SB 3269 allows Chickasaw County to add a $25 fee (or $50 for DUI convictions) to court costs for most criminal convictions in county courts, using the funds exclusively to repair courthouses and pretrial detention facilities. Fees from convictions in the First Judicial District (Houston) fund Houston's courthouse, while Second District (Okolona) fees fund Okolona's courthouse. The fee expires on July 1, 2029, and does not affect criminal penalties or create new taxes. It directly affects individuals convicted in Chickasaw County courts, with no broader state impact.
HB 1459 establishes an inferior court for Mississippi's Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID), authorizing the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court to appoint two full-time and one part-time judge. The court will handle criminal matters and traffic violations occurring within the CCID boundaries (the Jackson Capitol Complex area), with full-time judges paid up to $10,000 less than county court judges and part-time judges paid hourly. All fines collected will be deposited with the City of Jackson. The law expires on July 1, 2027.
SB 2731 extends the repealer date for Mississippi's psychology licensure laws from 2024 to July 1, 2029, ensuring existing regulations remain in effect. It reenacts Sections 73-31-1 through 73-31-29, which establish the Mississippi Board of Psychology and define "practice of psychology" (including assessment, therapy, and consultation services). The bill adds two members to the Board, increasing it to nine total members, and specifies that appointments must include psychologists from doctoral programs and one non-psychology professional with interest in the field. This directly affects licensed psychologists, psychology programs, and the regulatory oversight of mental health services in Mississippi.
SB 3264 extends the expiration date of a 1% hotel/motel tax in Olive Branch, Mississippi, which funds tourism and parks/recreation programs. The bill allows hotels and motels with six or more rooms to continue charging this tax (collected on room rentals) and authorizes the city to issue bonds up to the tax revenue capacity to finance related projects. It requires voter approval for the tax via election and mandates that funds be tracked separately from general city revenue. The extension ensures the tax can remain in place beyond its original 2029 repeal date to cover ongoing debt service on bonds issued under this law.
SB 3263 corrects the legal description of the Singing River Mall property in Gautier, Mississippi, by updating specific Jackson County parcel numbers (87116101.000, 87116105.000, 82435270.040, and 82426590.020) in existing law. This technical amendment enables the City of Gautier to legally sell or enter 75-year leases for the mall site as authorized under prior legislation. The bill directly affects the city’s ability to manage this specific property for development or redevelopment projects. It does not change the project terms or economic provisions, only clarifies the property boundaries.
HB 1284 renames Mississippi's "Native Spirit Law" to the "Native and Craft Spirits Law" and defines "craft distillery" and "craft spirit" for the first time. The bill legalizes the production and sale of craft spirits under the same regulations as native spirits, while allowing both types of distilleries to operate one permanent satellite tasting room in any location that permits alcohol sales (previously limited to within 5 miles of the main facility). It also revises permit requirements, sales rules, and distance restrictions for distilleries, directly affecting Mississippi distilleries producing craft spirits and native spirits. These changes aim to modernize the regulatory framework for small-scale spirit producers in the state.
This bill authorizes the Greenwood Utilities Commission to bottle and sell water from its existing municipal water supply directly to local residents. Revenue from these sales must be used exclusively to improve the utility's infrastructure, such as pipes or treatment systems. The commission must follow all state and federal health, safety, and labeling rules for bottled water. It does not create new water sources but offers a new revenue stream for the utility.
HB 598 revises Mississippi's fee structure for publishing legal notices in newspapers, directly affecting government agencies, newspapers, and private parties. It sets new rates: $0.12 per word for the first publication of government notices (e.g., summons, court orders), rising to $0.10 per word for subsequent publications, while non-government notices cost $0.25 per word initially ($0.23 per word after). Fees will automatically increase annually starting July 2026 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all required legal publications except municipal ordinances and school board proceedings.
HB 1708 authorizes Kemper County's Board of Supervisors to optionally contribute up to $5,000 annually from the county's general fund to Philadelphia Transit, a nonprofit providing public, elderly, and disabled transportation services in Kemper County and surrounding areas. The authorization expires on July 1, 2029, and does not require the county to make such contributions. This bill directly affects Kemper County's budget decisions and Philadelphia Transit's funding sources. It creates no new obligations but permits the county to support existing transit services through discretionary annual funding.
HB 13 allows Mississippi community colleges to self-manage construction and maintenance projects up to $10 million in value, funded by state bonds or other state funds, without needing Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) approval. It requires the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) to establish specific criteria for colleges to qualify, including having full-time staff like licensed architects and construction engineers. Colleges must first get MCCB approval based on these criteria and then have their local board of trustees confirm it's in the college's best interest. If approved, a formal agreement between the college and MCCB must be signed before self-management begins.
HB 1936 extends the expiration date for a local tax authority in Como, Mississippi, from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2029. It allows Como's governing authorities to continue levying two specific taxes: a $1 per night tax on hotel/motel rooms and a 2% tax on restaurant food and beverage sales, subject to voter approval. The tax revenues must fund tourism, parks, and recreation initiatives in Como and the surrounding area, not general town funds. This change does not create new taxes but prolongs an existing authorization that requires a local election (with 60% voter approval) to implement. The bill became law after approval by the governor in March 2025.
HB 1129 redirects repayments from school districts on approved loans from the now-repealed Educational Facilities Revolving Loan Fund Program to the existing Education Enhancement Fund. School districts that fall behind on these loan payments will have the overdue amount withheld from their future total funding formula payments until settled. The bill requires the Department of Education to provide repayment details to the Department of Finance and Administration, which will deposit the funds into the Education Enhancement Fund. This ensures loan repayments contribute directly to the fund used for school facility improvements and other educational purposes as outlined in existing law.
