This House Resolution (HR 78) formally commends Earl "Big E" Sanders, Jr., for his induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. It recognizes his athletic achievements as a Jackson State University standout (1984-1986), where he became the first player to earn both SWAC Hitter and Pitcher of the Year in the same season, and his later coaching legacy at Tougaloo College, including the 2023 dedication of the Bulldogs' baseball field in his honor. The resolution serves as a ceremonial tribute by the Mississippi House of Representatives, highlighting his contributions to collegiate athletics and the state. It does not create new laws or affect policy.
This is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) commending Simpson Academy's girls basketball team for winning the 2026 Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class 4A Division I State Championship. It honors the team's victory over East Rankin Academy (54-45) and their first championship trophy since 2019, specifically recognizing Head Coach Linda Dear and the players listed. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic recognition with no binding effect or changes to laws.
HB 17 creates the Mississippi Childcare Teachers Shortage Task Force to study the state's childcare worker shortage and identify solutions to increase affordable childcare access. The task force, composed of legislators, state agency directors, and community representatives, will examine wage incentives, review other states' approaches, and recommend strategies to support childcare educators. It must submit a final report to key state officials by December 1, 2026, after which the task force will dissolve. The bill does not enact immediate policy changes but establishes a process for future recommendations.
HB 294 amends Mississippi law to clarify that attorneys in the Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel must work exclusively on death penalty cases, with no other legal work, no participation in capital murder trials, and no lobbying on the death penalty. The bill requires these attorneys to devote full time to representing death row inmates from state post-conviction appeals through federal habeas corpus proceedings until execution or sentence reversal. It also specifies that federal court compensation for these cases must be deposited into a special fund to cover office expenses. This directly affects death row inmates and the attorneys representing them in post-conviction proceedings.
HB 352 designates the Union County Heritage Museum as Mississippi's official state barbecue museum. This symbolic bill, with no substantive policy changes, takes effect July 1, 2026, formally recognizing the museum's role in preserving barbecue heritage. It directly affects the museum's official status but does not alter funding, operations, or public policy.
SB 2038 establishes a pilot program called "Our House Residential Multi-Service Center" within Mississippi's Department of Corrections at a facility in Pike County. It provides comprehensive services - including employment assistance, housing support, healthcare, and counseling - to returning citizens under community supervision who meet specific eligibility criteria (e.g., unemployed but willing to work, homeless or in at-risk housing, no violent/sex crime convictions). Participants must contribute 25-50% of program costs and complete five structured phases focused on stabilization, skill-building, workforce development, and community reintegration over 2-3 months. The bill requires annual reports on outcomes and biennial independent evaluations to measure recidivism reduction and cost savings.
SB 2032 amends Mississippi's child support guidelines to require courts to factor in the cost of health insurance coverage obtained by the noncustodial parent when calculating child support payments. If a court orders the noncustodial parent to provide health insurance for a child, the cost of that coverage must be subtracted from the parent's adjusted gross income before determining the support amount. This change directly affects noncustodial parents and Mississippi courts handling child support cases, ensuring health insurance costs are considered in the calculation. The bill does not alter existing child support percentage guidelines but adds a specific adjustment for health insurance expenses when applicable.
SB 2044 allows Mississippi public colleges and universities to share athletics-related revenue with student-athletes or compensate them for using their publicity rights (e.g., social media, endorsements). It requires all agreements between schools, student-athletes, and third parties to remain confidential - exempt from public records requests - and prohibits unauthorized disclosure, with violations subject to lawsuits for damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. The bill also amends rules for athlete agents, adding penalties for breaching confidentiality. It directly affects student-athletes at Mississippi public universities, their institutions, and third-party entities seeking to partner with athletes.
SB 2046, the "Mississippians' Right to Name, Likeness and Voice Act," grants every individual in Mississippi a legal right to control how their name, likeness, and voice are used, including by digital tools like AI-generated images or voice replicas. It requires written agreements with legal counsel for commercial use of these elements by individuals 18 or older, or court approval for minors, and allows rights to be inherited by family members for up to 10 years after death (with termination if unused for two years). The law explicitly states these rights are transferable and protects free speech in related lawsuits through a First Amendment defense. It directly affects all Mississippi residents and businesses using personal identifiers commercially, especially in digital contexts.
SB 2108 amends Mississippi bail laws to directly affect bail agents, defendants seeking release, and charitable bail funds. It requires suspending a bail agent’s license if a court rules they owe money to an insurer due to employment issues (license may be reinstated after payment), clarifies that credit card fees aren’t part of bail premiums, and allows defendants to post 10% of bail as cash with eligibility requirements (including a sworn affidavit). The bill prohibits unsecured release for defendants charged with "bail-restricted offenses" (requiring secured bonds instead), mandates charitable bail funds follow the same rules as surety companies, and requires courts to provide statutory notice before accepting cash bail. These changes aim to increase accountability for bail agents and standardize cash bail procedures.
SB 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act, transfers $500 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) on July 1, 2026, followed by annual $50 million transfers through 2036. If insufficient funds exist in the Capital Expense Fund, the state will use General Funds to ensure the full $50 million is transferred each year. This directly stabilizes funding for Mississippi's public employees' retirement system, which serves state and local government workers. The bill requires these specific, scheduled transfers to address long-term retirement system funding needs.
SB 2003 shortens the waiting period for retired Mississippi educators to return to teaching from 90 to 45 days. It removes requirements that retirees must have a minimum service history, teach only in districts with critical shortages, or work only in specific subject areas. The bill also sets a 65% cap on salary for returning retirees, adjusts pension liability payments, and allows school districts to cover health insurance premiums for these educators using local funds. These changes directly affect retired teachers seeking to return to classroom roles in Mississippi public schools.
