This bill prohibits the expungement of felony convictions for promoting or procuring prostitution under Mississippi law. It clarifies that minors are not criminally liable for nonviolent acts committed during human trafficking victimization. Victims of human trafficking may now request courts to expunge misdemeanor and nonviolent convictions directly resulting from their trafficking experience. The bill also establishes an affirmative defense for criminal charges stemming from trafficking victimization, ensuring these cases are evaluated with context of the victimization.
SB 2487 requires Mississippi schools to provide targeted reading support for students in grades 4-8 who struggle with reading proficiency. It mandates that schools create an Individual Reading Plan (IRP) within 30 days of identifying a reading deficiency, notify parents within 10 business days, and provide supplemental or intensive interventions based on the severity of the deficiency. The bill prohibits promoting students to ninth grade if their reading difficulties remain unaddressed by the end of eighth grade. It also establishes a state system to train educators - including literacy coaches, interventionists, and teachers - and ensures all required supports are grounded in evidence-based reading research.
SB 2650 reorganizes existing Mississippi Code sections (19-5-381 through 19-5-415) to form the "Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority Act" for easier reference and future amendment. It defines key terms like "Authority" (the emergency communications unit within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency), "PSAP" (public safety answering point), and "NG911" (Next Generation 911 system) to clarify the structure of the state's emergency communications infrastructure. This procedural bill does not change current law but prepares the framework for potential updates to emergency call systems and funding mechanisms.
HB 1656 regulates real estate brokerage agreements for residential properties with 1-4 dwelling units. It requires written agreements detailing services and compensation before brokers list property or submit offers on behalf of clients, giving consumers the choice to select their preferred brokerage service type. The bill excludes transactions like court-ordered sales, foreclosures, family transfers, and open houses. Brokers cannot demand written agreements just for property tours. This applies to licensed Mississippi brokers handling eligible residential sales.
SB 2104 expands Mississippi's gambling prohibitions to explicitly include online, interactive, and computerized games, targeting operators of illegal online gambling platforms. It increases violations from misdemeanors to felonies, imposing fines up to $100,000 or 10 years in prison, and authorizes forfeiture of assets used in violations. The bill creates a "safe harbor" (new Section 97-33-6) protecting telecom and technology platforms from liability if they comply with certain requirements. It also explicitly includes internet sweepstakes casinos under the prohibitions and allows prosecutions to be filed in the county of violation or Hinds County. The law directly affects online gambling operators and platforms hosting such activities.
HB 891 requires Mississippi employers to provide employees with a written earnings statement within 21 days of a written request (sent via certified mail, email, or hand delivery). The statement must include the employee's name, pay rate, gross pay, deductions (with purpose), net pay, and hours worked or units produced. Employers who fail to comply face a $750 fine per violation, enforced by the Attorney General's Office, which will also post information on employee rights and complaint procedures online. This law directly affects all Mississippi employees seeking transparency in their pay details.
HB 1553 names Alcorn State University's biotechnology building at 1000 ASU Drive in Lorman, Mississippi, as the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building." The bill requires the Department of Finance and Administration to create a plaque detailing Willie L. Simmons' contributions to Alcorn State University and Mississippi, and to install official signage on the building's exterior. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or funding.
HB 1641 revises Mississippi's real estate broker regulations by updating key definitions and procedures. It clarifies the term "real estate broker" to include modern business structures and activities, adds definitions for "automated valuation method" (computerized home value models) and "broker price opinion" (broker estimates of property value), and updates how delinquency notices for unpaid fees are handled. The bill directly affects licensed real estate brokers, salespersons, and their companies operating in Mississippi by standardizing terminology and administrative processes. These changes aim to modernize the regulatory framework without altering licensing requirements or exempting new categories of businesses.
HB 1120 requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to pay the Town of Walnut Grove $569,212.02 for unpaid utility services provided to the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility from January 2017 through February 2024. The bill mandates payment within 365 days of the law's effective date, directly affecting MDOC and the town's municipal utility. If payment isn't made on time, the Commissioner of Corrections' salary will be withheld until the debt is settled. This is a straightforward payment obligation with a specific enforcement mechanism, not a new policy.
SB 2402 (The Amy Act) eliminates the grace period allowing lobbyists to register with Mississippi's Secretary of State after starting lobbying activities. It requires lobbyists and their clients to register and pay fees *before* engaging in lobbying, rather than after. The bill creates "The Amy Act" under Section 5-8-17, authorizing the Secretary of State to assess daily fines of $50 (up to $500 total) for late registration. This directly affects all lobbyists and their clients who lobby in Mississippi, making timely registration mandatory to avoid penalties.
HB 1694 revises the composition of the Inmate Welfare Fund Committee by adding the chairpersons of the House and Senate Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committees as nonvoting members. The committee, which oversees the Inmate Welfare Fund used for inmate welfare programs like benefits and services, now includes these four new nonvoting members (the two Corrections Committee chairs and two Accountability Committee chairs) alongside existing members. The bill does not change the committee's requirement to meet at least quarterly or the fund's existing purpose of using inmate telephone commissions and other revenues.
HB 1692 requires Mississippi's Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to manage all requests for bids for healthcare services provided to state prison inmates. This shifts procurement responsibility from other departments to the DFA for contracts related to inmate medical care. The bill directly affects how the state procures healthcare services for incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities. It changes the administrative process for these contracts but does not alter healthcare standards or access for inmates.
