SB 3064 extends the repeal date for a tourism tax authorized for the City of Byram, Mississippi. The bill modifies existing law to delay the expiration of a 2% tax on hotel and motel room rentals (excluding certain services) until a new date after July 1, 2029. This tax funds tourism promotion, parks, recreation events, and advertising in Byram, directly affecting hotels and motels operating within the city. The extension does not change the tax rate, collection method, or allowable uses of funds.
SB 2143 modifies Mississippi's alcohol permit rules by removing automatic disqualification for certain felony convictions. It now allows the Department of Revenue to approve permits for individuals with non-violent felonies or drug offenses after 10 years, rather than blocking them automatically. The bill also revises the definition of "qualified resort area" but does not specify the change in the provided text. This law was signed by the governor on April 10, 2025, and applies to new permit applications.
SB 2767 creates the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council to oversee how the state allocates money from opioid litigation settlements. The council reviews grant applications for opioid prevention and treatment programs (called "abatement funds") and recommends grantees to the legislature, which must approve or reject these recommendations without altering them. It also sets a 30% cap on nonabatement funds (money not tied to opioid programs), which the legislature appropriates directly without council input. The council must report annually to the legislature and governor, ensuring transparency in how settlement funds are spent. This bill directly affects state agencies managing opioid funds and future grant applicants seeking settlement dollars for community health programs.
SB 2482 requires Mississippi's electronic court system to provide public defenders and county prosecutors with free access when handling cases involving indigent defendants. This law applies specifically to matters related to the state's electronic court system, ensuring these legal representatives can use the platform without cost for their indigent clients. The bill amends existing law to mandate this free access, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects public defenders, county prosecutors, and indigent defendants in court proceedings using the electronic system.
SB 2704 requires the Mississippi State Department of Health to conduct annual inspections of the infirmary (medical facility) at Parchman State Penitentiary starting July 1, 2025. The inspections will assess structural safety, environmental conditions, sanitation, and medical care infrastructure, including water systems, pest control, and facility maintenance. The Department must submit a written report to the Governor, Corrections Commissioner, and prison leadership within 30 days of each inspection. This law directly affects Parchman’s medical operations and the State Department of Health’s oversight responsibilities, with no specified impact on other facilities or inmates beyond the infirmary.
SB 2357 establishes a work-release program at Mississippi's Delta Correctional Facility, allowing eligible inmates to work in private-sector jobs in surrounding communities while serving their sentences. It limits participation to 100 inmates at a time and excludes those with sex offenses, multiple violent felonies in the past decade, or over one year remaining on their sentence. The bill requires inmates to pay 25% of wages toward dependents or court-ordered obligations, save 50% for post-release use, and cover 15% of facility costs, with 10% available for incidental expenses. It mandates annual data reporting to the legislature on participant demographics, program outcomes, and wage distributions, and expires on July 1, 2029.
SB 2267 establishes the Mississippi Statewide Data Exchange Act, requiring the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) to create a secure, cloud-based platform for state agencies to share data efficiently. It mandates a comprehensive study, a phased implementation plan, and a centralized digital hub for businesses to submit and track state filings. The bill also creates a CIO Council of agency IT leaders to oversee the system, ensure privacy/security compliance, and provide strategic guidance. This directly affects all Mississippi state agencies and businesses interacting with state government services through digital filings. The platform aims to reduce duplication, improve service delivery, and standardize data sharing across state operations.
SB 2328 clarifies eviction procedures for residential tenants and RV park residents in Mississippi. It requires landlords to provide tenants 72 hours after a court-ordered removal to retrieve personal property, and mandates law enforcement to physically remove occupants (not just post notices) to hand possession to landlords. The bill also establishes specific rules for RV park removals, allowing owners to remove residents for certain violations but prohibiting removal based on race, disability, or other protected characteristics. Tenants must still be given access to their property during the 72-hour period following removal.
SB 3060 extends the expiration date of a Mississippi law that authorizes the City of Greenwood to impose a tourism tax on hotels, motels, and restaurants (capped at 1% of eligible revenue) and operate a Tourism Commission. The bill delays the automatic repeal of this existing framework, ensuring the current tax structure and commission remain active without changes to tax rates or commission duties. This directly affects Greenwood-based hotels, motels, and restaurants that pay the tourism tax, as well as the city government managing the commission. The extension preserves the current system for promoting tourism, with no new provisions or policy changes beyond the delayed repeal date.
SB 3258 extends the expiration date for Washington County's tourism tax and Convention and Visitors Committee, preventing its automatic repeal. It maintains a 1% tax on qualifying hotels, motels, and restaurants (exempting small businesses under $100,000 annual sales and certain establishments like private clubs). The tax revenue, after a 3% collection fee, funds tourism promotion through the committee, with annual limits on county allocations. This bill directly affects businesses in Washington County that operate hotels, motels, or restaurants subject to the tax.
SB 3265 authorizes the City of Water Valley, Mississippi, to impose a 1% tax on restaurant sales (excluding sales at hospitals, schools, or nursing homes) to fund tourism promotion and parks/recreation programs. The tax requires voter approval via a city election where 60% of votes must support it, and revenue must be spent solely on these designated purposes without blending with general city funds. The tax expires on July 1, 2029, and must be collected like state sales tax, with separate accounting and annual audits required. It directly affects restaurants operating within Water Valley’s city limits.
SB 2016 extends the expiration date of a tax that Brookhaven, Mississippi, can impose on room rentals from hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfast establishments (with six or more rooms). The tax, which is capped at 2% of gross rental revenue, is intended to fund tourism and parks in Brookhaven and requires a city council resolution plus a voter referendum (60% approval) to implement. The current law would have repealed this tax authority on July 1, 2029, but this bill moves that expiration date to a later time. This extension allows Brookhaven to continue using the tax for its designated purposes without needing to re-adopt the tax through a new process.
