SB 2135 clarifies that to serve as a competent juror in Mississippi, a qualified elector must be designated as an active voter in the state's election system, replacing the previous requirement of simply being a "qualified elector." The bill does not change existing requirements like residency, literacy, or criminal history checks, but adds this active voter status as a new qualification. It directly affects potential jurors who are registered voters but not currently active in the election system. The law also maintains the process where judges verify literacy by having jurors complete a written form before service.
HB 1231 shortens the notice period required for county board of supervisors special meetings in Mississippi from five days to three business days. This change affects county boards directly, requiring them to post notices at courthouses, publish in local newspapers, and share online/social media for at least three business days before meetings. The bill modifies Section 19-3-19 of Mississippi Code to reduce the notice timeframe while maintaining requirements to specify agenda items and prohibit off-topic business. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not alter emergency meeting notice rules (which remain at three hours).
HB 1212 clarifies how Mississippi allocates state funding to university-based special education programs (UBPs) for students with disabilities. It ensures that when students qualify for these programs under Section 37-23-31, the State Department of Education provides funds equivalent to the full base student cost plus all qualifying weighted adjustments, as defined in Section 37-151-205. This directly affects university programs serving eligible students and ensures consistent funding alignment with state education formulas. The bill does not change eligibility criteria or program operations, but specifies that UBPs receive funding comparable to local school districts for qualifying students. This clarification aims to streamline funding processes for these specialized programs.
HB 1 revises Mississippi's Third Chancery Court District structure effective January 1, 2027. It updates the residency requirements for the three chancellor positions: Place One must reside in Tate, Panola, or Yalobusha Counties; Place Two in Carroll, Grenada, Montgomery, or Tallahatchie Counties; and Place Three in a broader set including Carroll, Grenada, Montgomery, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Yalobusha Counties. The bill also changes the district's county composition by adding Carroll and Tallahatchie Counties while removing DeSoto County. Additionally, it adjusts the candidate filing deadline for Place Three from February 2, 2026 (if the bill is signed by the governor by January 23, 2026) to May 1, 2026 (if not signed), with all candidates required to run in the November 2026 general election.
HB 514 amends Mississippi's Veterinary Practice Act to require certified veterinary technicians to be credentialed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, directly affecting technicians who must now obtain board certification to use titles like "Certified Veterinary Technician." The bill adds one certified veterinary technician and one public member to the Board, updates fee-setting authority for license renewals (increasing the age exemption from 65 to 70 for fee waivers), and removes annual exam requirements for licensing. Key mechanisms include prohibiting unauthorized use of technician titles, granting the Board power to set inspection fees and fines for unlicensed practice, and allowing revocation of technician certifications. These changes aim to standardize technician qualifications and strengthen board oversight within veterinary practice regulations.
HB 748 requires individuals seeking post-conviction collateral relief in Mississippi to first obtain permission from the Mississippi Supreme Court before filing their motion in trial court. This applies specifically to those whose previous post-conviction motions were denied and affirmed on appeal, or who wait more than three years after the appeal window closed from their conviction. The bill changes the process by mandating Supreme Court approval prior to trial court filing, rather than allowing direct submission. It does not alter the substance of relief available but adds a procedural step for certain petitioners. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill extends the expiration date for Mississippi's existing chiropractic licensing laws, preventing them from automatically ending. It reenacts current rules governing chiropractor practice (such as no surgery or drug prescriptions), the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and its structure. The extension directly affects licensed chiropractors and the Board by maintaining current licensing requirements without changes to practice standards. The bill does not alter what chiropractors can or cannot do, only delays when the current rules would expire.
HB 867 amends Mississippi Code to rename the "Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund" to the "Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging and Maintenance Fund." The bill authorizes the fund to be used for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention activities, in addition to its existing purpose of funding reservoir dredging. It maintains the existing limit of $200,000 annually from lease payments deposited into the fund by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District. Unspent funds will not revert to the general state fund, and interest earned remains in the account.
HB 1073 prevents local governments in Mississippi from banning or restricting the sale or use of farm equipment (like tractors), motor vehicles, or lawn tools (including mowers, leaf blowers, and generators) based on their fuel source (e.g., gasoline, electric, or propane). It directly affects consumers purchasing these items and local governments that might have attempted to enforce such fuel-based restrictions. The bill prohibits governmental entities from enacting or enforcing rules that limit these products due to fuel type, while still allowing safety regulations and manufacturer recommendations to apply. This law amends Mississippi Code Sections 75-99-5 and 75-99-7 to clarify these protections. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1131 increases penalties for "procuring" prostitution in Mississippi, making second or subsequent offenses a felony punishable by up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine (up from misdemeanor penalties). It also establishes a new felony for "promoting prostitution" (e.g., facilitating, transporting, or profiting from others' prostitution), with penalties of up to 10 years in prison or a $5,000 fine for first offenses. Crucially, the bill imposes strict penalties when minors (under 18) are involved: any violation becomes a felony with mandatory 5-30 year prison terms or $50,000-$500,000 fines, and minors are immune from prosecution for promoting prostitution if they are trafficking victims. The bill directly affects individuals who pay for sex, facilitate prostitution, or profit from it, with heightened consequences for cases involving minors.
HB 612 creates a streamlined pathway for military health technicians to become licensed practical nurses in Mississippi. It allows individuals who completed U.S. Coast Guard Health Services Technician training plus two years of direct patient care clinical experience to qualify for licensure without completing a standard nursing program. The bill amends Mississippi’s nursing licensure law to specifically recognize military medical training and experience as meeting the required qualifications. This directly affects active and veteran military health technicians seeking to practice nursing in Mississippi after their service.
HB 1386 amends Mississippi law to explicitly allow municipalities to use state use tax funds for repairing, maintaining, or reconstructing sidewalks. This directly affects all Mississippi municipalities receiving infrastructure assistance funds, expanding the eligible uses beyond roads, bridges, and water systems to include sidewalks. The bill modifies Section 27-67-35 to add sidewalks to the list of permitted infrastructure projects under the existing special fund, which is funded by use tax distributions. It does not change the fund's allocation method (equal shares plus population/sales tax-based distribution) or the restrictions on prohibited uses like salaries or administrative costs.
