This Mississippi bill would change absentee ballot rules for federal elections if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that federal laws override state laws on mail-in voting. Under the new rules, all absentee ballots would need to be received by election day rather than postmarked by election day, and voters without disabilities or age 65+ would need to mark their ballots in front of a registrar who must stay in their office. The bill also requires that ballots be sent only through the U.S. Postal Service or approved carriers like UPS and FedEx, and maintains restrictions on who can help voters mark their ballots. These changes would apply only to federal elections and would take effect only after a specific Supreme Court ruling is made public.
SB 2648 authorizes Mississippi State University Extension Service to provide technical assistance to poultry farmers in developing nutrient management plans required by federal and state environmental regulations. This includes on-site evaluations, guidance, and document preparation to help farmers comply with environmental rules. The bill explicitly states that MSU Extension is not required to offer these services without dedicated funding, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026. The measure directly affects poultry farmers needing regulatory compliance support, with no mandate for service delivery without available resources.
SB 2787 requires all public and private K-12 schools in Mississippi (excluding homeschools) to conduct annual pressure tests on liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas) piping systems used in school buildings. Schools must follow National Fire Protection Association standards, report test results to their gas distributor and the state education department within 30 days, and address any leaks identified during testing. The law mandates that gas distributors discontinue service if unsafe conditions are found and prohibits them from being liable for failures to disconnect service at non-school facilities. This rule applies to all school buildings where LP gas is used, with testing required before each school year begins.
SB 2794 removes a prohibition in Mississippi law that previously denied death benefits to families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who died by suicide or intentional self-harm. The bill amends Section 45-2-1 to allow the standard $150,000 death benefit (plus up to $25,000 per child, totaling $250,000) and funeral expense payments to be paid in these cases. This change directly affects beneficiaries of eligible officers and firefighters who die while on duty, including in suicide-related incidents. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or the trust fund's administration structure.
This bill amends Mississippi law to add Jackson County to the list of counties where using a purse seine (a type of fishing net) within one mile of the shoreline is prohibited. It directly affects commercial and recreational fishers operating near Jackson County's coastlines. The key change is expanding the existing prohibition - currently covering only Hancock and Harrison counties - to include Jackson County, while maintaining the same one-mile shoreline restriction and enforcement penalties under Section 49-15-100(2). The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2368 amends Mississippi's Higher Education Legislative Plan Grant Program to simplify eligibility for state tuition grants. It removes the previous requirement that students complete a specific college-prep curriculum, instead setting clear criteria: Mississippi residency, a 2.5 GPA, a minimum ACT score of 20, no serious criminal record (only traffic violations allowed), and family income ≤ $42,500 (adjusted for additional children under 21). The bill also requires students to first qualify for a federal Pell Grant before receiving state funds, verified through the FAFSA. This change directly affects Mississippi students attending public or approved private colleges seeking undergraduate or associate degrees.
Mississippi HB 1664 creates the "Mississippi Video Service Act," establishing a regulatory framework for video service providers (like cable companies) operating in the state. The bill requires providers to obtain a "certificate of franchise authority" from the Secretary of State, sets fees for using public rights-of-way (e.g., utility poles), and mandates customer service standards. It defines key terms, distinguishes between "incumbent" (existing) and "nonincumbent" (new) providers, and reserves channel capacity for public, educational, or government use. The act explicitly excludes satellite services and internet streaming from its definition of "video service," focusing only on providers using physical infrastructure in public rights-of-way.
HB 1632 establishes a statewide accountability system for Mississippi's community public wastewater systems (serving at least 15 year-round connections or 25 consumers). It requires the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to create a letter grade system (A-F) based on objective criteria including permit compliance, water quality standards, financial health, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. The department must publish annual performance scores and letter grades for each system online, and systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days. This law directly affects local wastewater providers by mandating transparent public reporting of their service quality and sustainability.
HB 859 requires all in-person absentee ballots in Mississippi to be processed using optical mark reading (OMR) equipment at county election offices, with paper ballots as a backup if the equipment fails. The bill mandates that OMR equipment be sealed overnight, updates absentee ballot forms to print applications and voter certificates on a single sheet, and requires election officials to post a daily list of in-person voters. It also specifies that all ballots must be counted and reported on election night, and revises procedures for challenging voter qualifications during the voting process. These changes directly affect voters casting absentee ballots in person and election officials managing the voting process.
SB 2341 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's current restrictions on corporations and nonresident aliens purchasing public lands. The existing rules, which prohibit most such purchases (with limited exceptions for banking corporations holding mortgages or nonresident aliens for industrial/residential use), were set to expire on July 1, 2029, but this bill delays that date. It directly affects out-of-state businesses and foreign individuals seeking to acquire public land by maintaining the current ownership limitations longer. This is a procedural change to the timeline, not a modification of the underlying restrictions.
SB 2408 authorizes Mississippi's Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River in Yazoo County, using federal funding. The bill grants the Commission authority to handle all construction activities, including environmental mitigation and land acquisition, and to contract with local governments or private entities for project execution. It also allows the Commission to partner with political subdivisions for levee maintenance over up to 99 years, with local entities optionally contributing funds. This directly affects Yazoo County residents by enhancing flood protection along the Yazoo River.
SB 2096 requires Mississippi's Department of Information and Technology Services (MDITS) and the Secretary of State to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for the Statewide Elections Management System (SEMS) by January 1, 2027. These standards aim to protect voter registration data and election integrity, directly affecting county registrars and election commissioners who use the SEMS. The bill mandates policies for system security, regular adherence assessments, confidentiality of data, and grants the State Auditor authority to review compliance. It also allows MDITS and the Secretary of State to request internal assessment results if needed.
