Mississippi Bills

HB 998 would have required business owners who are registered sex offenders to display a clear, visible sign outside their business entrance, at least 18 inches tall in bold font, visible to all entering the business. The law would have applied to all registered sex offenders regardless of conviction date, affecting businesses serving the public. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law, so this requirement is not in effect.

HB 1048 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists, social workers, and therapists) from using artificial intelligence to provide therapy, make treatment decisions, or engage in clinical conversations with patients. It bans AI providers from marketing AI systems as capable of delivering mental health care or simulating human therapeutic interactions. The bill allows limited AI use for administrative tasks like scheduling, billing, and record-keeping, but only with patient consent for session recording. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $15,000 per incident and disciplinary action by licensing boards, as the bill amends existing laws to include these prohibitions.

HB 1039 would create an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in Mississippi's executive branch agencies (like departments and commissions). The office would have authority to conduct investigations, issue subpoenas, protect whistleblowers who report misconduct, and require agency cooperation - without restricting existing oversight by the Attorney General or State Auditor. It directly affects all executive branch employees and agencies by establishing formal mechanisms to detect and address misuse of state resources. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

HB 1040, titled the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act," requires Mississippi law enforcement to verify the immigration status of individuals arrested for other violations (unless it hinders an investigation), prohibits state contracts with businesses not using E-Verify, and mandates retaining E-Verify records for three years. It creates an Immigration Reimbursement Fund to cover costs for officers assisting federal immigration enforcement and bars state agencies from restricting federal immigration law enforcement. The bill directly affects local police during arrests, businesses seeking state contracts, and state agencies managing contracts or public benefits. Key mechanisms include mandatory status checks, E-Verify compliance for contractors, and penalties for local entities that limit immigration enforcement cooperation.

HB 1045 would amend Mississippi's retirement law to allow Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) retirees to work full-time as law enforcement officers for a new employer (not their previous employer) while receiving their full retirement benefits. Currently, retirees face restrictions preventing full-time work and full benefits, but this bill specifically removes that barrier for law enforcement positions. The key provision permits retirees to work the full normal schedule and earn the full salary for a law enforcement role without reducing their retirement allowance. This would directly affect retired law enforcement officers seeking full-time employment with a different agency.

HB 831 changes Mississippi's retirement system rules for new education teachers. It ensures that individuals who majored in education during 2024-2026 and are hired as public school teachers within six months of graduation (starting March 1, 2026) will be treated as Tier 4 members for retirement purposes. This means their retirement benefits and contributions will be calculated as if they joined the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) between July 1, 2011, and March 1, 2026 - instead of under newer membership tiers. The bill amends several sections of PERS law to implement this retroactive classification for qualifying education graduates.

HB 1028 would criminalize knowingly transporting undocumented immigrants into Mississippi or forging government documents for them, classifying both as felonies punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $10,000 fines. It also amends existing laws to prohibit undocumented immigrants from serving as labor representatives, restrict state public benefits for them, and increase penalties for employers failing to verify immigration status. The bill further clarifies state agencies’ roles in assisting federal immigration enforcement and amends provisions related to driver’s licenses and hospital data reporting. The bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.

HB 854 allows funeral director assistants, under a licensed funeral director's supervision, to perform nearly all tasks a funeral director can do - including preparing bodies and handling paperwork - but explicitly excludes them from making funeral arrangements (like selecting caskets or services). This bill directly affects funeral director assistants, their supervising licensed funeral directors, and funeral homes in Mississippi. The key change expands the assistants' scope of practice while maintaining the requirement for licensed directors to oversee arrangements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

HB 950 requires Mississippi school districts to reimburse parents and districts up to $800 for comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations that diagnose dyslexia, covering costs for evaluations administered by licensed professionals. It mandates schools to accept such diagnoses for dyslexia therapy programs or scholarships, and fines schools $800 or more if they refuse to accept a valid diagnosis. The bill directly affects parents of students with dyslexia, school districts, and licensed evaluators (psychologists, psychometrists, or speech pathologists). Key provisions include setting a $800 reimbursement cap, requiring evaluations to cover specific components like decoding skills and reading comprehension, and establishing penalties for noncompliance.

This bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to require the Governor and all state officials elected or appointed after January 1, 2027, to be natural-born U.S. citizens. It would change Section 117 (Governor qualifications) and Section 250 (office eligibility) to add this citizenship requirement. The amendment would apply to all state offices, including elected positions, and must be approved by voters in November 2026. If passed, it would prevent non-natural-born citizens from holding state office after 2027. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not advance.

HB 1038 would have allowed Mississippi electric utility customers to decline smart meter installation without fees, directly affecting residential and commercial electricity users. The bill required utilities to provide analog meters upon customer opt-out (with no fee), ensure access to hourly usage data, and support time-of-use pricing programs. Key provisions included giving new construction customers a meter choice at installation and enabling ongoing opt-outs via a documented procedure. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

HB 866 allows businesses (hiring parties) to contribute funds to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors, enabling contractors to access benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or life insurance. Businesses may set aside a portion of payment via a written agreement that both parties voluntarily agree to in writing, with contractors able to opt out at any time. The bill explicitly states these contributions cannot be used to reclassify workers as employees or affect liability under Mississippi’s Workers’ Compensation Law. This policy change directly impacts independent contractors and hiring businesses in Mississippi, providing a structured way to support benefits without altering employment status.