This bill requires Mississippi public schools to incorporate financial literacy into the curriculum for grades 6-8 starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It also mandates that all high school students pass either a half-credit personal finance course or a full-credit course where at least half focuses on financial literacy to graduate, beginning with the 2032 graduating class. The law directly affects all Mississippi public schools (including charter schools) and students in grades 6-12. It amends existing education law to formalize these requirements, focusing on practical financial skills like budgeting and credit management.
SB 2623 creates the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship under the Department of Employment Security and establishes a State Apprenticeship Council. The Office will implement apprenticeship programs, define terms like "apprentice" and "apprenticeship agreement," and promulgate necessary rules. The Apprenticeship Council, composed of specified members, provides advisory guidance to the Office on program operations but cannot replace it as the state's registration agency. This bill sets up the administrative framework for Mississippi's apprenticeship system without creating new financial benefits or direct program requirements for employers or workers.
SB 2071 allows Mississippi school boards to vote on providing health insurance for their members and eligible dependents, using only local funds (not state funds). This directly affects all school board members across the state, giving them the authority to approve this benefit through a local funding decision. The bill amends existing law to explicitly permit this use of local school district funds for board member health coverage, with no requirement for state funding or additional state oversight. It does not create new mandates or change existing insurance rules for school employees.
SB 2292 requires all Mississippi public and charter schools to teach civics courses starting in 8th grade and before 12th grade, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandates instruction on U.S. and Mississippi constitutions, government structures (including federalism and separation of powers), historical context, critical thinking skills, and civil discourse. The State Department of Education will develop and update curriculum standards to align with current civics scholarship, renaming existing U.S. Government courses to "United States Government and Civics." This policy directly affects all K-12 students and school staff in Mississippi's public and charter schools.
HB 1523 creates a grant program to help Mississippi farmers purchase new tractors, parts, maintenance/repair labor, and farm implements (taxed at 1.5% sales tax). The Department of Finance and Administration will administer the program using funds from a portion of sales tax revenue on eligible farm equipment. Farmers can apply for grants up to $50,000 annually but cannot receive grants in consecutive years. Applicants must provide proof of farming status (e.g., federal Schedule F) and details about their equipment needs.
HB 430 requires Mississippi health insurers and group health plans to cover genetic testing for inherited cancer mutations (for people with personal or family cancer history) and evidence-based cancer imaging (for those at increased risk, per NCCN guidelines), with no out-of-pocket costs. It directly affects individuals at higher cancer risk who would otherwise face deductibles or copays for these preventive services. The bill mandates coverage for services recommended by healthcare providers and aligns with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical guidelines. It also updates state employee health plan requirements under Section 25-15-9 of Mississippi law.
HB 1170 updates Mississippi's fire insurance rating system to directly affect municipalities, fire departments (including volunteer and rural units), and insurers. It requires the rating bureau to evaluate fire trucks based on condition and maintenance (not age), consider all water sources (like ponds/lakes) when grading fire departments (with a minimum 250 gpm standard), and use a 7.5-mile response distance from fire stations. The bill also mandates new rules for selling fire trucks, requiring local entities to have first priority before out-of-state sales, and prohibits insurers from raising rates above the bureau’s base rates. These changes aim to standardize fire risk assessments and ensure fairer insurance pricing for communities.
HB 724 requires Mississippi insurance agents aged 65 or older with 25 or more continuous years of licensing to submit a one-time sworn statement verifying their qualifications for exemption from continuing education requirements. Once submitted, these agents will not need to resubmit the statement for future license renewals if they maintain uninterrupted licensing. The bill mandates the Insurance Commissioner to maintain a database of all agents who have submitted qualifying statements. This change simplifies renewal processes for qualifying senior agents while maintaining oversight of exemptions.
HB 1019 creates the "Association Self-Funded Health Benefit Plan Coverage Act" to allow Mississippi professional and trade associations (like lawyers, doctors, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority instead of Mississippi insurance laws. The bill exempts such plans from Mississippi's insurance regulations if they prove they meet specific requirements, including being established for at least three years, operating as a nonprofit, maintaining proper reserves, and complying with federal ERISA standards. Plans must provide written notice to participants that they are not regulated under Mississippi law and designate the state Insurance Commissioner as their agent for legal service. This directly affects association members seeking alternative health coverage options without Mississippi's insurance oversight.
SB 2673 establishes an "Occupational Licensure Boards Consolidation Study Committee" to examine whether merging Mississippi's separate occupational licensing boards into a single "Department of Occupational Licensure" would be feasible and beneficial. The committee, composed of legislative leaders, oversight committee chairs, and five governor-appointed board members, must evaluate consolidation options, develop a timeline, recommend department locations, and report findings to the legislature by December 1, 2026. This bill does not create the department itself but directs the study committee to assess potential efficiency gains from streamlining current licensing processes. It directly affects all state occupational licensing boards and agencies involved in the study.
HB 1763 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's restrictions preventing certain corporations and nonresident aliens from purchasing public lands. Currently, these restrictions (including limits of 320 acres for industrial use and 5 acres for residential use by nonresident aliens) are set to expire on July 1, 2029, but this bill delays that repeal. The law directly affects entities seeking to buy public lands, maintaining existing limitations on ownership by corporations and nonresident aliens. The key mechanism is simply extending the repeal date, preserving the current rules until a later date specified in the final legislation. This is a procedural change to the existing statute, not a policy shift.
SB 2259, "The Peoples Access Act," requires most local government meetings in Mississippi (cities, towns, villages, and hamlets) to be broadcast via video livestream on the agency’s official website, with exceptions for executive sessions. It mandates that public notices include the livestream link and detailed agendas, and any meeting action taken without proper livestreaming is void. If technical issues prevent livestreaming, the meeting must be recorded and posted online with an explanation. The law phases compliance: cities by January 2027, towns by July 2027, and villages/hamlets by January 2028, excluding the Legislature and judiciary.
