SB 2381, the "Uniform Public Expression Act," creates a legal process to quickly dismiss lawsuits targeting protected speech in Mississippi. It applies to civil cases where someone is sued for communicating on public issues in government proceedings or exercising free speech, press, assembly, or association rights under state or federal constitutions. The bill allows defendants to file a special motion to dismiss the lawsuit within 60 days, automatically staying all other court proceedings until the motion is decided. It does not cover government employees acting officially, lawsuits enforcing public health/safety laws, or commercial speech disputes.
SB 2463 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) to allocate at least 30% of the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds - up to the federal maximum - to child care vouchers each fiscal year. This would directly help low-income families qualifying for TANF by expanding access to subsidized child care through the Child Care Payment Program. The bill mandates that these funds be transferred to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) for use as vouchers, rather than being used for other TANF services. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted, so it has not taken effect (despite a planned July 1, 2026, effective date).
SB 2380 requires auto insurers in Mississippi to reinstate policies if cancellation notices for nonpayment are sent to an incorrect address (not the one on file), allowing insured drivers to pay overdue premiums and restore coverage under original terms. It directly affects policyholders who miss cancellation notices due to address errors, ensuring they aren’t unfairly dropped for nonpayment. The bill amends insurance notice rules to mandate 30-45 days’ notice for cancellation (depending on date), with specific reinstatement rights if notices are improperly mailed. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
SB 2451 would have required Mississippi's Department of Human Services and Medicaid Division to verify eligibility for Medicaid and SNAP benefits at least quarterly between full reviews. It would have mandated checking citizenship or immigration status during enrollment and redeterminations, barring non-citizens from these programs unless they meet specific federal definitions (citing 8 USC § 1641(B) and 7 USC § 2015(f)). The bill also required hospitals accepting Medicaid to collect citizenship status on admission forms and submit quarterly reports on patient status, plus annual reports to state leaders on hospital visits tied to immigration status. The legislation died in committee in February 2026 without becoming law.
SB 2404 is a procedural bill that reorganizes Mississippi's legal code by moving Section 21-39-27 to a new location. This section currently allows municipalities to issue credit cards to city officials and employees for official travel expenses, requiring monthly reporting of receipts and prohibiting unauthorized use (with personal liability for misuse). The bill does not create new policy or change existing rules - it only updates the code's structure. It died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
SB 2388, the "Kids Online Protection and Anti-Grooming Act," requires online platforms (like social media, video games, and messaging apps) that interact with minors to take specific safety steps. It mandates platforms to prevent unsolicited adult-minor connections, notify parents if a minor makes a microtransaction or views explicit content, and protect minors' location data. The law excludes schools, email services, government sites, and certain business tools from coverage. Platforms violating the law face lawsuits for damages, court costs, and attorney fees, though parents can opt out of protections with written consent. The bill died in committee in early 2026 and did not become law.
SB 2421, the "Mississippi Fair Housing Act," prohibits housing discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status in real estate transactions and financing. It directly affects real estate brokers, sellers, lenders, and property owners by banning discriminatory practices like refusing service, imposing different terms, or making misleading statements about housing availability. Key provisions include voiding discriminatory restrictions in property sales/leases, prohibiting biased financing applications, and protecting against retaliation for reporting violations. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
SB 2443 would have removed barriers to licensing anesthesiologist assistants in Mississippi. The bill revised three sections of state law to delete prohibitions that previously blocked their licensure and restricted their ability to administer certain anesthesia during surgeries. Key changes included adding National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) certification as an acceptable credential for licensure and removing language that prevented physician assistants from performing specific anesthesia-related tasks. This would have directly affected anesthesiologist assistants seeking to practice in Mississippi and expanded their scope of permitted medical services under supervision. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
This bill clarifies that podiatrists in Mississippi may treat conditions of the foot and ankle, but cannot treat at or above the knee. It requires podiatrists to complete approved training for surgical treatments and mandates that ankle surgery can only be performed in state-accredited hospitals. These changes would directly affect licensed podiatrists and patients seeking foot and ankle care in Mississippi, ensuring treatments remain within defined boundaries and hospital settings.
SB 2410 creates liability protection for Mississippi counties, municipalities, and commercial entities that substantially comply with nationally recognized cybersecurity standards. It establishes a rebuttable presumption against liability in cybersecurity incidents if entities adopt programs aligned with specific frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, HIPAA security rules, or ISO 27000 standards. The bill requires demonstrating compliance through documentation and shifts the burden of proof in lawsuits: defendants must first show substantial compliance, then plaintiffs must prove non-compliance. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and does not create new private lawsuits or affect existing causes of action.
SB 2406 modifies Mississippi's road construction funding rules. It exempts the Office of State Aid Road Construction (OSARC) from Public Procurement Review Board approval for personal service contracts, increases OSARC's allowable vehicle fleet from seven to 13 cars, and requires counties that fail to spend allocated bridge repair funds for two consecutive years to forfeit those unspent monies. Forfeited funds would then be reallocated annually to counties with ready bridge projects lacking funding. The bill also adjusts how funds are managed for local bridge replacement programs.
SB 2469 would require Mississippi's State Personnel Board to implement a 6% annual salary increase for all full-time state employees funded by the General Fund, effective July 1, 2026, with part-time employees receiving a proportional share. The bill directs the Board to amend the variable compensation plan to reflect this increase and brings forward related sections of state law regarding annual reporting on compensation. This policy change directly affects state employees whose salaries are paid from the General Fund, not private or federal funds. The bill was referred to the Appropriations committee but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.
