HB 599 creates civil liability for commercial entities (like websites or platforms) that knowingly distribute child pornography or obscene material online. It allows individuals to sue these entities for damages up to $500,000, plus attorney fees, for publishing such content. The law explicitly exempts news organizations and internet service providers from liability for merely providing connectivity, not creating content. It also defines "material harmful to minors" and requires "reasonable age verification" methods to prevent minors' access. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on April 10, 2025.
HB 1200, the "Real Property Owners Protection Act," creates a legal framework for property owners to quickly remove unauthorized occupants (defined as "squatters") who remain on property without the owner's consent after being asked to leave. The bill requires owners or their agents to file a sworn affidavit with local law enforcement, triggering a 24-hour deadline for the alleged squatter to vacate or request a hearing. If contested, a hearing must occur within seven days to determine if the occupant is a squatter, using a "preponderance of evidence" standard. The law also clarifies that owners (or their designated agents) exclusively control property rights, rental income, and eviction processes, while imposing penalties for false complaints and specifying procedures for handling abandoned property.
HB 1777 allows the City of Ridgeland to impose a 1% tax on restaurant sales and a 2% tax on hotel/motel room rentals to fund capital improvements for Freedom Ridge Park, Phase II. It directly affects restaurants with $100,000+ in annual sales and hotels/motels with more than 10 units. The tax would be collected at checkout, remitted to the state, and dedicated solely to the park project - separately from general city funds. Before implementation, a voter referendum (requiring 60% approval) must be held in June 2025. The bill requires annual audits of the funds and expires after the park project is completed.
SB 3272 extends the deadline for repealing Lauderdale County's hotel/motel tax, which funds tourism promotion, delaying its expiration. It revises the process for setting the tourism commission director's salary, requiring the commission to recommend a pay amount that the county board of supervisors must approve. The bill affects hotels and motels in Lauderdale County, which pay a 2.5% tax on room rentals (excluding food/laundry) to fund tourism activities. Proceeds from the tax, after a 3% collection fee, go to the county general fund for tourism programs, with separate accounting required.
SB 3273 expands the Sebastopol Natural Gas District to include specific sections of land across Scott, Newton, Leake, and Neshoba counties in Mississippi. It authorizes county boards of supervisors to join the district through formal resolutions, with Scott County leading the district's formation. The bill creates a temporary six-member board of commissioners (including county supervisors and appointed residents) to oversee the district's natural gas service expansion. This change directly affects residents in the newly defined geographic area by enabling the district to provide natural gas infrastructure and services to those communities. The legislation establishes the district as a local utility authority to carry out this purpose.
SB 2854 revises Mississippi's tourism project sales tax incentive program to increase minimum investment requirements for qualifying projects. It raises the minimum private investment for hotels to $50 million and for full-service hotels to $20 million, while reducing the allowable spending on retail facilities within resort developments to 30% of total investment. The bill extends the application deadline for the program to June 30, 2027, and allows the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) more time to make incentive payments. This law directly affects tourism developers seeking tax incentives for large-scale projects like theme parks, hotels, and resort complexes, requiring higher upfront investments to qualify.
SB 2242 creates a new work release program allowing eligible Mississippi state inmates to work for the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). It directly affects inmates serving sentences without violent crime convictions who have less than one year remaining, requiring them to work under MDOT supervision. Key provisions mandate that inmates earn at least the federal minimum wage, with wages allocated as follows: 25% toward court-ordered payments (like child support or fines), 50% saved for post-release use, 15% for facility costs, and 10% for personal expenses. The Mississippi Department of Corrections must establish eligibility rules and oversee the program, with potential collaboration with the prison industries corporation (MAGCOR).
SB 2518 authorizes Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) to lease 452 acres of its property in Leflore County for up to 45 years (with renewal options) to develop housing for faculty and staff. The lease requires approval from MVSU's Board of Trustees and ensures the property reverts to the university after the lease ends. All lease proceeds must be used solely for MVSU's benefit, while the state retains mineral rights to the land. This bill directly affects MVSU's ability to address housing needs for its employees through a long-term property lease arrangement.
SB 2851 allows patrons at resorts with on-premise alcohol permits (specifically in "qualified resort areas" defined under existing law) to bring, possess, and consume their own alcoholic beverages on the premises. It directly affects resort restaurants, bars, and guests within those designated areas. The bill amends Mississippi's alcohol code to remove prior restrictions preventing this practice, while also eliminating a separate "wine fulfillment provider" permit and changing wine shipment violation penalties from criminal to civil. This policy change applies only to resorts meeting the specified legal criteria, not all alcohol-serving establishments.
SB 2181 exempts school district test security plans used for administering Mississippi's statewide student assessments from public disclosure under the Mississippi Public Records Act. This means school districts will no longer be required to share detailed security procedures for these exams with the public or through public records requests. The bill specifically targets security plans (not the test questions themselves, which were already exempt), directly affecting school districts managing statewide assessments. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2025, aligning with existing exemptions for test questions and academic research materials under the same law.
Mississippi's SB 2263 clarifies the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' authority to approve oyster leases on state-owned waters. The bill specifies that lease applicants must be Mississippi residents or Mississippi-registered businesses, sets a $3 annual per-acre rental rate, and requires leaseholders to actively cultivate oysters while submitting annual reports. It also ensures that unleased oyster areas remain publicly accessible and outlines clear procedures for lease applications, renewals (15-year terms), and penalties for late payments (10% fee or lease termination). The law directly affects oyster leaseholders, the department, and the public by streamlining lease management and protecting public access to unleased waters.
SB 3056 authorizes Calhoun County, Mississippi, to add a $25 fee per conviction (except DUI) or $50 fee for DUI convictions to existing court costs. The funds collected will be used exclusively to repair and renovate the county's courthouses and pretrial detention facilities. The assessment applies to convictions in Justice Court, County Court, and Circuit Court within Calhoun County. This temporary measure expires on July 1, 2029.
