This bill revises how institutions of higher learning (IHLs) select construction contractors and vendors for projects. It updates the procurement process to clarify procedures for choosing these service providers, directly affecting public colleges and universities managing construction work. The key change modifies existing selection rules under the "construction manager at risk" framework without altering core contractual structures. The bill was approved by the governor on April 17, 2025, after passing through legislative committees.
HB 1338 requires police departments to follow specific rules when using unmarked vehicles and bans anyone from impersonating a law enforcement officer. The law directly affects law enforcement agencies (by setting vehicle use standards) and the public (by criminalizing deceptive impersonation). Key provisions include mandating clear identification for unmarked police vehicles and prohibiting false claims of authority. The bill was signed into law by the governor in April 2025.
HB 920 authorizes Mississippi vehicle owners to purchase special license tags for $30 annually, with the fee distributed as follows: $24 to the supporting organization, $1 to the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, $2 to highway maintenance, and $1 to a special fund. It adds new eligible organizations - including the Mississippi Land Bank, National Guard Association of Mississippi, and Magnolia Honeybee Education Exchange - to the existing list of groups that can issue these tags. The bill modifies existing code to include these groups and specifies that tags must be displayed alongside standard license plates. This is a procedural bill focused on generating revenue for specified causes through license tag sales.
HB 1077 prohibits retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers from selling or distributing kratom products to anyone under 21 years old, and bans possession of such products by minors in public places. It requires businesses to keep kratom products behind counters, verify age with ID for unacquainted customers, and label products with full ingredient lists and manufacturer details. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 per incident for businesses and $500 for minors possessing kratom. The law preserves local governments' existing bans on kratom (effective before July 1, 2025) and allows future local restrictions, taking effect July 1, 2025.
HB 1963 authorizes Panola County's Board of Supervisors to build or buy a county jail anywhere within the county, removing previous location restrictions. The bill also allows the Board to use 30-year lease-purchase agreements to fund the jail's construction, maintenance, or equipment, including related infrastructure like access roads. This directly affects Panola County's local government, providing flexibility in where and how they finance their primary law enforcement facility. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor's signature, as confirmed by its recent approval.
HB 1330 allows Mississippi state-chartered banks and trust companies to invest in Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) regardless of where those SBICs are incorporated, expanding their investment options beyond Mississippi. It also modifies board meeting requirements, changing the default to quarterly meetings (unless regulators direct otherwise based on exam findings) and removing the need for separate quarterly meetings of executive and audit committees. The bill directly affects Mississippi banks by broadening permissible investments and adjusting corporate governance rules. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and was signed into law on April 17, 2025.
HB 1965 allows Lee County, Mississippi's Board of Supervisors to add court fees to certain convictions to fund repairs for the historic Lee County Courthouse. Specifically, it authorizes a $25 fee per conviction (except for DUIs) and a $50 fee for DUI convictions in Justice, County, and Circuit Courts. The collected funds must be used exclusively for maintaining and renovating the courthouse, which is designated as a Mississippi Landmark. The fee structure expires on July 1, 2029, and applies only to Lee County courts.
HB 953 extends the expiration date for Mississippi's weight and route approval rules that apply to harvest permit holders. These rules currently limit vehicle weights (up to 88,000 pounds for permitted vehicles) and require pre-approval for routes when transporting agricultural products like wood, sand, gravel, and crops. The bill prevents these specific regulations from automatically ending on their scheduled date, maintaining existing allowances for haulers. It directly affects commercial transporters with harvest permits who move qualifying materials within 100 miles of their origin.
HB 1325 revises Mississippi's process for counties to select financial institutions to hold public funds (county depositories). It removes a previous ban on county boards of supervisors designating a depository during the final year of their four-year term and sets a maximum 24-month notice period for publishing bid opportunities during that time. The bill requires boards to publish notice to federally insured banks, receive bids at designated meetings, and select depositories based on factors like security, fees, and service quality, while ensuring no conflicts of interest. This directly affects county boards of supervisors and financial institutions seeking to serve as county depositories.
HB 1509 changes Mississippi's district attorneys' salary structure, setting their annual pay at 95% of circuit and chancery court judges' salaries starting January 1, 2026. This replaces previous fixed amounts ($134,400 for 2023-2025) with a formula tied to judicial compensation. The bill directly affects all full-time district attorneys and their legal assistants, whose salaries are set at 80-90% of the district attorney's pay based on their legal experience. The change takes effect after the current salary schedule expires, aligning district attorneys' compensation more closely with judicial salaries.
HB 1174 updates Mississippi's licensing rules for public adjusters, directly affecting individuals and businesses that help insurance policyholders negotiate claims. The bill clarifies key terms, requires adjusters to maintain $50,000 in financial security (via bond or letter of credit), and mandates that all client funds be held in special trust accounts. It also adds new contract requirements for adjuster-insured agreements and establishes rules for licensing business entities and nonresident adjusters. These changes aim to strengthen oversight and consumer protections within Mississippi's insurance claims process.
SB 3165 authorizes $81 million in state general obligation bonds for Mississippi economic development programs. It increases funding limits for multiple existing funds, including $20 million for site development grants to municipalities, $20 million for port/airport revitalization, $25 million for business investment loans, and smaller increases for equipment grants, highway projects, and economic impact initiatives. These bonds directly support local governments, counties, and public infrastructure projects like port facilities, equipment purchases, and economic growth efforts. The bill extends the deadline for one fund until July 2029 and amends several sections of Mississippi law to implement these bond authorizations.
