HB 1393 creates the Mississippi Energy Infrastructure Fund in the state treasury to support energy-related projects that boost economic development. The fund provides grants, loans, or financial assistance to local entities (like counties, municipalities, or economic development groups) for approved projects, such as expanding transmission lines, pipelines, or facilities that improve energy infrastructure. Projects must demonstrate significant regional impact or enhance economic development sites, and electric utilities cannot directly receive funding. The Mississippi Development Authority administers the fund, sets application requirements, and has sole discretion to approve assistance based on project eligibility.
SB 2103 removes a requirement in Mississippi law that professional school counselors must spend at least 80% of their time delivering services "as outlined by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics." The bill specifically deletes this provision from Section 37-9-79 of the Mississippi Code, which currently governs counselor duties. This change directly affects all K-12 professional school counselors in Mississippi public schools by eliminating the specific reference to the ASCA Code of Ethics in their service delivery requirements. The bill does not alter other counselor qualifications or service requirements outlined in the same section.
HB 925, the CLEAR Act, creates a Peer Committee to review newly adopted state agency rules and report to the legislature on whether they align with the original law's intent. It requires annual reports on up to 30 rules per year (starting at 15 in year one) and mandates a triennial evaluation of Mississippi's Medicaid non-emergency transportation program to identify cost-effective service delivery. The bill also establishes a State Board of Health Professions to coordinate health regulatory boards, assess coordination needs, evaluate regulated professions, and resolve practice conflicts. These provisions aim to improve state agency accountability and efficiency through structured oversight and interagency collaboration.
SB 2637 amends Mississippi law to specify that the Northeast District livestock show may be held anywhere within its 18-county area (including Alcorn, Benton, Lee, and others), removing any prior requirement for a specific host city. This directly affects livestock show organizers and county officials in the Northeast District by providing clear flexibility for event planning. The key provision changes Section 69-5-103 to explicitly state the show must be held "within the Northeast District," aligning with current practice but formalizing the location flexibility. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 939 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's Length-of-Service Award Program (LOSAP), which provides paid service awards to volunteer firefighters. The bill delays the program's sunset date beyond July 1, 2029 (currently specified in the law), ensuring continued funding for the program. LOSAP awards, capped at $500 annually per eligible volunteer firefighter, are designed to recruit and retain active volunteer fire department members who meet registration requirements. The program is administered by a board including the Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Coordinator, with funds held in a state treasury special fund. This extension directly affects volunteer firefighters in Mississippi who qualify under the program's existing rules.
HB 1772 extends the repeal dates for specific Mississippi laws establishing the Department of Human Services (DHS). It delays the sunset of Sections 43-1-1, 43-1-2, and 43-1-3 (among others) from July 1, 2029, to a later date specified in the bill. The bill directly affects the DHS structure, maintaining its current legal framework, including the Executive Director's role, oversight committee, and operational authority. This is a procedural adjustment to prevent automatic repeal of these foundational DHS statutes, with no new policy changes or program modifications.
HB 1761 extends the expiration dates for several Mississippi laws governing festival wine permits. The bill amends specific code sections to delay when provisions allowing the Department of Revenue to issue these permits, permit holders to sell alcohol under certain conditions, and businesses to have financial interests in the permits would automatically expire. It also extends the deadline for an annual tax on festival permits. This change directly affects businesses holding festival wine permits and the Department of Revenue, ensuring they can continue operating under current rules without immediate disruption. The bill maintains the existing framework for festival wine permits without altering their core requirements.
SB 2747, the Mississippi Transparency in Consumer Legal Funding Act, regulates companies that provide advance payments to people with legal claims (like personal injury cases) in exchange for a share of future settlement proceeds. It requires these contracts to be written in plain language, include a 10-day right to cancel without penalty, and contain specific disclosures about fees. The law also prohibits prepayment penalties, bans attorneys from having financial ties to funding companies they refer clients to, and mandates that all funding companies register with the Secretary of State. This directly affects consumers using legal funding, the companies offering it, and attorneys handling such cases in Mississippi.
SB 2805 amends Mississippi law to require courts to send copies of criminal convictions or youth court rulings involving child abuse or neglect to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS). This directly affects parents or guardians convicted of felony-level physical or sexual abuse, or neglect posing a life threat, who may then be added to MDCPS’s state central registry. The bill clarifies that a "substantiated perpetrator" must have a court-ordered conviction or adjudication, and mandates that registry entries include the perpetrator’s name and address while keeping the registry confidential. These changes aim to standardize how abuse/neglect cases are documented and shared within the state’s child protection system.
SB 2867 modifies Mississippi's income tax credit for employers offering dependent child care benefits. It caps the annual credit at $3,000 per child (down from potentially higher amounts) and requires employers to certify details like employee names, stipend amounts, and the licensed status of child care providers to the Department of Revenue. The bill applies to employers providing direct payments to licensed Mississippi child care facilities or stipends for employee children during work hours. It clarifies that credits cover eligible expenses like facility costs or stipends but cannot be used for expenses already deducted elsewhere.
SB 2848 requires towing companies in Mississippi to use a third-party vendor (approved by the Department of Revenue) to notify vehicle owners and lienholders within 7 days of towing, using certified mail. It shortens the timeline for owners to claim their vehicles from 30 days to 30 days after notification, and mandates that if no claim is made within that period, the vendor must notify the Department of Revenue to remove all liens from the vehicle’s record. This directly affects towing companies (who must follow new notification rules), vehicle owners (who get faster notice), and lienholders (who receive formal sale notices). The bill also requires towing companies to maintain detailed records for three years and mandates specific notification formats to ensure compliance.
SB 2898 directs the State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to transfer $20 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Disaster Assistance Trust Fund upon the bill's effective date. This technical amendment reallocates existing state funds without creating new programs or changing eligibility for disaster assistance. The transfer affects state budget accounting by moving money between two designated funds (Fund No. 6499C00000 to Fund No. 3372500000) to support disaster response resources. The bill has no direct impact on citizens or businesses but modifies how state funds are allocated. It takes effect immediately upon passage.
