HB 1221 creates the Mississippi Jenna's Law Task Force to study whether coroners should routinely include Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) as a cause of death in autopsies and report such cases to the National SUDEP Registry. The task force, composed of medical examiners, coroners, epilepsy foundation leaders, and health officials, will examine SUDEP incidence, compare state data with national registries, and recommend potential policy changes. It must submit final recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2027, but does not immediately require any changes to autopsy procedures. This bill directly affects coroners, medical examiners, and epilepsy patients' families by initiating a review of how epilepsy-related deaths are documented. The task force will operate without compensation, using state resources to gather data and develop future legislative proposals.
HB 1220 limits liability for cybersecurity incidents involving Mississippi state/local governments and certain businesses (called "covered entities") if they follow nationally recognized cybersecurity standards. Specifically, it creates a legal presumption against liability for entities that substantially comply with frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or federal laws such as HIPAA. This applies when entities implement and maintain security measures protecting personal data, with compliance tailored to their size, complexity, and resources. The bill does not cover government IT acquisitions under existing law or override other immunity protections.
This bill allows Mississippi county law libraries and courtrooms to use existing court fee funds for technology upgrades. Specifically, it authorizes boards of supervisors to spend collected fees (up to $2.50 per case in chancery/circuit courts) on electronic resources like computers, legal research tools, and courtroom technology such as audio systems, digital evidence displays, and video recording. It directly affects county law libraries and courtrooms by expanding how existing court fee revenue can be spent, without creating new taxes. The change applies to all counties maintaining law libraries and enables modernization of both library services and courtroom infrastructure.
SB 2523 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi's education code (specifically moving sections 37-101-1 through 37-101-30 to new positions) for potential future amendments. It does not change any substantive policies or create new programs; it only updates the code's structure. The bill affects the governance framework for Mississippi's public universities, which are already defined under the renumbered sections (e.g., the Board of Trustees structure and the Felix La Bauve Scholarship Trust). This renumbering is administrative, intended to streamline future legislative changes to higher education law. The bill passed committee and received a title amendment in 2026.
HB 1288 revises the allocation rules for funds in Mississippi's 2023 Local Improvements Projects Fund, changing which specific projects receive disbursements. The bill modifies Section 28 of Chapter 549 to redirect $1.5 million previously designated for a project in the Town of Terry toward other local infrastructure and community projects across the state. Key allocations include $2 million for Pascagoula City Hall upgrades, $1.8 million for George County's Basin-Barton Multipurpose Facility, $1.5 million for Itawamba County Courthouse repairs, and funds for fire stations, road improvements, and community centers in multiple counties. This bill directly affects local governments, schools, and community organizations by altering how existing state funds are distributed for physical infrastructure and public services. (Note: The bill title references the Town of Terry, but the revised fund allocation does not include Terry in the listed projects.)
HB 1314 raises the threshold for requiring competitive bidding on state purchases from $5,000 to $10,000, allowing agencies to buy items under that amount without formal bidding. It revises rules for reverse auctions, requiring agency or governing authority leaders to get board approval - and provide written justification - if they skip this method. The bill also adds exemptions for Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol vehicle purchases, county group contracts, and federal-compliant procurement. These changes apply directly to state agencies, counties, and local governing authorities managing public spending.
HB 1085 creates a program to reimburse Mississippi National Guard members for costs of Tricare Reserve Select health coverage and Tricare Dental premiums. It directly affects Guard members who pay these premiums themselves and do not have health/dental coverage through a civilian employer. The Mississippi Military Department will administer the program, using funds approved annually by the legislature, and must report yearly on participation and program effectiveness to the legislature. The bill ensures state reimbursement only covers premiums not already covered by federal sources.
HB 1361 requires Mississippi hunters of white-tailed deer to use an electronic game check system (via app, website, or digital tools) to report harvests. This mandatory program, to be developed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, collects detailed harvest data to inform wildlife conservation policies. Hunters who fail to comply face fines starting at $100 for a first offense, increasing to $500-$1,000 for repeat violations. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and mandates annual reports to legislative committees on program implementation.
HB 1296, known as "Maeghan's Law," requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to create educational materials about amniotic fluid embolism (a rare, serious obstetric emergency where amniotic fluid enters the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular collapse and other complications) for healthcare providers, patients, and the public. The bill mandates that the Health Department develop these materials and post them on its website, focusing on recognizing signs, symptoms, and management of the condition. This law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects healthcare systems, pregnant individuals, and their families by improving awareness of a critical but uncommon medical risk.
HB 1295 revises Mississippi's juror qualifications by requiring prospective jurors to demonstrate basic literacy. The bill mandates that jurors complete a written form with personal details (name, address, occupation, etc.) before serving, which the judge must personally review to confirm they can read and write. Those unable to complete the form will be disqualified and removed from the jury pool until they qualify. This change directly affects individuals summoned for jury duty in Mississippi courts, starting July 1, 2026.
HB 1084 increases the authorized military leave period for Mississippi state and local government employees who are members of reserve military units. It amends existing law to allow more than 30 days of paid leave for training, without loss of pay, annual leave, or job status. The bill requires employers to reinstate employees to their previous positions upon return from training, with protections against termination without cause for one year. This affects all officers and employees of state departments, counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions who serve in reserve components.
HB 1392 creates a new Fire Grant Fund to help Mississippi counties and municipalities purchase fire trucks, equipment, and implement fire safety programs. It requires the State Fire Marshal and Mississippi State Rating Bureau to adopt Insurance Services Office (ISO) standards for fire trucks, preventing mandatory retirement based solely on calendar age if trucks have proper maintenance and pass safety inspections. Existing funds from rural fire truck programs (Rural Fire Truck Fund, Supplementary Rural Fire Truck Fund, and Annual Fire Fund) will be transferred into the new grant fund, which will be managed by the Department of Finance and Administration. Grants will be awarded using a points system that prioritizes communities with current fire safety plans and prior grant applications, with up to 90% funding for first-time applicants.
