HB 602 requires restaurants, retailers, and seafood suppliers in Mississippi to label all seafood products (including crawfish, saltwater finfish, crustaceans, and mollusks) with their country of origin, using "domestic" for U.S.-harvested/processed seafood and "imported" for foreign-origin products. Businesses must display labels prominently in the same font size as the product name, maintain origin records, and face civil penalties up to $10,000 for violations. The law also establishes a Mississippi Seafood Marketing Task Force to study local seafood production and marketing. It expands Mississippi’s existing crawfish labeling law to cover all seafood and was signed into law by the governor on April 17, 2025.
HB 1203 prohibits camping on most public property in Mississippi, including sidewalks, streets, highways, and alleys, unless the area is specifically designated for camping by local authorities or state law. It defines "camping" to include setting up tents, sleeping bags, or other personal items and requires all camping to occur only in authorized locations. Local governments can remove camping materials after 24 hours' notice (or immediately for unsanitary or dangerous items) and must provide information about housing or health resources when removing individuals. Violations may result in penalties, but courts can consider mitigating factors like access to services when determining punishment.
HB 809 clarifies Mississippi's school enrollment rules for children of military families. It allows children of active duty U.S. military members (including Guard/Reserve members on 180+ consecutive days of duty) and civilian military personnel living on bases to enroll in any public school district or campus, regardless of their family's residence. To qualify, parents must provide a Department of Defense ID and a "Statement of Service" from a commanding officer. The bill also specifies that families may transfer schools only once per academic year and do not need to reapply for continued enrollment after the initial transfer. This directly affects military-connected students and their families seeking school enrollment flexibility.
HB 1201 creates a 25% income tax credit for developers who rehabilitate blighted, tax-forfeited properties in Mississippi, requiring costs to exceed $50,000 for owner-occupied homes or $100,000 for commercial buildings. The credit applies to eligible properties declared unsafe by local authorities and placed into use as residences or businesses within 36 months. Developers can carry forward unused credit amounts for up to 10 years if the credit exceeds their annual tax liability, or opt for a 75% rebate instead. This law directly affects developers who redevelop qualifying properties, aiming to increase property values and community safety through tax incentives.
HB 913 requires food processors, retailers, and restaurants to clearly label meat and non-meat products (like plant-based or lab-grown alternatives) at the final point of sale to prevent consumer confusion. It defines terms like "cultivated-protein food product" and mandates that businesses must state whether a product is meat-based or not, using plain language on labels or signage. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture will enforce these rules based on complaints, with civil penalties for violations, but cannot revoke business licenses for noncompliance. This directly affects food businesses selling meat substitutes, ensuring consumers know if a product is actual meat or a non-meat alternative.
HB 1308 establishes a new criminal offense for "grooming of a child" in Mississippi, making it illegal for anyone over 21 to engage in a pattern of communication or conduct (including via electronic devices) intended to prepare a child under 16 for sexual exploitation, human trafficking, or sexual servitude. The bill sets penalties ranging from 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $30,000, with harsher sentences for offenders in positions of trust (like teachers or coaches) or for repeat offenses. Fines collected will fund a Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund, and the law explicitly states that prosecution is possible even if no actual sexual exploitation occurs.
HB 1461 revises Mississippi's definition of "capital improvements" to include any project the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) determines qualifies as such, expanding eligibility for local government loans. This affects counties and municipalities seeking funding for projects like infrastructure, economic development, or recreational facilities through the MDA-administered revolving loan program. The bill also extends the expiration date for MDA's authority to use certain loan fund interest for its general operations (previously set to end in 2029). These changes aim to increase flexibility for local governments accessing capital improvement funding while maintaining MDA's oversight role.
HB 733 creates a "Property Cleanup Revolving Fund" administered by the Mississippi Home Corporation to help municipalities clean up properties sold for taxes. It authorizes grants covering up to 100% of cleanup costs for eligible projects, such as removing debris, securing abandoned buildings, and draining hazardous sites. Municipalities with populations over 145,000 (like Jackson) can apply for grants of up to $2,000 per project, with a limit of 15 grants per year per municipality. The fund is designed to be permanent, with unspent money rolling over annually and not lapsing into the general state fund.
HB 1988 authorizes Coahoma County's Board of Supervisors to contribute up to $100,000 from county funds during 2025 to Clarksdale-Coahoma County Ministries, Inc. (d/b/a Care Station), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The bill specifically allows this contribution to support the organization's provision of meals, food, and assistance to county residents. This is a funding authorization for an existing service provider, not a new policy or program.
HB 1961 allows Verona, Mississippi, to impose a 3% tax on total restaurant sales (excluding sales at hospitals, schools, or similar facilities) to fund tourism promotion and parks/recreation. It requires voter approval via a public election where 60% of participating voters must support the tax before implementation. Revenue collected must be tracked separately in a special fund, audited annually, and spent exclusively on tourism and parks projects, not general city expenses. The tax expires on July 1, 2029, and follows standard sales tax collection procedures.
HB 1428 replaces Mississippi's outdated money transmission laws with the "Money Transmission Modernization Act," directly affecting businesses that transmit money (like digital wallets, payment processors, and fintech companies) operating in the state. The bill standardizes licensing requirements, modernizes safety rules to protect customer funds, and clarifies which activities require a license versus those that are exempt. Key provisions include new rules for licensing, oversight of "key individuals" (like executives), reporting requirements, and a transition period to phase out the old law. The law aims to reduce regulatory burden across states, combat financial crime, and support innovation while ensuring customer funds are safeguarded.
HB 246 allows Mississippi local school boards to grant extensions to long-term lease holders of sixteenth section school lands (lands originally set aside for schools) who are "in good standing," specifically regarding mineral rights. The bill amends existing law by creating an exception to the standard requirement that minerals be reserved when such lands are sold or leased for industrial development. This change directly affects school boards and businesses holding long-term leases on these lands, enabling them to extend leases without requiring mineral reservations. The key mechanism permits extensions to existing leases for industrial use without the usual mineral reservation, streamlining future development agreements.
