HB 1360 directs the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to install directional signs on both sides of I-22 approaching Exit 26 in Marshall County, Mississippi, to guide drivers to the Marshall County Fairgrounds. The signs must be placed on the east and west corridors near the off-ramp entrances and will be paid for by Marshall County, following MDOT's standard permitting process. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have required these signs to be in place by July 1, 2026, primarily affecting visitors traveling to the fairgrounds.
HB 1299 raises the threshold for public purchases that can be made without competitive bidding from $5,000 to $10,000 for both general goods/services and certain public works projects. This affects state agencies, local governments, and community colleges when purchasing items under $10,000, allowing them to skip competitive bidding for these smaller transactions. For purchases between $10,000 and $75,000, the bill requires at least two competitive written bids but does not mandate public advertising. The bill does not change existing rules for larger purchases over $75,000, which still require competitive bidding and advertising.
HB 1293 creates a new "capital rape" offense in Mississippi for individuals aged 18+ who sexually assault a child under 12 years old and cause damage to the child's sexual organs. This provision would subject offenders to mandatory death or life imprisonment sentences, replacing the existing statutory rape framework for this specific scenario. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of this aggravated child sexual assault, with penalties triggered only when physical damage to the child's sexual organs occurs during the crime. The legislation died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 1283 requires Mississippi medical examiners to document any vaccines or emergency medical treatments given to a child or infant within 90 days before sudden, unexpected death (including SIDS, SUID, or SDY cases) in autopsy reports. It also mandates similar documentation and reporting for sudden deaths suspected to be caused by SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) in individuals under age 20. Medical examiners must submit these cases to the national SUID/SDY registry coordinated by the CDC and NIH. Failure to report within 30 days incurs fines up to $5,000 for repeated offenses. The bill applies directly to medical examiners handling these specific death cases in Mississippi.
HB 1298 requires Mississippi school boards to publish detailed reports of all compensation paid to school board members (including per diems and travel reimbursements) and all district employees (teachers, administrators, staff). The bill mandates that these reports specify exact amounts for each individual, covering both salaried and non-salaried personnel. It would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law. This requirement directly affects school districts, board members, and all employees receiving compensation from public schools.
HB 1273 requires owners or operators of large motor vehicles (over 10,000 pounds gross weight) used for transporting property on Mississippi public highways to maintain insurance or bonds meeting federal standards (49 CFR part 387). It directly affects businesses operating such vehicles that currently fall outside existing insurance requirements for carriers like common or contract carriers. The bill establishes a minimum insurance amount to cover public injury or property damage claims, aligning with U.S. Department of Transportation rules. This creates a new regulatory requirement for a specific category of commercial vehicles not previously subject to these insurance mandates.
HB 1291 establishes a formula for allocating state funds to employ school attendance officers, requiring one officer for every 2,000 children of compulsory school age enrolled in a county's public schools (or a major fraction thereof). It also increases the minimum base salary for these officers. This bill directly affects school districts and the State Department of Education, which would use the formula to determine funding allocations and pay officers. The changes standardize staffing requirements and improve compensation without altering existing duties or qualifications for school attendance officers.
HB 1366 would have increased penalties for practicing dental hygiene or dentistry without a license in Mississippi. For unlicensed dental hygiene, fines would rise to $2,000-$5,000 or 2-6 months in jail (currently the same). For unlicensed dentistry, it would elevate the offense to a felony: first offenses could mean $3,000-$10,000 fines or 1-3 years in prison, with harsher penalties for repeat violations (up to $10,000 fines or 3-10 years). Courts could also order offenders to pay restitution for victim costs. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1351 creates a dedicated fund in the Mississippi State Treasury to compensate Claiborne County for hosting the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant. The fund receives 15% of nuclear in lieu tax revenue and annual contributions from electrical utilities (2 cents per kWh produced plus a percentage of the plant's assessed value). Monies must be used for local safety programs, healthcare services, public schools, and infrastructure improvements directly benefiting the county. An advisory committee oversees fund allocation, and the Department of Revenue conducts triennial audits to ensure accountability.
HB 1306 creates the "Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act" to establish a statewide grading system for Mississippi's community public water systems (those serving at least 15 year-round connections or 25 regular consumers). It requires the Mississippi State Board of Health to assign annual letter grades ("A" to "F") based on water quality violations, financial health, infrastructure condition, customer satisfaction, and other objective metrics. The board must publish these grades online by 2028, and water systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days. This directly affects small water systems across Mississippi, promoting transparency and accountability for water safety and service quality.
HB 1370 would have authorized nurse practitioners (NPs) to certify diabetes care plans and prescribe therapeutic shoes, modifications, or inserts for Medicare/Medicaid patients with diabetes, but only when working under a collaborative relationship with a physician. It required NPs to practice "incident to" a physician’s services, aligning with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines. The bill aimed to expand access to diabetes-related footwear care by allowing NPs - already managing diabetes under physician supervision - to issue these prescriptions. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
HB 1365 (Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Act) increases rebates for film productions filming in Mississippi. It raises the base rebate rate from 25% to 40% of eligible costs spent in the state and adds a 10% bonus rebate for productions featuring Mississippi's cultural, historical, or natural landmarks (like Civil Rights sites, blues music history, or the Mississippi River). The bill removes annual caps on rebates for individual productions and total yearly disbursements. This directly affects motion picture production companies that spend at least $50,000 in Mississippi, providing them with higher financial incentives to film there.
