HB 910 removes the annual gross sales cap for Mississippi cottage food operations and permits them to sell products online directly to consumers within the state. It allows sales via mail order, wholesale, third-party retail, or through the producer's agent, with all products delivered directly to Mississippi residents. The bill requires all cottage food products to be prepackaged with specific labeling, including the business name, ingredients, allergen information, and the disclaimer "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." This change primarily affects small-scale home-based food businesses currently limited by sales volume and delivery restrictions. The policy update takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1611 allows justice court judges in Mississippi to set bail for defendants charged with capital offenses (serious crimes punishable by death), which they could not previously do. The bill amends existing law to authorize these judges to establish bail amounts while maintaining current requirements, such as considering public safety, the defendant’s ability to pay, and the need for appearance in court. It does not change bail amounts or procedures but expands the authority of justice courts to handle bail settings for these high-level cases. The law would take effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2238 amends Mississippi law to authorize the consolidation of Starkville School District and Oktibbeha County School District into a single "Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District" effective July 1, 2015. The bill requires transfer of all real and personal property, contracts, and staff obligations from the former Oktibbeha County School District to the new consolidated district, with specific governance rules for the new school board. It also establishes procedures for nonrenewing staff contracts and limits administrative leadership to three assistant superintendents. The bill does not create new university partnerships, as its focus is solely on the administrative consolidation of the two school districts.
SB 2011 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's Debt Management Services Act from an earlier date to July 1, 2030, preventing the law from automatically repealing before that date. It reorganizes the existing sections of the Act (81-22-1 through 81-22-28) to prepare them for potential future amendments. This change directly affects debt management service providers in Mississippi who must be licensed under the Act, as it preserves the current regulatory framework without altering licensing requirements or service definitions. The key mechanism is delaying the law's expiration, not modifying how debt management services operate.
SB 2557 defines "nicotine-adjacent products" as items containing substances chemically similar to nicotine (like 6-methylnicotine or nicotinamide), or products marketed to avoid existing regulations. It prohibits selling these products or related components to anyone under 21, requiring in-person age verification with ID or third-party online checks. Retailers face escalating fines ($250-$1,000 per violation) for underage sales, with enhanced penalties for distribution within 1,500 feet of schools or educational properties. The bill directly affects retailers selling nicotine products and minors under 21, updating Mississippi’s regulatory framework to include these newly defined products under existing e-cigarette restrictions.
SB 2769 establishes the "Market-Ready Homes Revolving Loan Program" to provide short-term loans for homeowners to make essential repairs and upgrades to existing homes, primarily targeting "starter homes" (defined as homes where the owner's income is within 20% of 5.4x the local median income). The Mississippi Home Corporation administers the program, offering loans up to $30,000 (capped at 85% of a post-repair Broker Price Opinion) for repairs like roofing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, requiring contractor quotes and a six-month real estate listing. Loans have a six-month term with below-market interest rates and mandatory repayment, with extensions possible under specific closing or refinancing conditions. The program is funded through a one-time legislative appropriation into a revolving fund held in the state treasury, designed to help homeowners qualify for mortgages by improving their property's market value.
HB 788 modifies Mississippi's election rules to allow voters who are not registered in the jurisdiction they are voting in (but are otherwise eligible) to cast an affidavit ballot. This ballot will be used as their official voter registration, adding them to the statewide voter rolls as if they had completed a standard registration form. The bill also allows the affidavit ballot to serve as a written request to transfer voting precincts or wards, and automatically reactivates voters who were placed on inactive status (due to a confirmation notice) after they cast such a ballot. These changes aim to streamline voter registration and address common issues at polling places.
SB 2622, the "Mississippi One Door Website Act," requires the state’s Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) to create a single website allowing Mississippi residents and businesses to access all state agency services through one login. The website must enable data sharing between agencies (while protecting privacy), let users check eligibility for programs, avoid duplicate filings, and provide updates on relevant state laws. It also mandates business owners can file registrations and operating requirements online through this platform. The site must be fully operational by January 1, 2028, with ITS authorized to establish rules for its implementation.
HB 999 establishes the Mississippi Parkinson's Disease Research Registry within the State Department of Health to track the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease and related conditions (Parkinsonisms) across the state. It requires movement disorder centers and certified healthcare providers treating these conditions to submit patient data to the registry starting January 1, 2027, with patients able to opt out of data collection. The registry will collect epidemiological data while keeping all information confidential, and the Department must make anonymized data available to approved researchers. The bill also mandates public website updates, annual reports to health committees, and requires the State Health Officer to appoint an advisory committee with patient and medical expertise to guide the registry.
SB 2316 clarifies Mississippi law regarding devices that muffle firearm noise (commonly called silencers). It states that making, selling, or possessing such devices is unlawful in Mississippi *only* if those actions already violate federal law. The bill does not create new restrictions but ensures state penalties align with federal regulations. Violations would be punishable by a misdemeanor fine of up to $500 or 30 days in jail. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 2446, the HOPE Act, requires Mississippi nurses applying for or renewing licenses to complete one hour of human trafficking training with a trauma-informed curriculum by January 1, 2027. It mandates nurses to report suspected trafficking involving minors to Child Protection Services and suspected cases involving adults to law enforcement only when a victim is in imminent danger, after confirming consent, or as legally required. The bill directly affects all nurses licensed under the Mississippi Board of Nursing, aiming to improve identification and response to trafficking. It does not change existing sex offender registration requirements for human trafficking convictions, which are covered under a separate amendment in Section 4.
SB 2441 creates new limited medical licenses in Mississippi to address physician shortages. It allows the state board to issue licenses to graduates of foreign medical schools and U.S. medical school graduates who didn’t secure residency spots, with specific requirements. Foreign-trained physicians must work in rural or medically underserved areas with doctor shortages, while U.S. graduates must practice in counties under 50,000 residents under physician supervision. The bill extends the maximum license duration from five to eight years and sets clear qualifications for these temporary licenses.
