HB 830 revises Mississippi's rules limiting annual increases to property tax revenues (ad valorem taxes) for local governments. It allows counties and municipalities to exceed the standard 2% annual tax increase cap without holding an election by adopting a resolution, provided they stay within specific thresholds (e.g., not exceeding 20 mills total or a prior 10-year average). The bill also clarifies that school district taxes, road maintenance taxes, bond payments, and mandated new programs are excluded from the 2% limit. This directly affects county boards, city councils, and school districts when setting property tax rates. The changes aim to provide more flexibility for local governments to fund services while maintaining some fiscal restraint.
HB 1047 would have allowed Mississippi sheriffs and deputies to use radar speed detection devices on public roads to enforce speed limits specifically within school zones marked by blinking caution lights. It required counties to use fines from these school zone violations to fund school safety measures, such as school resource officers or staff safety training. The bill directly affected sheriffs' enforcement capabilities and school safety funding in counties. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 1037 creates two new state crimes in Mississippi: "unlawful harboring" (misdemeanor) for knowingly sheltering someone who entered or stayed in the U.S. without legal permission, and "unlawful human smuggling" (felony) for transporting groups of people for financial gain while hiding them from immigration authorities. It directly affects individuals who provide shelter or transportation to people in the U.S. without legal status, with penalties including fines starting at $1,000 per person harbored or up to 20 years in prison for smuggling minors. The bill specifies that knowledge of the person’s immigration status must be determined by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It also amends existing human trafficking laws to align with these new provisions. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
HB 834 establishes a certification system for medication aides working in Mississippi nursing facilities. It requires aides to complete a minimum 15-hour training program and pass an exam to be certified by the State Department of Health. Nursing facilities must implement written policies for medication aides, disclose their use to residents and families, and maintain accurate medication records. The bill specifies which medications aides may administer (oral, inhalation, topical, eye/ear/nasal sprays, insulin, and anaphylaxis treatments) but excludes other injections or routes. The State Department of Health will maintain a registry for certified aides and can deny, revoke, or refuse renewal for failing standards or violating the act.
This bill establishes the Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program in Mississippi to help firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers purchase their primary residences. The program would allow these eligible individuals, who have worked in these roles for at least four years, to receive loan guarantees for conventional home financing if they certify they intend to apply for a homestead exemption. A special fund in the state treasury would be created to support the program, with money disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration only after legislative appropriation. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and requires the department to create rules for administering the program.
Mississippi HB 952 modifies the state's Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program to allow students with a formal dyslexia diagnosis to qualify for the program, expanding eligibility beyond those with recent Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Specifically, Section 37-181-3(b) now states that a "diagnosis of dyslexia" (as defined by the Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program) is a qualifying criterion for eligibility. This directly affects students with dyslexia who lack an active IEP but have received a clinical diagnosis. The bill does not change how ESA funds are used - parents can still cover tuition, tutors, or materials at eligible schools - but broadens who can access these funds. The change aligns with existing requirements for the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program.
HB 889 prohibits any sexual penetration or other sexual act between law enforcement officers, correctional staff, or individuals with custodial authority and people who are incarcerated, on probation/parole, or detained. The bill amends Mississippi law to make such acts a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both. It directly affects correctional facility employees, sheriffs, constables, and other officials who interact with people in custody. The law applies regardless of whether the incarcerated person consented to the act.
HB 1027 creates a new crime for selling stolen property and increases penalties for receiving stolen property in Mississippi. It requires anyone convicted of selling stolen property to pay the owner the full value of the property before covering court fees or criminal fines. Penalties range from up to 7 years in prison or $10,000 fines for property valued at $1,000-$5,000, to up to 22 years or $10,000 fines for property over $25,000. This bill directly affects individuals who sell stolen goods and ensures victims receive restitution before other penalties are applied.
HB 833 creates Mississippi's participation in the Interstate Massage Compact, a multistate agreement allowing licensed massage therapists to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill amends Mississippi law to align with the compact's framework, establishing an Interstate Commission to oversee implementation and manage a shared data system for license status and disciplinary information. This directly affects licensed massage therapists seeking to work in multiple states, particularly supporting military members and their families who relocate. Key mechanisms include streamlined licensing pathways, enhanced information sharing between states to protect public safety, and provisions to prevent licensure fraud. The compact does not override individual state laws governing massage therapy practice.
HB 1001 would have allowed voters who registered after Mississippi's 30-day election registration deadline but before Election Day to cast a ballot using an affidavit. The bill required voters to sign a written affidavit at the polling place confirming their registration status and providing personal details, with the ballot then processed separately. Voters casting such ballots would have had five business days after the election to provide acceptable photo ID or a Mississippi Voter ID card to ensure their ballot was counted. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, proposed this as a specific mechanism for late registrants affected by the registration cutoff.
HB 931 extends the exemption for Mississippi's Office of Workforce Development from Public Procurement Review Board requirements related to rental agreements and leases for agency operations. The bill specifically pushes back the expiration date of this exemption beyond its 2026 deadline. This change directly affects the Office of Workforce Development, allowing it to continue using standard lease agreements without public procurement review. The bill also corrects references in related laws and extends similar exemptions for other state entities set to expire in 2026.
HB 843 requires sex offenders in Mississippi to register directly with their local county sheriff (in addition to existing state-level requirements) when moving, changing residence, or updating registration details. It mandates that offenders provide specific information to the sheriff within a set timeframe, including current addresses, employment details, vehicle identification, online usernames, and other personal data. This applies to anyone convicted of a sex offense who lives, works, or attends school in Mississippi. The bill updates existing registration procedures to make county sheriffs the primary point of contact for these updates, streamlining local notification. It does not change the list of offenses requiring registration or the core registration timeline.
