SB 3124 revises Mississippi's Pregnancy Resource Act to expand eligibility for a state income tax credit. It allows individual taxpayers (not just businesses) to claim a credit for cash donations to pregnancy resource centers meeting specific criteria, such as not providing or referring for abortions and limiting administrative spending to 20% of funds. The bill requires organizations to certify compliance with these standards annually and verify they serve Mississippi residents. Taxpayers can use the credit to offset up to 50% of their state income or property tax liability, with unused credits carrying forward for five years.
HB 4110 creates the Oktibbeha County Reserve and Trust Fund to permanently hold net proceeds from the sale of Oktibbeha County's OCH Regional Medical Center. The fund's principal (initial deposit) must be preserved in perpetuity with annual inflation adjustments, while up to 85% of annual earnings can be distributed for county purposes like operations, maintenance, or capital improvements. The Board of Supervisors manages the fund, must hire a qualified financial fiduciary for investments, and faces strict limits on withdrawing the principal. This directly affects Oktibbeha County residents through its long-term financial planning for public services.
SB 3229 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue revenue bonds to cover repair costs for electric utilities damaged by the 2026 winter storm. Electric utilities can petition the Public Service Commission for a financing order, which, if approved, allows the state to issue bonds for storm-related repairs. The cost will be recovered through a new "system restoration charge" added to customers' monthly utility bills, adjusted annually to ensure it covers bond payments. The bonds are limited to the exact repair costs specified in the financing order and cannot be used for other purposes.
HB 4073 creates the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a state-run retirement savings initiative that allows eligible employers (those without an existing retirement plan) to offer employees payroll-deducted contributions to Roth IRAs. The program, managed by the State Treasurer, uses funds from state bonds deposited into a dedicated "Mississippi Work and Save Administrative Fund" to cover administrative costs. It directly affects moderate- and lower-income workers at participating businesses, providing a new retirement savings option without requiring employer contributions. The bill also includes a separate provision exempting sales tax on admissions at university athletic events, but the primary focus is the retirement program's structure and implementation.
SB 3111 exempts licensed wine sellers (permittees) from paying alcohol taxes, markups, and other charges on up to 10 cases of wine annually when donated to Mississippi-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This directly affects winery permittees and qualifying charitable organizations by removing tax burdens on these specific donations. The key provision limits the exemption to 10 cases per year per nonprofit, as specified in amended Section 27-71-7(4) of Mississippi law. The bill does not change general tax rates for commercial wine sales but creates a targeted tax relief for charitable wine donations.
Mississippi Senate Bill 3109 exempts nonprofit organizations from paying state and local property taxes on leasehold interests or subleases for state park lands. Specifically, it amends Section 55-3-47 of Mississippi law to remove ad valorem taxes for nonprofits using leased park land to develop, support, improve, administer, or operate parks. This applies directly to qualifying nonprofits that lease park areas under existing state park management authority. The bill ensures these tax exemptions align with the state's existing framework for leasing park lands to nonprofits, without creating new leasing programs or altering park management terms.
This bill increases the maximum total annual tax credit amount available to employers sponsoring employee skills training through Mississippi community colleges. It directly affects businesses that provide job-related training programs, allowing them to claim a 50% credit on qualified expenses (like instructor costs and materials) up to $2,500 per employee per year. The key changes are raising the statewide cap on total credits claimed and extending the program's expiration date beyond 2030. Employers must work with local community colleges for certification, and credits can be carried forward for up to five years if unused. The bill maintains existing rules requiring training to be job-focused and certified by community colleges.
HB 1908 allocates $585.5 million in state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2027. It specifically directs $34 million to the Trauma Care System, $20 million from tobacco funds to UMMC's cancer institute and tobacco control programs, and $4.25 million to the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute. The bill also funds programs like maternal health, breast/cervical cancer screenings, and health center grants. These funds support public health services and infrastructure across Mississippi, including trauma care networks and cancer treatment initiatives.
HB 1935 allocates over $5.49 billion in state funds to support Mississippi's public K-12 education system for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It directs specific funding to the State Department of Education for general operations, vocational training, the Mississippi Student Funding Formula, and targeted programs like early learning initiatives, literacy efforts, and the Mississippi Eye Screening Program. The bill also includes restrictions limiting how much can be spent on personnel expenses for certain positions. This funding directly affects public schools, students, and educational programs across Mississippi.
HB 1931 is a budget bill that allocates funding for Mississippi's judicial branch for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It provides $6.77 million for the Supreme Court (including its clerk and law library), $39.88 million for special/chancery/circuit judges, and $17.60 million for the Administrative Office of Courts. The bill also allocates $22 million for certified court reporters, bar admissions, and support staff (capping at $130,000 per judge annually). It sets headcount limits (e.g., 60 permanent Supreme Court positions) and specifies that funds must be used strictly for authorized personnel and operations, with no transfer to other categories. This is a routine appropriations measure, not a policy change.
HB 342 designates two specific segments of Mississippi highways as "Memorial Highways" in honor of Roger Campbell and Jakob Edward Kindt, following local resolutions requesting the names. The bill requires the Mississippi Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs along these designated roadways: Highway 370 in Itawamba County (from Lee-Itawamba County line to Houston-Palestine Road) and Highway 363 (from Centerville Road to Hall Road). This is a procedural naming measure with no policy changes or funding impacts.
HB 377, the Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act, requires all Mississippi local law enforcement agencies to accept every report of a missing person without refusal (e.g., for age, lack of suspected foul play, or short disappearance time). Agencies must gather detailed information including physical descriptions, medical details, and DNA reference samples from family members for submission to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). If a person remains missing after five days, agencies must input their case into NamUs within 15 days, with special procedures for "high-risk" cases (e.g., those at risk of injury). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety must prioritize DNA analysis and immediately share critical information with nearby agencies to aid in locating high-risk missing persons.
