HB 1253, the SHIELD Act, requires Mississippi voter registrars to verify citizenship using the federal SAVE system when processing new voter registrations. If the system flags an applicant as potentially non-citizen, the registrar must send a notice requesting proof of citizenship (like a birth certificate or passport) within 30 days; applicants may cast an affidavit ballot while pending verification. The bill mandates annual reports to the Secretary of State on flagged applicants and requires the Secretary to annually compare statewide voter records with the SAVE database, excluding verification data from public records. This directly affects voters whose citizenship is initially flagged during registration, with removal from voter rolls only possible after verification failure or ineligibility confirmation, not during the 90 days before federal elections.
SB 2386 prohibits Mississippi circuit court judges from allowing any political candidate to address the public during court sessions. It directly affects circuit court judges (who may no longer facilitate such speeches) and all political candidates (who are barred from speaking in court settings during terms). The key provision, stated in Section 1, bans judges from providing "any opportunity for any political candidate to address the public during court terms." This bill updates existing law (Section 23-15-973) to extend this prohibition broadly to all candidates, not just judicial office seekers. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1588 extends an existing exemption for Mississippi's Office of Workforce Development from state procurement rules related to rental agreements and property leases, which was set to expire. It also adds a new exemption allowing the Office to purchase personal or professional services without following those procurement rules for conducting agency business. The bill further updates the Office's authority to implement workforce training programs by correcting outdated references in its legal code. These changes primarily affect the Office of Workforce Development and state agencies using its services, maintaining current operational flexibility without creating new programs or funding.
HB 513 redirects 12.5% of annual fees and tax revenues collected under Mississippi's Medical Cannabis Act into the Mississippi Public Health Trust Fund for four years, ending July 1, 2030. The bill specifies that this amount equals the previous year's total cannabis revenue minus funds allocated for program administration. The remainder of these revenues continues to go to the State General Fund. This policy change directly affects how cannabis program funding is distributed, prioritizing public health initiatives during the four-year period.
HB 713 clarifies that Mississippi's Public Utilities Staff is not included in the list of state agencies funded from the General Fund under the 2016 Budget Transparency and Simplification Act. The bill amends Section 27-104-205 of Mississippi Code to explicitly remove the Public Utilities Staff from the budgeting category affected by that law. This change does not alter existing tax funding mechanisms for the agency (which continue to use utility taxes deposited into the Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund). The bill focuses solely on budget classification, not on changing funding levels or policy.
HB 712 removes the requirement that the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) be funded through annual state appropriations from the General Fund. Instead, the bill directs that fees collected by the PSC for regulating utilities (such as electricity, gas, and water providers) must be deposited directly into the State General Fund. This shifts the PSC's funding model from relying on legislative budget allocations to being self-funded through its own fee collections. The bill directly affects the PSC, which oversees public utility regulation across Mississippi.
SB 2417 amends Mississippi's state telework policies to require state agencies to report remote worker details (names, titles, schedules) to the State Personnel Board annually. It mandates that state employees working remotely must be physically present at agency offices at least three days per week, unless exempt under the Americans with Disabilities Act or other applicable law. The bill prohibits the State Personnel Board from processing personnel actions (like hires or promotions) for non-compliant agencies and requires the Board to create enforceable rules for implementation. These changes directly affect all state agencies and employees under the Board’s oversight, effective July 1, 2026, with provisions set to expire July 1, 2029.
SB 2678 changes how long unemployed workers in Mississippi can receive benefits. It ties the maximum number of weekly benefit weeks directly to the state's average unemployment rate over the previous three months, using specific thresholds: 12 weeks at or below 5% unemployment, 16 weeks between 5-7%, 20 weeks between 7-10%, and 26 weeks above 10%. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security must publish monthly unemployment rates and corresponding benefit weeks on its website. This bill affects all individuals filing initial unemployment claims starting July 1, 2026, when it takes effect.
HB 1204 removes a restriction that previously limited Mississippi school districts' use of career and technical education (CTE) grant funds to only specific programs leading to industry certifications. The bill now allows districts to use these funds for equipment purchases in *any* CTE program that leads to a qualifying industry certification - defined as credentials linked to high-demand occupations with wages meeting 70% of median state income. It explicitly prohibits using these grants to replace basic program funding but maintains the $600 per student incentive for students earning such certifications. The change expands flexibility for districts to support CTE programs aligned with workforce needs, without altering the certification criteria or reporting requirements.
HB 1578 requires all Mississippi public school districts to adopt policies addressing online safety risks, including social media predators, grooming, and human trafficking, by October 2028. It mandates the State Board of Education to create a model policy by July 2027, covering definitions, safety planning, reporting procedures, staff training, and parent/student education. Schools must integrate age-appropriate lessons on healthy relationships and social media dangers into health courses for grades K-12, using state-approved materials. The policy must be included in school discipline codes and distributed to students and parents annually.
This bill amends Mississippi Code Section 45-1-19 to grant the Department of Public Safety (DPS) jurisdiction to enforce state laws - including local noise ordinances - within the City of Jackson. It specifically expands DPS authority to cover noise violations on city properties and in Jackson's Capitol Complex Improvement District. The bill does not create new noise restrictions but clarifies DPS as the primary enforcement agency for noise ordinances within Jackson's boundaries, replacing or supplementing local enforcement. This primarily affects city properties, businesses operating in Jackson, and residents subject to noise ordinances. (Note: The bill title mentions "retail establishments," but the actual text focuses on DPS jurisdiction enforcement, not retail-specific noise rules.)
SB 2730 grants civil immunity to charitable organizations (defined as tax-exempt groups registered with the Mississippi Secretary of State) for legal liability arising from their emergency services during declared emergencies, government-ordered emergencies, or impending weather events like hurricanes, floods, or extreme storms. The bill covers services including shelter, transportation, emergency response, and utilities provided during these events. However, immunity does not apply for wanton, willful, or intentional misconduct. This law aims to encourage rapid disaster assistance without fear of lawsuits, taking effect July 1, 2026.
