HB 1232 prohibits knowingly transporting unauthorized aliens (people without legal U.S. immigration status) into Mississippi as a felony, with penalties including 1-5 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. It also criminalizes forging government documents to help unauthorized aliens appear legal, with similar penalties. The bill increases penalties for employers failing to verify immigration status (E-verification), bans unauthorized aliens from labor union leadership roles, and requires state agencies to stop providing public benefits without immigration status checks. It died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.
HB 1239 would create an alternative Mississippi state ID card without a photograph requirement for residents with sincerely held religious beliefs prohibiting photography. It would allow these individuals to provide standard identification documents (like a birth certificate) instead of a photo, while maintaining compliance with federal Real ID Act standards. The exemption would apply specifically to the state ID card system, not driver's licenses. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was not enacted.
HB 1226 would have increased the service charge for dishonored checks from $40 to $100 in specific notices sent when a payee may pursue criminal prosecution for check fraud under Mississippi law. It directly affects individuals and businesses who write checks that bounce, requiring them to pay the check amount plus the service charge within 15 days of receiving a formal notice. The bill revised notice templates to specify the $100 charge for criminal prosecution notices and kept the $40 charge for standard civil notices, while adding new requirements for electronic payment dishonor notices. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
HB 1235, the "Mississippi Heroes Support Fund Act," would create a state fund to provide supplemental annual payments to qualified law enforcement officers. The fund would be financed by 50% of certain fines/assessments, donations, and interest, and distributed by December 31 each year to full-time certified officers with at least one year of service who are "in good standing" with their agency. A key requirement is that all law enforcement agencies must obtain accreditation from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission by December 31, 2029, to qualify for fund distribution. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1245 would allow qualified Native American residents of Mississippi to receive free resident hunting and fishing licenses upon presenting a federally recognized tribal identification card (containing photo, name, address, and date of birth) at the time of application. The bill specifically amends license fee provisions to exempt these individuals from standard fees while requiring the tribal ID as proof of eligibility. It affects Mississippi residents who are members of federally recognized tribes and directly impacts the state’s licensing system for hunting and fishing. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 1244 would allow parents or guardians to exempt children from school or childcare vaccination requirements based on religious, philosophical, or conscientious beliefs. To claim this exemption, parents must submit a notarized affidavit to the school or facility detailing which vaccines are objected to, acknowledging vaccination risks/benefits, and confirming they understand outbreak protocols. The exemption would require annual renewal and could be revoked during disease outbreaks if a child remains unvaccinated. This bill directly affects students enrolled in Mississippi schools, colleges, and licensed childcare facilities, expanding exemption options beyond existing medical exemptions.
HB 1229 requires that in Mississippi criminal cases, the first money paid by a defendant to the court must be used to pay restitution to victims. After restitution is fully paid, subsequent payments go toward court costs, then assessments, and finally fines or penalties. The bill also amends court procedures to require judges to consider a defendant's future ability to pay when setting restitution amounts. This directly affects criminal defendants, victims seeking restitution, and court staff managing payments.
HB 1242 establishes the Mississippi Dyslexia Generative Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Development Program, creating a state-funded, open-access dyslexia curriculum and AI system for use in public schools, correctional facilities, adult education, and workforce programs. The curriculum, developed by Lighthouse Academy for Dyslexia and the Mississippi Dyslexia Institute, will be freely available without licensing fees to Mississippi public institutions while requiring clear attribution to the founding partners. The bill designates this curriculum as Mississippi-approved for dyslexia instruction in public schools and aligns it with existing state literacy requirements. It aims to improve literacy outcomes for individuals with dyslexia across educational and correctional settings through evidence-based, AI-supported instruction.
HB 1252 prohibits Mississippi health care licensing boards from disciplining or threatening to discipline licensed health care providers (such as doctors, nurses, or therapists) for exercising free speech, including social media posts, unless the board proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the speech directly caused physical harm to a patient with whom the provider had a current patient relationship. The bill requires boards to provide any complaint leading to potential license revocation to the provider within seven days of receipt. This law directly affects health care practitioners by protecting their speech rights while setting a high standard of proof for any disciplinary action related to speech.
HB 1249 would allow Mississippi state employees to recover personal or medical leave they used to receive pay during federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave by repaying the amount they were paid. Employees would pay back the exact compensation received during that leave period, and their leave balance would be restored. The bill does not change FMLA leave rules but provides a specific process for restoring accrued leave time. If enacted, the policy would take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 1258 would require a special election in the North Tippah School District on November 3, 2026, to let residents vote on whether to close Falkner Attendance Center. If a majority votes "No," the school board cannot close the facility or propose closing it for eight school years. The bill amends state law to mandate this voter approval process before school closures, overriding the board's usual discretion under existing rules. This directly affects North Tippah School District residents and the future of Falkner Attendance Center.
HB 1233 creates the Mississippi Heroes Support Fund, funded by an optional $100 fine from first-time speeding violators (who can choose to pay this extra fee instead of the standard fine to dismiss their ticket). The fund provides annual payments to eligible full-time certified law enforcement officers in Mississippi who have completed at least one year of service and are in good standing with their agencies. To qualify, officers must work for an agency accredited by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission by December 31, 2029. The fund also accepts donations and earns interest, and it is structured as a special account that does not expire or lapse into the general state fund.
