HB 1380 (Mississippi House Bill 1380) adjusts homestead exemption rules for surviving spouses and applicants. It states that if a deceased spouse qualified for a higher exemption due to age or disability but the surviving spouse’s status is unknown and no new application was filed, the surviving spouse will automatically be moved to the primary applicant status with the lowest exemption tier. The bill also allows homeowners who filed timely applications but didn’t disclose eligibility for additional exemptions to submit amended applications for review by tax authorities. This directly affects Mississippi homeowners, particularly surviving spouses and those needing to update exemption status without reapplying annually.
HB 1633 revises key definitions for Mississippi's Site Development Grant Program, specifically clarifying "eligible expenditures" and "site development improvements." This affects counties, municipalities, and economic development entities applying for grants to improve industrial property. The bill defines eligible expenditures to include fees for consultants, contributions to infrastructure (like utilities or roads), and property acquisition costs, while "site development improvements" now explicitly cover drainage, transportation, utilities, and environmental mitigation. These revisions ensure consistent application of the program for projects on publicly owned or "optioned" industrial property.
SB 2824 extends deadlines for property tax exemptions and fee-in-lieu agreements affecting energy projects and qualified businesses in Mississippi. It pushes back the construction start deadline for 50% property tax exemption eligibility for energy projects from 2024 to December 31, 2036, and requires counties/municipalities to approve these exemptions by July 1, 2035. The bill also reduces the minimum fee-in-lieu payment (a fee instead of property taxes) for qualifying projects from one-third to one-tenth of annual property taxes, applying to businesses with $60 million+ investments or $100 million+ investments in disaster-affected areas. These changes directly impact new energy developments, large-scale businesses, and local governments managing tax agreements.
SB 2712 allows Mississippi small loan lenders to charge borrowers a fee for nonrecording insurance instead of the actual cost of recording a security document for a loan. The fee cannot exceed the standard filing fee for a financing statement (UCC1 form) charged by the Secretary of State. This applies to loans of $100 or more, and lenders must clearly disclose that the insurance is optional and not required for loan approval. Borrowers can choose this fee-based option without affecting their loan terms or eligibility.
SB 2567 requires Mississippi's Medicaid program to pay an out-of-state pediatric teaching hospital (located in a city bordering the Mississippi River and meeting specific criteria) if federal Medicare/Medicaid authorities approve increased funding for such hospitals. The bill ensures that costs for treating Mississippi Medicaid children under 21 at this hospital do not exceed costs for similar care in Mississippi hospitals, and prevents in-state hospitals from receiving lower payments due to these out-of-state payments. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies only to hospitals meeting strict requirements like maintaining pediatric specialty programs and dedicated beds for patients under 21.
HB 1404 creates a new criminal offense called "fraudulent utility conversion" in Mississippi, making it illegal for landlords to pocket tenant payments for utilities without paying the provider, causing service interruptions. Landlords convicted face penalties ranging from up to six months in jail and $1,000 fines for under $1,000 in unpaid utilities, to up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 fines for amounts over $25,000. The bill also explicitly adds utility payments to a landlord’s legal duties under existing law (Section 89-8-23) and requires courts to order landlords to reimburse tenants for unpaid utility fees plus related costs like medical or food expenses. This directly affects landlords who fail to pay utilities and tenants who lose service due to this failure, effective July 1, 2026.
SB 2126 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders under Mississippi law from changing their names. This applies to all registered sex offenders in Mississippi, including those convicted of offenses involving force against victims as defined in the law. Violating this ban is a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both. The bill amends existing sex offender registration statutes to require registrants to disclose former names and enforce the name change prohibition.
SB 3100 appropriates $371.8 million from Mississippi's General Fund to cover bank service charges and pay principal/interest on state bonds due between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. It also allocates $51.3 million from special funds for general obligation bonds and $41.7 million for revenue bonds maturing in fiscal 2027. The bill ensures timely payments to bondholders by directing the State Treasurer to disburse funds from specified accounts as scheduled. This is a routine funding measure for existing debt obligations, not a policy change.
SB 3052 appropriates $3,223,525 from the State General Fund and $638,140 from Special Funds to cover expenses for the Governor's Office, staff, and operation of the Governor's Mansion during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill authorizes 46 positions (39 permanent, 7 time-limited) for the Governor's Office and requires adherence to standard accounting and reporting practices. It also mandates preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement when bids are equal. This is a routine funding measure with no substantive policy changes.
HB 1571 manages unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in Mississippi by requiring state agencies to report on remaining funds by October 2025. It directs the transfer of available ARPA funds to specific state funds (like the ARPA-MDOT Maintenance Project Fund) and mandates that all ARPA funds must be fully expended by December 31, 2026. The bill requires grant recipients to certify they will complete projects using other funds if deadlines pass, and creates new special funds for programs like transportation maintenance and healthcare workforce development. This affects state agencies administering ARPA grants and the entities receiving those grants, focusing on reallocating leftover funds before expiration.
SB 2863 establishes the Bayou Casotte Industrial Zone in unincorporated Jackson County, Mississippi, to promote industrial growth and economic development. The bill directly affects property owners and businesses within the defined zone by prohibiting municipalities from annexing any portion of it, preventing additional property taxes or municipal services without equivalent benefits. Key provisions include setting specific boundaries for the zone, declaring annexation attempts void, and ensuring existing tax exemptions and economic incentives remain available. This policy change aims to maintain the zone's competitiveness for industrial investment by avoiding dual taxation that could harm local economic growth.
HB 1153 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of cell-cultivated dairy products in Mississippi. It expands definitions to clarify terms like "cell-cultured dairy product" and "cultivated-protein food product," requiring retailers and food service establishments to provide clear consumer disclosures about product authenticity at the point of sale. The bill also strengthens the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s regulatory authority, including enforcement powers, inspection procedures, and civil penalties for violations related to labeling and misbranding of meat and non-meat products. State agencies, public schools, and institutions of higher learning must adopt procurement policies preventing the purchase of misbranded or cultivated-protein food products.
