HB 1603 removes a specific phrase from Mississippi's trespass law (Section 89-10-5) that previously stated property owners or their designated agents solely control payments from property use. The bill deletes the language: "The right to manage, control or receive payments for any use of real property shall only belong to the owner of the property or a person designated by the owner for such purposes." This is a technical deletion of existing text, not a new policy change, and directly affects how property management rights are referenced in trespass cases. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1789 provides an additional $5,309,560 in state funding to Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources (DMR) for projects originally planned but not fully funded during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This funding comes from the Tidelands Fund and is specifically designated for prior-year projects, ensuring completion of marine resource initiatives that were budgeted but lacked full financial support. The bill directs the State Treasurer to disburse these funds upon proper requisitions from the DMR. This is a straightforward budgetary adjustment, not a new policy, directly affecting DMR's ability to manage existing marine infrastructure and conservation projects.
HB 1655 changes how the State Aid Engineer's salary is determined under Mississippi law. It amends Section 65-9-9 to require the Governor to set the State Aid Engineer's salary (previously likely set by statute), subject to the State Personnel Board's rules and guidelines. This directly affects the State Aid Engineer position and their assistants within the Office of State Aid Road Construction. The bill does not alter the engineer's qualifications, bond requirements, or other operational details of the office.
HB 1650 requires Mississippi's State Treasurer to annually review public funds receiving interest from pooled investments to identify accounts with no activity beyond interest receipts. If found inactive (excluding funds legally authorized to retain interest), the Treasurer may block future interest allocations and direct the closure or consolidation of those funds. The bill directly affects dormant state funds, accounts, or trusts held within the state treasury that generate interest but aren't used for government operations. It also mandates state agencies to review their funds and report to the Treasurer, who must then share compiled data with legislative offices. The policy aims to streamline inactive state financial accounts without creating new programs or altering investment rules.
SB 3230 authorizes Greenwood Leflore Hospital, a public community hospital in Leflore County, Mississippi, to seek federal bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to address its debts and financial obligations. The bill specifically allows the hospital’s Board of Commissioners to petition for relief and take necessary actions under this federal process. Chapter 9 provides a bankruptcy framework for public entities like hospitals to reorganize debts without dissolving the organization. This policy change directly affects the hospital’s ability to manage financial distress through a structured legal process.
Mississippi Senate Bill 3116 (SB 3116) expands tax exemption eligibility for energy storage projects by adding battery energy storage systems to the definition of qualifying "projects" under existing property tax exemption rules. The bill amends Section 27-31-46 to include facilities storing energy via batteries (standalone or paired with renewable generation) and updates Section 27-31-101 to explicitly allow counties/municipalities to exempt up to 50% of the assessed value for such projects with at least $100 million in private investment. This directly affects energy storage developers and operators seeking property tax relief under Mississippi’s ad valorem exemption program. The bill extends the exemption period through 2028 but does not alter the 50% cap or $100 million investment threshold.
HB 346 revises Mississippi's architectural licensing laws to allow multi-disciplinary firms (combining architects, landscape architects, and engineers) to operate under specific conditions. The bill requires that at least one active member or stockholder of such a firm must hold a valid Mississippi architecture license, and no more than one-third of the firm's ownership can be held by landscape architects. Firms must clearly disclose each member's license type (architect, engineer, or landscape architect) in all business materials and include at least one licensed architect's name in their title. This change directly affects architects, landscape architects, and engineering firms seeking to collaborate under a single business entity in Mississippi.
SB 2704 creates a new option for professional and trade associations in Mississippi (like groups of doctors, lawyers, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority, rather than Mississippi’s insurance laws. These plans must meet specific requirements, including operating for three years without insurance as their primary purpose, being nonprofit, and maintaining proper reserves. The bill requires clear written notices to members that these plans are not regulated by Mississippi’s Insurance Department, not covered by the state’s guaranty association, and have no state oversight on costs or benefits. This provides additional health coverage choices for association members while exempting these plans from most Mississippi insurance regulations.
This bill prohibits health insurance plans from requiring patients with advanced, metastatic cancer to try other medications first (step therapy) before covering FDA-approved treatments for their condition. It applies specifically to drugs that align with clinical guidelines and evidence-based medicine, directly affecting patients diagnosed with cancer that has spread and their healthcare providers. The law establishes a process for doctors to request immediate coverage overrides if step therapy delays care, requiring insurers to approve such requests based on medical evidence within 30 days (extendable by 7 days). It ensures faster access to critical treatments without unnecessary delays for patients with advanced cancer.
SB 2846 allows Mississippi municipalities to create voluntary "taxpayer agreements" with property owners or developers in designated redevelopment areas. These agreements can secure payments for financing redevelopment projects (like urban renewal) without being classified as taxes, public debt, or pledges of government credit. The bill establishes that payments under these agreements can be secured by a lien on the property, ranking equally with property tax liens and enforceable like delinquent taxes. It directly affects municipalities seeking to finance redevelopment and property owners/developers in project areas, with agreements limited to 30 years.
SB 2257 amends Mississippi's Housing Authorities Law to allow housing authorities to participate in "mixed-finance projects," defined as initiatives combining public funds with private resources like low-income housing tax credits. It enables authorities to directly sponsor projects, provide mortgage loans to non-profits, or partner with entities (such as limited liability companies) to develop affordable housing. The bill also authorizes housing authorities to form self-insurance pools for shared risk management and grants legal protections to individuals involved in these projects. These changes directly affect Mississippi housing authorities, their nonprofit partners, and low-income housing developments seeking blended funding approaches.
HB 565, known as "Jill's Law," requires all health insurance plans in Mississippi - including Medicaid and the State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan - to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence. This includes tests backed by FDA approvals, clinical guidelines, or consensus statements, effective for plans renewed or entered after July 1, 2026. Plans must provide clear written justifications for denied claims, update coverage policies publicly within 60 days of enactment, and allow appeals for coverage disputes. The law applies to all health benefit plans and aims to ensure timely access to evidence-based testing without requiring multiple biopsies.
