Mississippi Bills

Mississippi's HB 671 renounces state prohibition as policy, allowing the legal manufacture, sale, distribution, and transportation of alcoholic beverages statewide effective January 1, 2027, except in counties that vote to maintain prohibition via election after that date. It revises how often counties can hold such elections and clarifies that possessing alcohol becomes lawful throughout the state as of January 1, 2021, with exceptions for selling without authorization. The bill amends multiple sections to align with this shift, including updating definitions of "alcoholic beverage" and establishing new rules for delivery services through package retailers. These changes aim to modernize Mississippi's alcohol laws while preserving local option for prohibition via voter referendums.

HB 1599 extends the expiration date of a 2% tax on prepared food and beverages sold in Brandon, Mississippi restaurants and bars from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2032. This bill does not change the tax rate or its purpose - it maintains the existing 2% tax that funds tourism, parks, and recreation initiatives. The tax applies to restaurants and bars within Brandon's city limits (excluding certain facilities like schools or convenience stores), with proceeds required to be kept in a separate special fund. The extension ensures Brandon’s city government can continue collecting this revenue for designated purposes beyond the original 2028 deadline.

SB 2728, the Mississippi Chancery Youth Court Act of 2026, standardizes youth court procedures across all Mississippi chancery courts and transitions the system from youth court referees to appointed judges by January 1, 2028. It defines key roles (like "youth court prosecutor," now the county prosecutor in delinquency cases), requires public access to hearings with limited exceptions, creates a new Family Services Forum for youth and families, and establishes a state-wide youth diversion program to reduce court involvement. The bill directly affects youth in delinquency and child welfare cases, county prosecutors, chancery court judges, child welfare agencies, and the Department of Human Services. Key changes include removing barriers to public court access, updating record handling rules, and requiring mandatory training for intake officers.

SB 2654 creates a State Security Operations Center (SSOC) within Mississippi’s Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) to serve as the state’s centralized cybersecurity operations hub. The SSOC will provide continuous monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and technical support to all state agencies subject to cybersecurity rules under Section 25-53-201, requiring agencies to report incidents, cooperate with SSOC efforts, and implement corrective actions. The Executive Director of ITS gains authority to enforce compliance through additional oversight, system access restrictions, or fees for noncompliance. The SSOC must submit annual reports detailing operations, incident responses, and future priorities to state leadership, all while complementing but not replacing existing cybersecurity governance under Section 25-53-201.