SB 2288 expands Mississippi’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) incentive program to allow schools to use grants for purchasing equipment that supports programs leading to industry certifications. It directly affects public schools and students enrolled in CTE programs, providing $600 per student who earns a qualifying industry certification (defined as linked to high-demand occupations or meeting wage criteria). The bill requires annual reporting on student participation, certification attainment, and grant usage by schools, and extends the repeal date for the 2004 workforce consolidation act to 2029. These changes aim to strengthen workforce training by aligning CTE programs with local economic needs.
SB 2778 extends the deadline for collecting monthly fees from offenders on probation, parole, or other field supervision in Mississippi. Currently set to end July 1, 2030, this extension delays when the fee collection authority expires. The bill maintains a $55 monthly fee, with $50 deposited into the Community Service Revolving Fund (used for restitution centers, drug programs, and supervision services), $3 into the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund, and $2 into the Training Revolving Fund. This affects offenders under supervision and the state funds they support.
SB 2825 extends the expiration dates for Mississippi's Health Care Industry Zone tax incentives, which were set to expire in 2023, to July 1, 2028. The bill directly affects health care facilities that meet specific job creation (25+ new full-time jobs) or investment thresholds ($10 million minimum capital investment), allowing them to maintain property tax exemptions, sales tax exemptions on construction materials, and fee-in-lieu tax agreements. Key provisions include extending the repealer date for the Health Care Industry Zone Act itself (Section 57-117-11) and extending related tax exemption statutes (Sections 27-31-101, 27-31-104, and 27-65-101), ensuring existing incentives remain available for qualifying facilities.
HB 1596 requires licensed money transmitters (including virtual currency kiosks) in Mississippi to implement specific data security measures to protect customer information. Key provisions include mandating an information security program with a designated responsible individual, requiring risk assessments, and obligating licensees to notify the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance if unencrypted customer data is acquired without authorization. The bill also requires licensees to provide training to recognize financial abuse of elders and disclose specific transaction details to customers. These measures directly affect money transmitters and their customers by strengthening data protection and transparency in financial transactions.
This bill creates the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship within the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to support and coordinate apprenticeship programs statewide. It establishes an advisory Apprenticeship Council to guide the office and defines key terms like "apprentice" and "apprenticeship program" for clarity. The office will develop rules, provide technical assistance to employers, and promote apprenticeship opportunities - without requiring programs or sponsors to register with the office. This structure aims to strengthen workforce development by standardizing apprenticeship systems across Mississippi.
SB 2834 authorizes Mississippi vehicle owners to obtain distinctive license tags supporting "Shower Power" (listed as item "an" in the bill) by paying a $30 annual fee. This fee is split: $24 goes directly to Shower Power, $1 funds the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, $2 supports highway maintenance, and $1 goes to another state fund. The tags must be displayed alongside the regular license plate, and owners must surrender the regular tag when obtaining the distinctive one. This bill affects any Mississippi resident who owns a vehicle and chooses to pay the additional fee to display support for Shower Power.
Mississippi's HB 1224, the "Keeping Kids Safe Online Act," requires online platforms (interactive computer services) to obtain parental consent before allowing minors (under 18) to create accounts or access their services. It prohibits platforms from knowingly letting minors access material harmful to minors or communicate with adults, and bans allowing others to access a minor's personal profile ("persona"). Platforms using reasonable age verification methods (like ID checks or commercial systems) or providing parental usage history are protected from liability. The law creates new definitions for terms like "material harmful to minors" and authorizes the Attorney General to enforce penalties for violations, including civil fines.
HB 1677 creates the Metro Jackson Water Authority to manage Jackson's water and wastewater systems, directly affecting Jackson residents and the City of Jackson government. The bill requires the new authority to negotiate a lease agreement with the city to take over operations, replacing the current court-appointed interim manager. It establishes a board of directors, authorizes bond issuance for funding, and outlines financial management rules, including tax exemptions for authority assets. The legislation responds to ongoing water system issues highlighted by a 2022 federal complaint and court orders.
HB 1651 prohibits Mississippi state agencies from spending funds on personal or professional services from private companies unless they first certify those services aren't available through another state agency at no cost. It requires the Department of Finance and Administration to maintain a "shared services inventory" listing available state agency capabilities. The bill creates a Shared Human Resources Program under the State Personnel Board to serve agencies with fewer than 30 employees, and designates the Department of Finance and Administration as the accounting and procurement department for those same small agencies. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 562 establishes the MissCATEE Program, providing tuition-free community college education in career and technical education (CTE) for eligible Mississippi residents. It directly affects high school graduates or equivalent who enroll in approved CTE programs aligned with high-wage, high-demand industries (like healthcare, manufacturing, and IT) identified by the Office of Workforce Development. Key provisions require participants to commit to working in their field within Mississippi for a period set by the Office, with potential fund recoupment if they fail to fulfill this obligation. The program aims to address workforce shortages by connecting training to industry needs while prioritizing rural communities and supporting adults seeking new skills.
SB 2599 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration (acting for the Department of Public Safety) to sell a specific 8.85-acre property in Meridian (used as the Highway Safety Patrol's Troop H Headquarters and Driver Service Bureau) to Compass Datacenters JAN I, LLC. The bill requires the property to be sold at fair market value - determined by averaging two appraisals from Mississippi-licensed appraisers - and mandates that Compass Datacenters pay all closing costs. It also requires an accurate legal description in the sale deed and allows corrections to discrepancies in the property or buyer details. This bill directly affects the state's property management and Compass Datacenters as the buyer.
SB 2596 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to transfer a 3.24-acre parcel of land in Ridgeland to the City of Ridgeland at no cost. The bill specifies that the State of Mississippi retains all mineral rights to the property and allows MDOT to correct any errors in the land’s legal description. This procedural bill directly affects the City of Ridgeland (as the recipient) and MDOT (as the transferor), with no new policy or financial obligations beyond the property transfer.
