HB 1118 creates the Mississippi Department of Tourism to centralize and enhance the state's tourism promotion efforts, replacing the previous tourism functions under the Mississippi Development Authority. The bill transfers the Tourism Division to the new department by July 1, 2026, and redirects a portion of restaurant and hotel sales tax revenue into the department's advertising fund. It authorizes the department to develop marketing strategies, coordinate with local tourism groups, and establish grant programs for tourism promotion, while repealing several existing tourism-related laws. This reorganization aims to streamline tourism development and marketing across Mississippi's diverse attractions and regions.
HB 1139 would exempt constables (local law enforcement officers) from Mississippi's standard concealed firearms licensing requirements. Currently, the state requires a license for concealed carry, involving background checks, age verification, and other criteria detailed in law. This bill would remove those specific requirements for constables, allowing them to carry firearms without a license in their official duties. The exemption directly affects constables, who are already law enforcement officers, without changing licensing rules for the general public.
SB 2318 makes it a felony to deliver illicit synthetic substances (like fentanyl analogs) with knowledge that the recipient might die from using them, imposing mandatory 20+ year prison terms and $10,000 fines. It directly affects sellers or distributors of these dangerous drugs who profit from sales that cause death. The bill includes exceptions: people seeking medical help for overdoses cannot be prosecuted for the delivery, and it explicitly excludes drug users sharing substances with friends from prosecution. The bill died in committee after referral in early 2026.
SB 2317 establishes new guidelines for Mississippi law enforcement officers regarding taser use, directly affecting all sworn officers in the state. The bill limits taser deployment to situations where deadly force would be permitted, requires detailed documentation of each incident (including subject demographics and circumstances), and prohibits use on vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, the elderly, or individuals under the influence of drugs. It mandates that the Board of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training, with the Department of Public Safety, develop policies and provide training on these rules, ensuring training avoids involvement with entities profiting from taser sales. The legislation aims to standardize taser use while increasing accountability through mandatory reporting.
HB 1135 requires out-of-state applicants seeking behavioral health licensure in Mississippi (e.g., therapists, counselors, social workers) to pass criminal background checks, provide two forms of residency proof (like a driver's license or utility bill), and verify education/work history before receiving a license. It limits temporary licenses to 365 days, prohibits out-of-state recruiters from sponsoring more than five temporary licensees annually, and mandates re-attestation of residency before converting to full licensure. Misrepresenting residency, credentials, or criminal history can lead to license denial, revocation, or civil penalties. The bill aims to ensure licensed professionals meet Mississippi's standards while preventing out-of-state agencies from flooding the market with temporary licensees.
HB 1115 would criminalize creating, recording, or altering intimate visual material (like photos or videos showing someone's genitals, buttocks, or engaged in sexual conduct) without their consent. It directly affects individuals who produce or share such content without permission, making it a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) and a felony for repeat offenses or if done for profit. The bill expands protections to include edited or manipulated images and explicitly exempts tech companies from liability for their platforms. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 1138 establishes standardized requirements for cosmetology, barbering, nail technology, and esthetics apprenticeship programs in Mississippi. It mandates that apprentices (minimally 16 years old with proof of education) apply through a board-approved process, wear a badge during training, and complete minimum timeframes (e.g., 75 weeks for cosmetology). Sponsors (licensed professionals with 10+ years experience) must train only one apprentice at a time, provide all materials, avoid charging for training, and maintain detailed attendance and progress records. The bill prohibits accelerated programs and requires sponsors to submit completion certifications within 30 days, with the state board conducting audits of all program records.
SB 2305 would have required Mississippi public school boards to allow a Christian Bible provided by an external entity (not the school district) to be visible in all classrooms and libraries. It also mandated daily recitation of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance - including the phrase "under God" - and required teaching a new state pledge referencing "Almighty God." The bill aimed to enforce these provisions through school board compliance measures and reporting requirements. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.
HB 1140 creates an alternative notice method for individuals or entities that purchase property at tax sales and hold tax lien certificates. It requires these lien holders to serve notice on property owners and interested parties via certified mail or private process servers, with specific delivery rules and a detailed affidavit of service. The bill specifies timing (120 days to 30 days before redemption expiration) and allows lien holders to recover notice costs through a judgment lien on the property. This affects tax lien holders, property owners, and county clerks, while maintaining existing notice requirements under Mississippi law.
HB 1110 would allow retired Mississippi teachers with at least 25 years of service (by July 2024) to return to classroom teaching while continuing to receive their retirement benefits. School districts could pay these returning teachers up to 125% of standard teacher salaries using existing education funds, with salaries based on their retirement-era experience and license type. Teachers must hold current teaching licenses, meet hiring criteria (including superintendent certification), and have a satisfactory performance review before retirement. The bill requires school districts to cover all costs of these positions from their budgets, without increasing expenses for the retirement system.
HB 1134 creates a voluntary program allowing Mississippi pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with substance abuse or mental health impairments to avoid disciplinary action by entering an alternative program before a formal hearing. The program requires participants to cover costs for treatment, counseling, or education related to their impairment, with all program details kept confidential under state privacy laws. It applies specifically to licensees facing discipline for issues like addiction or mental health conditions under existing licensing rules. The bill does not change the grounds for disciplinary action but offers an alternative path focused on rehabilitation rather than penalties.
HB 1119 allows Mississippi's Department of Archives and History to spend money from the Local Government Records Management Fund to support counties and municipalities. The fund collects 50 cents from each document filing fee (after counties/municipalities meet a $300 monthly threshold), and the Department would use these funds for records management, historic preservation, and museum services. The bill also establishes a Local Government Records Office within the Department to provide training, set records standards, and create storage guidelines. This bill directly affects local governments (which pay the fee) and the Department of Archives and History (which manages the fund and services).
