HB 670 increases the limit on how many package retailer permits a person can own from one to two, under certain conditions. This change directly affects business owners who currently hold a single permit for stores selling alcohol in sealed containers for takeaway (not on-premises consumption). The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 67-1-51 to allow ownership of up to two such permits, without altering other permit types or sales rules. This is a concrete policy change to expand business ownership options in the alcohol retail sector.
HB 672 allows counties, cities, tribes, or state agencies in Mississippi that already permit alcohol sales ("wet" jurisdictions) to authorize alcohol stores to sell packaged alcohol on Sundays between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. It does not require stores to open on Sundays - they may continue operating Monday through Saturday. The bill amends existing law (Section 67-1-83) to permit these Sunday hours, while maintaining the existing ban on Sunday sales elsewhere. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 2016 creates the Mississippi Department of Tourism to centralize and streamline tourism promotion and development across the state. It transfers all tourism-related powers, duties, and staff from the Mississippi Development Authority to this new department by July 1, 2026, and diverts a portion of hotel and restaurant sales tax revenue into a dedicated tourism advertising fund (previously allocated to the Development Authority). The bill establishes an appointed Executive Director, authorizes the department to develop regional tourism strategies, coordinate with local tourism groups, and manage advertising through the new fund, while repealing six existing tourism statutes. This reorganization directly affects Mississippi’s tourism industry, state agencies managing tourism programs, and local tourism entities receiving state funding.
HB 710 requires Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to be reimbursed from the state General Fund for revenue lost when issuing legally mandated discounts on hunting/fishing licenses, state park admissions, and other recreational fees (like boat rentals). The department must track these lost revenues annually, submit a report by June 30 each year, and receive payment within 30 days to the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund. This applies only to discounts issued on or after July 1, 2026, and requires the department's accounting to be audited by the State Auditor. The bill ensures the department isn't financially burdened by required discount programs while directing funds to a dedicated conservation account.
HB 751 extends the expiration date for Mississippi's Capital City Water/Sewer Projects Fund, which provides state funding to support Jackson's water and sewer system upgrades. The bill delays the automatic lapse of unspent funds in the special fund from January 1, 2030, to a later date (though the new date isn't specified in the text). This procedural change directly affects the City of Jackson, which uses the fund for projects like infrastructure repairs and improvements. The bill does not alter the fund's existing structure or create new funding mechanisms - it only postpones when the fund would sunset.
HB 1013 designates October as Bullying Prevention Awareness Month in Mississippi to promote education and awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. This designation, added to Mississippi Code Section 3-3-7, establishes a month-long observance for schools, community organizations, and the public to focus on prevention efforts. It does not create a legal holiday or impose new legal requirements, but rather serves as a symbolic recognition to encourage statewide awareness activities. The bill amends existing law to formally include October as a dedicated month for raising public consciousness about bullying prevention.
SB 2312, the Wastewater Treatment System Infrastructure Sustainability Act, requires Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to create a statewide letter grading system (A-F) for community wastewater systems serving 15+ connections. The grades will be based on compliance with permits and water quality standards, financial health, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. MDEQ must publish annual scores and grades online by 2028, and each wastewater system must notify customers of their grade within 30 days of publication. This law directly affects all municipal wastewater systems in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency, public health protection, and infrastructure sustainability.
SB 2019 deletes a provision that would have stopped directing lottery proceeds to the State Highway Fund after July 1, 2028. Currently, lottery funds flow to the Highway Fund for road repairs and maintenance, with any amount over $80 million in a fiscal year redirected to the Education Enhancement Fund for schools. The bill ensures highway funding continues indefinitely by removing the 2028 sunset date. This directly affects how Mississippi allocates lottery revenue between state highways and education programs.
SB 2311, the Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act, creates a standardized letter grading system (A-F) for Mississippi's community public water systems - those serving at least 15 year-round connections. The Mississippi State Board of Health will assign grades annually based on criteria including water quality violation history, financial stability, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. Water systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days of the Board's public report, which will be published online starting January 1, 2028. This law directly affects over 300 community water systems across Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in drinking water safety.
SB 2367 prohibits health insurance plans in Mississippi from requiring metastatic cancer patients to fail or prove failure on other drugs before accessing FDA-approved treatments for advanced cancer. It directly affects patients with advanced, metastatic cancer and their insurers by eliminating step therapy barriers for covered prescription drugs. The law applies only to drugs consistent with medical best practices, supported by evidence-based research, and approved by the FDA. This change ensures patients can receive necessary treatments without unnecessary delays imposed by prior authorization requirements.
HB 1165 changes Mississippi law to transfer jurisdiction for certain firearm-related offenses involving minors to the circuit court (adult court) instead of the youth court. Specifically, if a minor violates laws about carrying concealed weapons (Section 97-37-1) or firearm possession (Section 97-37-14) and that violation is part of a felony, the case will be handled by the circuit court. This affects youth charged with these specific offenses, meaning they will face adult court proceedings for such cases. The bill also includes a separate provision increasing penalties for selling stolen firearms to minors, but the primary focus is on shifting jurisdiction for these firearm charges.
SB 2337 modifies Mississippi's probation law to exempt intervention court participants from a hearing requirement when they commit three or more technical violations of the court's rules. Instead, a judge may directly impose the remainder of the suspended sentence after making a written finding of the violations, skipping the standard hearing process. This change specifically applies to individuals enrolled in intervention courts - specialized programs for non-violent offenders focused on rehabilitation, such as drug or mental health courts. The bill streamlines consequences for repeated technical violations without requiring a hearing in these cases.
