HB 1264, the "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Access and Protection Act," requires digital asset kiosk operators in Mississippi to hold a money transmission license and report all kiosk locations to the state department. The bill mandates clear disclosures on kiosks about transaction fees, exchange rates, and that digital asset transactions are irrevocable, along with fraud warnings and a visible customer service phone number. Operators must provide detailed receipts after every transaction and limit new customers to $3,000 in daily transactions for their first three days of use. The daily limit will adjust annually for inflation starting in 2027.
HB 1329 would have designated the I-55/I-20 overpass (known as "The Stack") in Hinds and Rankin Counties, Mississippi, as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Overpass" and required the Mississippi Department of Transportation to install signage. This procedural bill, which did not become law, aimed solely to rename a specific bridge structure for memorial purposes. It had no policy or funding implications beyond the signage requirement. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and is not in effect.
HB 1369 reduces the penalty for real estate brokers who miss their license renewal deadline from 100% to 50% of the renewal fee. This directly affects licensed real estate brokers in Mississippi who fail to pay their annual renewal fee on time. The bill amends Section 73-35-17 to change the late fee calculation, while keeping the base renewal fee capped at $75 per year. The policy change provides a more lenient financial penalty for late renewals without altering the required renewal amount itself.
HB 1344 automatically removes certain misdemeanor and felony criminal convictions from public records after 7 or 10 years, respectively, for eligible individuals who have completed their sentences. It applies to people with eligible convictions (excluding serious offenses like violent crimes, DUIs, or sex offenses), allowing up to four misdemeanor convictions and two felony convictions to be cleared. The Department of Public Safety will handle this process without requiring a court petition, using a new computer system by 2027. This law does not replace existing petition-based expungement options but adds an automatic pathway for qualifying records.
HB 1319 would set a fixed maximum speed of 65 mph for all school buses transporting children on authorized trips (including regular routes and other trips like field trips), regardless of the posted speed limit on the road. This directly affects school bus drivers and transportation contractors operating in Mississippi, replacing the previous rule that allowed higher speeds on interstates. The bill establishes a $25-$100 fine per violation for exceeding 65 mph, with possible termination of driving employment. It would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.
HB 1309 would require Mississippi public school staff to notify parents or guardians in writing within seven days if a student publicly identifies as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth or uses gender-segregated school programs, activities, or facilities that conflict with their birth sex. The bill prohibits school staff from being disciplined for refusing to use a student's preferred gender or pronoun and mandates that parents must provide written consent before staff can address a student by their preferred pronoun. Confidential discussions with school counselors about gender identity are exempt from the notification requirement. The legislation aims to involve parents early in decisions about their child's gender identity to foster trust and support student well-being, as stated in its legislative intent.
HB 1349 would have excluded nonviolent offenders from Mississippi's habitual offender sentencing laws, which currently impose mandatory maximum prison terms or life sentences for repeat felony convictions. The bill amended two sections (99-19-81 and 99-19-83) to remove nonviolent offenses from the definition of "crime of violence" used in these penalties and repealed a separate law governing repeat drug offense penalties. This would have directly affected individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies (like many drug offenses) who had prior convictions, preventing them from facing the harshest mandatory sentences under habitual offender statutes. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 1267, the Mississippi Retail Marijuana Act, would have authorized the personal use of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older and established a regulatory framework managed by the State Department of Health. The bill required state licensing for marijuana businesses (including retail stores, cultivation facilities, and manufacturers), mandated a seed-to-sale tracking system for all products, and prohibited public consumption, sales to minors, and driving under the influence. It created a "Marijuana Cash Fund" to hold revenue from licensing fees and fines, while also setting requirements for vendor training and age verification. The bill aimed to regulate marijuana similarly to alcohol, focusing on consumer safety and tax revenue.
This bill amends Mississippi law to allow courts to dismiss certain commercial driver's license cases without a formal conviction, provided the driver meets specific eligibility criteria. The change removes a previous restriction that prevented nonadjudication for commercial drivers who have not been formally convicted of driving under the influence. The bill does not alter existing penalties for DUI offenses or the rules governing license suspensions and interlock device requirements. It applies to commercial drivers who qualify for nonadjudication under current court procedures for first-time DUI offenses. The legislation focuses on procedural flexibility rather than changing substantive DUI laws or penalties.
HB 1282 proposes to provide certified Mississippi law enforcement officers with an additional $600 annual payment after completing one year of full-time service. It directly affects full-time certified officers employed by state or local agencies, excluding clerical staff, part-time workers, or those in specific non-enforcement roles. The bill establishes a state-funded "Supplemental Salary Pay for Law Enforcement Fund" to cover these payments and creates an appeals process for denied payments. Officers would receive this payment in addition to their regular salary, with eligibility verified through the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.
HB 1343 designates June 19 (Juneteenth) as a legal holiday in Mississippi, requiring state government offices to close on that date. This bill amends Mississippi Code Section 3-3-7 to add Juneteenth to the state's official list of legal holidays, which currently includes days like Independence Day and Christmas. The change would directly affect state employees and public institutions that observe legal holidays, aligning Mississippi with other states recognizing Juneteenth. It does not alter private business operations but establishes a fixed date holiday for state entities.
HB 1328 establishes rules for contracts between vision insurers, vision benefit managers, and eye care providers (like optometrists and ophthalmologists) in Mississippi. It prohibits insurers from using unfair tactics such as forcing providers into networks, treating different eye doctors differently, or changing contract terms without clear written notice and provider approval. The bill also bans insurers from using "extrapolation" (guessing audit results for unreviewed claims) and requires them to disclose contract details publicly. These changes aim to create fairer business relationships and give providers clearer rights to challenge disputes.
