SB 2783 amends Mississippi's broadband grant program definitions to distinguish between projects serving retail end users (homes/businesses) and other projects. It redefines "applicant" to require retail-focused applicants to be qualified broadband providers with state authorization and proven resources, while other applicants only need standard grant eligibility. The bill also clarifies "eligible project" for retail projects as discrete initiatives in unserved areas, and updates "broadband service" to require minimum speeds (100 Mbps down/20 Mbps up). These changes directly affect entities applying for state broadband grants under the BEAM program, ensuring clearer eligibility criteria for funding.
SB 2830 revises Mississippi's requirements for becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). It mandates that applicants pass all sections of the Uniform CPA Exam and meet specific experience thresholds (1 year for most pathways, 2 years for those with only a bachelor's degree) before receiving a license. The bill also updates rules for out-of-state CPAs seeking practice privileges in Mississippi to align with these revised education, exam, and experience standards. These changes directly affect new CPA applicants and licensed professionals from other states wishing to practice in Mississippi. The bill exempts those licensed before January 1, 2012, from the new requirements.
SB 2886 requires licensed nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and correctional facilities in Mississippi to maintain a fully operational emergency power source with enough fuel to run for at least five days. This power must support medical devices like oxygen machines and maintain comfortable temperatures for residents during outages. The State Department of Health will create these rules and conduct unannounced inspections to ensure compliance, giving facilities 60 days to meet the new standards after rules are finalized. The bill directly affects all such facilities operating under Mississippi's licensing system.
SB 2816 amends Mississippi law to increase penalties for crimes committed against employees of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS). It adds MDCPS employees to the list of protected individuals - alongside law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs - whose targeted crimes trigger enhanced felony or misdemeanor penalties. The bill specifies that penalties will be elevated if a crime was committed "because of actual or perceived employment" as an MDCPS worker. This change directly affects MDCPS employees by providing stronger legal consequences for attacks against them while on duty. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2885 creates the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a state-sponsored retirement savings initiative for Mississippi employers that don’t currently offer retirement plans. It allows eligible employees of participating employers to voluntarily contribute to a Roth IRA through payroll deductions, with the state covering administrative costs via a dedicated fund. The program mandates that contributions go into Roth IRAs with target-date fund investments and specifies that employers and the state are protected from liability. It directly affects private-sector employers without retirement plans and their employees (excluding federal/state workers, railroad employees, and those in multiemployer plans), aiming to improve retirement savings access for moderate- and lower-income workers.
SB 2874, the "Gold and Silver Commemorative Coin Act," authorizes Mississippi's State Treasurer to contract with a minting company to produce one-ounce commemorative coins in gold or silver. The coins must feature the state name, "In God We Trust," the minting year, the Great Seal on one side, and a magnolia flower on the reverse, with no monetary value or human imagery. The Treasurer can sell the coins at or above cost (metal value plus fees), depositing profits into the state general fund (retaining 20% for administrative costs), effective July 1, 2026.
SB 2909 reduces the required years of creditable service for retirement benefits under Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) from 35 years to 30 years. It specifically applies to members who become part of PERS on or after March 1, 2026, allowing them to qualify for retirement benefits with fewer service years. The bill modifies Section 25-11-111 of Mississippi's code to reflect this change in eligibility requirements. This adjustment directly affects future public employees joining PERS after the effective date, making retirement benefits more accessible with a shorter service commitment. The age requirements for retirement remain unchanged.
Mississippi Senate Bill 2911 modifies the state's Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) rules to allow eligible retirees to return to state employment under new terms. It reduces the required separation period from 90 to 30 days and creates an alternative return-to-work provision for retirees not subject to actuarial reductions (except for lump-sum distributions). Under this provision, retirees can work at up to 80% of their prior salary for an agreed period, requiring a written agreement detailing terms, with the employer covering both employer and employee contributions. The bill prohibits retirees from returning to work as elected officials, K-12 superintendents, or university administrators under this provision and sets an expiration date of July 1, 2036.
Mississippi SB 2242 establishes the "Moving Mathematics in Mississippi" (M3) program to improve math education across public K-12 schools. It requires schools to implement K-5 math screening with targeted interventions for struggling students, use 5th-grade test scores as an Algebra-Readiness Indicator to guide middle school placement, and expand math coaching for teachers in all grade bands. The bill mandates grade-specific professional development aligned with state standards and creates a state fund to support these initiatives. These changes directly affect all Mississippi public school students, teachers, and districts through new assessment protocols and support structures.
SB 2894 requires counties and municipalities to return unspent funds and interest earned from local improvement projects to the Capital Expense Fund. Unspent funds must be returned within 30 days of the bill's effective date if no project agreement (memorandum of understanding) was executed, or within three years of the agreement's execution (with a possible six-month extension), while interest must be returned within 30 days. If a local government fails to return funds, the state will withhold future payments under Section 27-65-75 until the amount is recovered and transferred to the Capital Expense Fund. This applies to funds initially disbursed under Chapter 102, Laws of 2021, for local improvement projects.
HB 534 creates the Mississippi Health Information Exchange, a statewide system enabling real-time electronic sharing of patient data between licensed hospitals, clinics, insurers, and public health agencies. It requires all licensed hospitals and community mental health centers to connect to the system for sharing admission/discharge/transfer data and bed availability, while allowing other providers to join voluntarily. The exchange is managed by a nonprofit entity selected through a competitive bid, with a special fund covering participation costs, and ensures data sharing complies with privacy laws like HIPAA. The system aims to improve care coordination, reduce administrative costs, and support public health research on priority issues like maternal health and mental health outcomes.
This bill requires any local government retirement plan previously approved by Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to pay its full net pension liability to the PERS board in a single lump sum before the plan terminates. It applies specifically to political subdivisions (like cities or counties) ending their retirement plans, mandating they pay the greater of the liability as of June 30, 2026, or their actual termination date. The bill amends PERS law to enforce this lump-sum payment as a condition of termination, ensuring local governments settle pension obligations before exiting the system. This changes how retirement plan terminations are handled, requiring immediate financial settlement rather than deferred payments.
