HB 1062 authorizes licensed dental hygienists in Mississippi to provide dental hygiene services to patients under the general supervision of a dentist for up to 10 consecutive business days, subject to specific conditions. It prohibits hygienists from practicing independently or maintaining offices focused solely on hygiene services, limits dentists to supervising no more than three hygienists at once, and caps annual supervision at 24 days per hygienist. The bill also requires patient notifications, prohibits consecutive visits, and bans charging examination fees during supervised sessions. Additionally, it allows dental hygienists to provide services in nursing and correctional facilities under the same supervision rules, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 861 provides legal immunity for individuals who report sexual offenses or seek medical assistance for drug overdoses, protecting them from prosecution for related drug violations. Specifically, it shields people acting in good faith - such as those reporting sexual abuse or requesting help for an overdose - from arrest, charges, or prosecution for drug possession or use under certain conditions. The law also prevents revocation of probation, parole, or pretrial release for incidents covered by this immunity. It applies to anyone seeking medical help for themselves or others experiencing a drug overdose or reporting a sexual offense, as defined in the bill (including violations of Sections 97-3-65, 97-3-95, and others). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was signed into law by the governor in April 2025.
HB 1959 extends an existing funding mechanism in Wayne County, Mississippi, to support the Wayne County Justice Complex. It allows the county board to collect up to $50 from people convicted under the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (e.g., DUI) and up to $25 from other misdemeanor convictions or civil cases filed in Wayne County Justice Court. All collected funds must be used exclusively for constructing, operating, and maintaining the new "Wayne County Justice Complex" building. The provision, originally set to expire in 2029, is now extended to remain in effect until July 1, 2029.
This bill authorizes Tunica County's Board of Supervisors to contribute up to $10 million annually from county funds to the Tunica County Economic Development Foundation, Inc., through 2029. It directly affects county taxpayers through potential use of public funds and the foundation through received contributions. The authorization permits these annual contributions without requiring new taxes or budget allocations. The bill specifies only the funding limit ($10 million/year) and duration (through 2029), not how the funds must be used.
HB 293 moves Mississippi's congressional primaries from the first Tuesday in June to the second Tuesday in March in years without a presidential election. This affects candidates running for U.S. House seats in Mississippi during non-presidential election cycles. The bill amends Mississippi Code Sections 23-15-1031 (primary timing) and 23-15-299 (qualification deadlines) to align these dates. The change streamlines election scheduling without altering voter eligibility or campaign rules.
HB 1997 modifies Vicksburg's tourism tax law by removing nonprofit veteran organizations (such as VFW posts and American Legions) from the definition of "restaurant" for tax purposes. This exemption means these groups will no longer pay the 2% tax on food sales under the city's tourism tax. The bill also extends the tax's expiration date from its original deadline to July 1, 2029. The change directly affects local veteran nonprofits operating food services, while leaving the tax structure for other restaurants and hotels unchanged.
HB 1986 authorizes Lee County, Mississippi's Board of Supervisors to enter 30-year lease agreements for public safety facilities, including infrastructure and access road improvements. The bill directly affects Lee County and state agencies that would lease or use the facilities, such as public safety operations. Key provisions allow the county to finance these facilities through 30-year certificates of participation and specify that all lease terms must comply with existing Mississippi law. The bill does not create new policy but enables a specific financial mechanism for acquiring and maintaining public safety infrastructure.
HB 1193 prohibits Mississippi public K-12 schools and public postsecondary institutions from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, requiring diversity statements from staff or students, or teaching "divisive concepts" related to race, sex, color, or national origin. The law bans programs favoring individuals based on protected characteristics and mandates annual reports to school boards and the legislature on incidents related to prohibited practices. It directly affects all public schools, colleges, and universities under Mississippi’s State Board of Education, Community College Board, and higher education governing bodies. Signed into law by the governor in April 2025, the bill requires institutions to base decisions solely on merit and qualifications.
HB 958 exempts certain information technology acquisitions from standard procurement rules when they are part of projects managed by the Department of Finance and Administration's Bureau of Building. Specifically, it removes procurement requirements for IT services tied to building projects administered by this bureau. The bill directly affects state agencies and contractors working on building-related projects that include technology components. As a procedural amendment to existing procurement rules, it streamlines processes for these specific IT purchases without creating new policy. The bill was enacted after approval by the governor on April 17, 2025.
HB 1896 imposes a 25% excise tax on kratom products sold within Mississippi, directly affecting consumers who purchase these items. The bill defines "kratom product" as food or dietary supplements containing kratom leaf or extract, and specifies that the tax burden falls on the consumer, though sellers collect it at the point of sale. This tax takes effect July 1, 2025, and also revises Mississippi's tobacco tax rules to require out-of-state tobacco product buyers to pay state excise tax directly to the Department of Revenue.
HB 1491 establishes a Cloud Center of Excellence (CCOE) within Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services to guide state agencies and local governments (including school districts and municipalities) in adopting cloud computing. The CCOE will develop a two-year implementation plan by July 2027, requiring agencies to prioritize cloud-compatible systems when purchasing new IT software and report on cloud adoption progress annually. Key provisions include creating standardized migration processes, enhancing cybersecurity, and mandating justification reports for exceptions to cloud adoption. The bill directly affects all state agencies and local governing authorities through new procurement requirements and centralized technical support.
HB 1127 requires Mississippi state agencies administering ARPA-funded programs (such as nursing retention grants, hospital funding, and water infrastructure projects) to report quarterly on spent funds and remaining balances to subgrantees. Agencies must notify recipients within 30 days of the law's effective date and again on September 1, 2025, with combined reports due to legislative leaders by November 3, 2025. It also mandates annual reports on unspent ARPA funds by November 1, 2025, filed with the legislature by December 1, 2025. The law aims to increase transparency around federal pandemic relief spending across multiple state programs.
