HB 1163 would eliminate a 90-day waiting period for Mississippi state employees who retired from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to return to work immediately if they take a position not covered by PERS. Currently, retirees must wait 90 days before returning to state employment, but this bill removes that requirement specifically for jobs outside PERS coverage, such as certain state agency roles or non-PERS positions. The change applies to retirees returning to work in roles that were never covered by PERS or were uncovered at the time of retirement. This policy adjustment directly affects PERS retirees seeking employment in uncovered state positions.
HB 1156 allows Mississippi residents with valid firearms permits to renew their licenses online instead of visiting in person. The bill amends existing law (Section 45-9-101) to add an online renewal option for permits that are valid for five years. It directly affects current permit holders who must currently renew through physical or mail processes. The key change is streamlining the renewal process via a digital portal, without altering eligibility requirements or permit fees.
HB 1167 would reauthorize a special license tag for Mississippi vehicle owners who pay a $30 annual fee, displaying "D'Iberville High School" to show support. The fee directly affects residents who choose this tag option, with funds distributed as $24 to the school's PTA, $1 to the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, $2 to highway maintenance, and $1 to another state fund. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have allowed tags starting July 2026 but required surrendering regular tags and paying fees at registration. It does not change vehicle registration requirements but creates a voluntary fundraising mechanism for the school and state funds.
SB 2359, the Mississippi Civil Rights Act, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, immigrant status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or familial status in key areas like employment, public accommodations (stores, restaurants, hotels), housing, and educational institutions. It defines protected terms (e.g., "gender identity" includes expression/mannerisms regardless of sex assigned at birth) and establishes remedies for violations, including compensation for emotional harm, back pay, and attorney fees. The law applies to employers with nine+ employees and public places open to the general public (excluding small lodgings, private clubs, and houses of worship). It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not override existing anti-discrimination laws.
SB 2363 prohibits parties in criminal and civil trials from using peremptory challenges (removing jurors without cause) based on a juror’s race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation, or perceived membership in those groups. It requires parties to state reasons for challenges when objected to, and gives courts authority to reject such challenges if they appear linked to protected characteristics - even unconsciously - by evaluating factors like questioning patterns or disproportionate use against specific groups. The law directly affects prospective jurors from protected groups who might otherwise be excluded through biased challenges, aiming to reduce discriminatory jury selection. It applies to criminal trials starting January 1, 2027, and civil trials starting January 1, 2029.
SB 2343 would amend Mississippi's workers' compensation law to remove the 520-week cap on permanent total disability benefits. Specifically, it changes Section 71-3-17(a) to require that compensation for permanent total disability be paid to the injured worker until their death, rather than stopping at 520 weeks. This directly affects workers with severe, permanent disabilities like loss of both arms, legs, or eyes. The bill maintains existing caps for other disability types (e.g., temporary total or permanent partial disability), which remain limited to 520 weeks.
SB 2327 consolidates Mississippi's scattered expungement laws into a single, unified statute. It allows eligible individuals to remove certain misdemeanor convictions (first-offense non-traffic misdemeanors) and felony convictions (after 5 years, excluding violent crimes, arson, drug trafficking, repeat DUI, and gun offenses) from public records. The bill also creates new pathways for expunging first-offense DUI, completed intervention court cases, and minor alcohol purchase convictions by minors. It specifies that expungement does not erase nonpublic law enforcement records or prevent employers from asking about expunged offenses, while repealing outdated related statutes.
This bill prohibits Mississippi counties and municipalities from using automated camera or radar systems to enforce motor vehicle insurance requirements. Specifically, it bans local governments from creating or enforcing ordinances that use such technology to track uninsured vehicles or impose fines for insurance violations. Existing systems used for this purpose must be removed by October 1, 2025. The law directly affects local law enforcement and revenue collection methods, not drivers' insurance obligations.
SB 2335 changes how certain moving violations against commercial driver's license (CDL) holders are handled in Mississippi. It specifies that if a CDL holder is driving a vehicle not requiring a CDL (like a regular car) or if a traffic ticket doesn't note the violation under CDL law, the offense will be treated as if committed by a regular driver, applying standard license penalties instead of CDL-specific penalties. This does not apply to violations under Chapter 11 of Title 63 (which covers CDL-specific offenses). The law takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects CDL holders who commit traffic violations while driving non-commercial vehicles or with unmarked tickets.
SB 2355 organizes existing Mississippi law related to specialized intervention courts by moving specific code sections to new locations in the statutes. It updates provisions for the Alyce Griffin Clarke Intervention Court Act (covering drug, mental health, and veteran treatment courts), the Drug Court Fund, and the Rivers McGraw Mental Health Treatment Court Act. The bill makes minor technical revisions to these codes and prepares them for potential future amendments. It does not create new programs or change current court operations but restructures the legal framework to streamline future updates. The bill was referred to committee but died there in February 2026.
HB 1144, the "Released-Time Moral Instruction Act of 2026," would allow Mississippi public school students to receive religious instruction off-site during school hours. It requires school boards to survey students and obtain parental consent to excuse them for one hour weekly to attend religious programs at their place of worship or a designated location. The bill prohibits schools from providing or facilitating instruction on campus, ensures students aren’t penalized for missing class, and mandates they continue regular academic work if not participating. It specifically applies to students with parental consent and does not require schools to cover costs beyond an initial survey. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
SB 2352 allows Mississippi municipalities, police departments, and sheriff's offices to contract with private nonprofit school boards to provide certified law enforcement security services. The bill directly affects private nonprofit schools by enabling them to access off-duty police officers for campus security, who may wear official uniforms and use department equipment under agreed terms. Key provisions include requiring school districts to secure liability insurance that indemnifies the law enforcement agency, and mandating that agencies only approve uniform/equipment use if insurance covers the jurisdiction. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee in February 2026.
