This bill's title contains an error - it's not about dyslexia but concerns school calendar exceptions after Winter Storm Fern. HB 1207 allows school districts in northern Mississippi affected by "Winter Storm Fern" (for which a state of emergency was declared January 22-27, 2026) to operate beyond the standard 180-day school year. Specifically, it extends the allowable days for receiving state per-pupil funding from 10 to 15 days for districts still impacted after the emergency ended, for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill modifies existing statutes to provide this temporary exception for affected school districts.
SB 2344 requires students at Mississippi's public colleges and universities to complete a financial literacy course (at least one credit hour) as a graduation requirement, starting fall 2027. The course must cover practical topics like budgeting, debt management, student loans, taxes, and retirement planning, using real-world simulations rather than commercial content. Institutions can deliver the course through various formats (online, embedded in other classes, etc.) and allow prior coursework to satisfy the requirement if it meets standards set by the Board of Trustees or Mississippi Community College Board. This applies to all state institutions of higher learning and community colleges, but does not automatically accept high school financial literacy courses unless they meet postsecondary standards. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1034, the "Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis Act" (or "Ryan's Law"), allows terminally ill patients in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice care to use medical cannabis under specific rules. It requires facilities to permit use (prohibiting smoking/vaping), mandate secure storage in locked containers within the patient’s room, and place responsibility for acquiring, administering, and removing cannabis solely on the patient or their designated caregiver. Health care staff cannot administer or retrieve cannabis, and facilities must not deny admission based on medical cannabis use. The bill does not apply to emergency departments or chemical dependency hospitals and includes provisions for federal compliance but does not alter existing federal scheduling of cannabis.
HB 1583 amends Mississippi law to require a two-year waiting period before a person convicted of drug trafficking (under Section 41-29-139(f)) can file a new parole eligibility petition after a previous one is denied by a circuit court. This applies specifically to offenders whose parole petitions are rejected, directly affecting those serving sentences for drug trafficking offenses who were previously eligible for parole after 25% of their sentence or 10 years. The bill adds this mandatory waiting period to Section 47-7-3 of the Mississippi Code, which governs parole eligibility for various offenses. It does not change the initial parole eligibility requirements for drug trafficking cases (25% of sentence or 10 years served), only the process for re-filing after a denial. The change is limited to parole petition re-filing and does not apply to other offense categories.
SB 2549 revises Mississippi's licensing requirements for radiologist assistants, requiring them to be credentialed radiologic technologists with American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification and registration. It directly affects radiologist assistants and healthcare providers by clarifying communication protocols: assistants may notify providers when imaging is complete, share initial observations only with radiologists, and relay the radiologist's final or preliminary interpretations to other providers. The bill explicitly prohibits assistants from interpreting images, making diagnoses, or prescribing treatments. This legislation takes effect July 1, 2026, and aligns licensing rules with guidelines from major radiology professional organizations.
HB 1566 amends Mississippi law to include Hinshaw natural gas pipelines within the state's public utility regulatory framework. It defines "Hinshaw natural gas pipeline" as systems physically in Mississippi, engaged in interstate commerce, providing gas for consumption in Mississippi, and exempt from federal regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938. The bill requires these pipelines to seek Public Service Commission approval before constructing, extending, or operating systems (excluding minor work) and mandates filing all third-party contracts with the Commission. This directly affects Hinshaw pipelines operating in Mississippi by subjecting them to state oversight on rates, services, and facility operations.
SB 2522 creates the UPSKILL Mississippi Grant Program, providing tuition-free access to community college certificate or associate degree programs for Mississippi residents pursuing training in high-demand fields. The program targets occupations identified by Accelerate Mississippi (the state's workforce office) as critical for economic growth, requiring colleges to offer support services like academic advising and career planning. Administered by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, it will launch in phases starting with a 2027 pilot, covering tuition/fees after other aid, plus a $500 annual book stipend, for eligible residents meeting residency, education, and enrollment requirements.
HB 1294 revises Mississippi law to increase the age threshold for enhanced penalties when a person in a position of trust (such as a teacher, coach, or parent) commits child grooming. Currently, the law applies to children under 16 for general grooming offenses, but this bill changes the age to 18 for those in trusted roles. Under the amendment, individuals in such positions who groom children under 18 face felony penalties of 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $20,000 - up from 2-10 years for standard grooming. The bill does not alter the definition of "grooming" but strengthens consequences for trusted adults exploiting minors. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1458 modifies Mississippi's telephone solicitation law to allow calls about Medicare Advantage or Supplement plans under two specific conditions: (1) when a person has an established business relationship with the solicitor, or (2) when the person has previously requested contact about such plans. This change applies directly to insurance companies and their solicitors selling Medicare plans within Mississippi. The bill clarifies that these exceptions do not override federal preemption under 42 U.S.C. § 1395w-26(b)(3). Other sections of the bill make minor technical corrections to existing provisions but do not alter the core Medicare solicitation rules.
HB 1394 repeals the $10 fee for festival permits (currently listed as paragraph (y) in Section 27-71-5) effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects event organizers and venues holding festival permits under Mississippi's alcohol licensing system. The bill reorganizes existing fee schedules for alcohol permits but does not alter most tax amounts or create new fees. It specifically removes the annual $10 charge for festival permits, which had been scheduled to expire on that date. This is a technical amendment to update the licensing code, not a substantive policy change to alcohol regulations.
HB 1234 establishes a standardized School Accountability Dashboard for Mississippi public schools, requiring school districts to publish clear, user-friendly data online starting in 2026-2027. The dashboard directly affects parents and communities by providing accessible metrics on student performance (like graduation rates, test scores, and absenteeism), teacher ratios, college/career readiness, and detailed annual school spending. Key provisions mandate that districts compile required data into a single-page graphic on their websites, include specific metrics aligned with the state’s accreditation system, and submit monthly financial reports showing exact expenditures and funding sources. The State Department of Education must provide a standardized template by August 2026, with a one-year grace period to identify additional data needed for the 2027-2028 dashboard.
HB 610 requires Mississippi prosecutors to notify law enforcement officers before sending a "Giglio letter" (a notice to an officer's employer about credibility concerns) or adding an officer to a "Giglio list" (a compiled list of officers deemed unreliable for testimony). The bill mandates that prosecutors provide written notice detailing the issue, allow officers to review evidence and meet with prosecutors, and give officers 30 days to appeal the decision to a circuit court for a full review. This applies to all prosecutors, including district attorneys, county attorneys, and contracted private attorneys. The law aims to create a fairer process for officers facing credibility challenges that could prevent them from testifying in court.
