SB 2929 appropriated $68.1 million from Mississippi's General Fund to Jackson State University (JSU) for the design, development, and construction of new student housing. The funding, intended for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), directly supports JSU in expanding campus housing infrastructure. The bill specified that state funds would cover associated costs through standard state budget processes. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 977 provides $1 million in state funding to Sharkey County's Board of Supervisors to develop a regional housing recovery strategy. The funds will cover costs associated with restoring housing levels to pre-2023 tornado conditions and planning for workforce housing needs driven by new businesses and industry. This strategy requires collaboration with federal and state partners and applies specifically to Sharkey County for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directs the State Treasurer to disburse funds upon proper requisitions and takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 2992 increases Mississippi's homestead property tax exemption from $7,500 to $20,000 of a home's assessed value. This directly affects qualifying homeowners, including heads of families, seniors aged 65+, service-connected disabled veterans, and individuals with federal disability status, who can exempt the first $20,000 of their home's value from property taxes. The bill amends existing tax code sections to raise the exemption limit and clarifies eligibility rules for joint ownership and specific tax categories like school levies. It does not change how exemptions are claimed or affect property values beyond the new $20,000 threshold. The bill died in committee in 2025 and did not become law.
SB 2413 renames Mississippi's hurricane damage mitigation program to the "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program" and increases financial grants for property owners to $15,000 per home to retrofit structures against wind and hurricane damage. The bill removes requirements for cost-benefit studies and an advisory council, while directing insurance companies to notify clients about the program within 30 days of filing discount schedules. Funding comes from a new fee structure: half of the $50 fee for processing agent certificates (effective 2025) goes into the dedicated "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Fund." This program directly affects single-family homeowners and commercial property owners seeking to reduce vulnerability to wind/hurricane damage.
SB 2328 clarifies eviction procedures for residential tenants and RV park residents in Mississippi. It requires landlords to provide tenants 72 hours after a court-ordered removal to retrieve personal property, and mandates law enforcement to physically remove occupants (not just post notices) to hand possession to landlords. The bill also establishes specific rules for RV park removals, allowing owners to remove residents for certain violations but prohibiting removal based on race, disability, or other protected characteristics. Tenants must still be given access to their property during the 72-hour period following removal.
HB 473 requires Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services to establish a housing program for young adults aged 18-24 who were previously in foster care after age 16. The program provides emergency housing and supportive services to help these individuals maintain stable housing, aligning with federal homelessness definitions. It mandates the department to create rules, dedicate annual funding, and use state or federal resources (like Chafee Program funds) without discrimination based on race, gender, or disability. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly supporting vulnerable former foster youth transitioning to adulthood.
HB 505 creates the Mississippi Special Needs Housing Steering Council to develop and oversee a new state housing program. The council, composed of state agency leaders and community advocates (including a resident representative), will assist the Mississippi Home Corporation in designing housing solutions for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and other special needs populations - such as formerly incarcerated persons, people with HIV/AIDS, or homeless families - as defined by the council. Key provisions require the program to provide bridge funding and community-integrated housing, with funding sourced from the Mississippi Affordable Housing Development Fund or a dedicated sustainable source. The bill establishes a formal structure for coordination but does not directly change existing housing laws or funding levels.
HB 717 authorizes Mississippi's Commissioner of Public Safety to create an alternative state identification card for homeless individuals, removing the requirement for proof of address. The bill directly affects homeless Mississipians who lack a fixed residence, as defined by the law (including those living in shelters or temporary accommodations). Key provisions amend state code to allow this alternative ID without federal Real ID Act conflicts, while maintaining standard card validity periods and fee structures for other applicants. The bill does not change eligibility for non-homeless residents but specifically streamlines ID access for those experiencing homelessness.
HB 787 removes a requirement that teachers receiving Mississippi's employer-assisted housing loans must live in the county where they work. The bill affects licensed teachers in areas designated by the State Board of Education as having critical teacher shortages, who currently receive up to $6,000 in interest-free loans. It changes the existing rule by eliminating the residency restriction (though the program still requires teachers to serve three years in shortage areas to convert the loan to a grant). The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 1346 creates two new bodies within Mississippi's Department of Human Services: an Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and a Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. The Task Force (comprising state agency leaders) must develop a statewide plan to reduce homelessness and improve housing stability, while the Advisory Council (with community members including people with lived experience of homelessness) provides annual recommendations to the Task Force. Both entities are required to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, starting in 2025. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.
