Mississippi SB 2242 establishes the "Moving Mathematics in Mississippi" (M3) program to improve math education across public K-12 schools. It requires schools to implement K-5 math screening with targeted interventions for struggling students, use 5th-grade test scores as an Algebra-Readiness Indicator to guide middle school placement, and expand math coaching for teachers in all grade bands. The bill mandates grade-specific professional development aligned with state standards and creates a state fund to support these initiatives. These changes directly affect all Mississippi public school students, teachers, and districts through new assessment protocols and support structures.
SB 2894 requires counties and municipalities to return unspent funds and interest earned from local improvement projects to the Capital Expense Fund. Unspent funds must be returned within 30 days of the bill's effective date if no project agreement (memorandum of understanding) was executed, or within three years of the agreement's execution (with a possible six-month extension), while interest must be returned within 30 days. If a local government fails to return funds, the state will withhold future payments under Section 27-65-75 until the amount is recovered and transferred to the Capital Expense Fund. This applies to funds initially disbursed under Chapter 102, Laws of 2021, for local improvement projects.
HB 534 creates the Mississippi Health Information Exchange, a statewide system enabling real-time electronic sharing of patient data between licensed hospitals, clinics, insurers, and public health agencies. It requires all licensed hospitals and community mental health centers to connect to the system for sharing admission/discharge/transfer data and bed availability, while allowing other providers to join voluntarily. The exchange is managed by a nonprofit entity selected through a competitive bid, with a special fund covering participation costs, and ensures data sharing complies with privacy laws like HIPAA. The system aims to improve care coordination, reduce administrative costs, and support public health research on priority issues like maternal health and mental health outcomes.
This bill requires any local government retirement plan previously approved by Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to pay its full net pension liability to the PERS board in a single lump sum before the plan terminates. It applies specifically to political subdivisions (like cities or counties) ending their retirement plans, mandating they pay the greater of the liability as of June 30, 2026, or their actual termination date. The bill amends PERS law to enforce this lump-sum payment as a condition of termination, ensuring local governments settle pension obligations before exiting the system. This changes how retirement plan terminations are handled, requiring immediate financial settlement rather than deferred payments.
This bill prohibits the expungement of felony convictions for promoting or procuring prostitution under Mississippi law. It clarifies that minors are not criminally liable for nonviolent acts committed during human trafficking victimization. Victims of human trafficking may now request courts to expunge misdemeanor and nonviolent convictions directly resulting from their trafficking experience. The bill also establishes an affirmative defense for criminal charges stemming from trafficking victimization, ensuring these cases are evaluated with context of the victimization.
SB 2487 requires Mississippi schools to provide targeted reading support for students in grades 4-8 who struggle with reading proficiency. It mandates that schools create an Individual Reading Plan (IRP) within 30 days of identifying a reading deficiency, notify parents within 10 business days, and provide supplemental or intensive interventions based on the severity of the deficiency. The bill prohibits promoting students to ninth grade if their reading difficulties remain unaddressed by the end of eighth grade. It also establishes a state system to train educators - including literacy coaches, interventionists, and teachers - and ensures all required supports are grounded in evidence-based reading research.
SB 2650 reorganizes existing Mississippi Code sections (19-5-381 through 19-5-415) to form the "Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority Act" for easier reference and future amendment. It defines key terms like "Authority" (the emergency communications unit within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency), "PSAP" (public safety answering point), and "NG911" (Next Generation 911 system) to clarify the structure of the state's emergency communications infrastructure. This procedural bill does not change current law but prepares the framework for potential updates to emergency call systems and funding mechanisms.
HB 1656 regulates real estate brokerage agreements for residential properties with 1-4 dwelling units. It requires written agreements detailing services and compensation before brokers list property or submit offers on behalf of clients, giving consumers the choice to select their preferred brokerage service type. The bill excludes transactions like court-ordered sales, foreclosures, family transfers, and open houses. Brokers cannot demand written agreements just for property tours. This applies to licensed Mississippi brokers handling eligible residential sales.
SB 2104 expands Mississippi's gambling prohibitions to explicitly include online, interactive, and computerized games, targeting operators of illegal online gambling platforms. It increases violations from misdemeanors to felonies, imposing fines up to $100,000 or 10 years in prison, and authorizes forfeiture of assets used in violations. The bill creates a "safe harbor" (new Section 97-33-6) protecting telecom and technology platforms from liability if they comply with certain requirements. It also explicitly includes internet sweepstakes casinos under the prohibitions and allows prosecutions to be filed in the county of violation or Hinds County. The law directly affects online gambling operators and platforms hosting such activities.
HB 891 requires Mississippi employers to provide employees with a written earnings statement within 21 days of a written request (sent via certified mail, email, or hand delivery). The statement must include the employee's name, pay rate, gross pay, deductions (with purpose), net pay, and hours worked or units produced. Employers who fail to comply face a $750 fine per violation, enforced by the Attorney General's Office, which will also post information on employee rights and complaint procedures online. This law directly affects all Mississippi employees seeking transparency in their pay details.
HB 1553 names Alcorn State University's biotechnology building at 1000 ASU Drive in Lorman, Mississippi, as the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building." The bill requires the Department of Finance and Administration to create a plaque detailing Willie L. Simmons' contributions to Alcorn State University and Mississippi, and to install official signage on the building's exterior. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or funding.
HB 1641 revises Mississippi's real estate broker regulations by updating key definitions and procedures. It clarifies the term "real estate broker" to include modern business structures and activities, adds definitions for "automated valuation method" (computerized home value models) and "broker price opinion" (broker estimates of property value), and updates how delinquency notices for unpaid fees are handled. The bill directly affects licensed real estate brokers, salespersons, and their companies operating in Mississippi by standardizing terminology and administrative processes. These changes aim to modernize the regulatory framework without altering licensing requirements or exempting new categories of businesses.
