring local governments to provide public hearing notices for zoning adjustments through social media platforms (in addition to traditional methods) and extending the appeal deadline for affected residents. Specifically, it adds social media as an acceptable notice method for public hearings on zoning changes, while changing the appeal filing window from 10 to 20 days after a zoning decision by local authorities. This bill directly affects residents, property owners, and local governments in municipalities and counties considering zoning amendments. The changes aim to improve public access to notice and provide more time for individuals to challenge zoning decisions through the courts.
HB 1022 increases fines for seatbelt and child safety restraint violations to $100 per offense in Mississippi. It requires collected fines to be split equally between the State Department of Education and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to fund driver education and training programs. The bill applies to all drivers and passengers violating seatbelt laws (with specific exemptions listed, such as farm vehicles or medical exemptions), but fines will not appear on driving records. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, though the bill died in committee before passing.
HB 1062 requires any gaming operation in Mississippi using state-owned coastal lands (public trust tidelands) to obtain a lease directly from the Secretary of State, rather than from local governments. It clarifies that gaming use is distinct from general commercial use of these lands and mandates this lease for all gaming projects, including those by state agencies or municipalities. The bill also establishes the Secretary of State as the sole authority for managing these leases and defines key terms to ensure consistent application. These changes aim to centralize control of tidelands use under state oversight for gaming purposes.
HB 863 adds kratom to Schedule III of Mississippi's Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This makes kratom a controlled substance under state law, subjecting it to regulations on possession, sale, and distribution similar to other Schedule III substances. The bill directly affects individuals and businesses handling kratom within Mississippi, requiring compliance with controlled substance laws. It does not address medical uses or penalties but establishes kratom's legal classification under state drug policy.
HB 1018 would require termination from Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for state employees convicted of a felony related to their job duties, effective July 1, 2026. It specifies that retirement benefits would stop upon conviction (or guilty/nolo contendere plea) for such crimes, though retirees charged with these crimes would keep benefits until conviction. The bill also mandates refunding a member's accumulated retirement contributions without interest if convicted, and allows continued health insurance coverage under the same terms as retirees. This directly affects state employees covered by PERS who face felony convictions tied to their public employment.
HB 1065 would allow retired Mississippi state employees covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who are elected to the legislature to continue receiving their retirement allowance while serving as lawmakers. It provides two payment options: either 50% of legislative pay for up to half the normal session days, or 25% of average compensation with no session-day limit. Retired legislators choosing this option would not count their legislative service toward future retirement benefits and would not be active PERS members during that time. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 892 requires Mississippi voter registrars to check all new voter registration applicants against the federal SAVE system (which verifies U.S. citizenship) before processing applications. This directly affects applicants whose citizenship is questioned by the system, potentially placing them in "pending" status until they provide proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate or passport). Registrars must annually report to the Secretary of State how many applicants were flagged by SAVE and how many were removed after verification. The bill also mandates the Secretary of State to conduct two annual checks of voter records against SAVE and exempt SAVE-related data from public disclosure under Mississippi's public records law.
HB 1026 would require Mississippi election officials (like the Secretary of State or local clerks) to conduct a mandatory manual recount of all votes in any election where the margin between the top two candidates or for a ballot question is 250 votes or less, or 1% of total votes cast (whichever is greater). The recount must be completed within 72 hours of election day and performed manually if voting machines were used. The bill prohibits charging candidates for these recounts and allows candidates to observe the process, while clarifying recounts under this law don't count as election contests. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
