Housing (Homelessness)

signed · Mississippi · House Mar 28, 2025

HB 1801: Sunflower County; increase contributions made to the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Service, Inc.

HB 1801 increases funding for Sunflower County's homeless services by allowing the Board of Supervisors to supplement an annual $40,000 contribution to the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Service (a nonprofit that runs the Transition Center). The bill permits the county to add funds equal to what municipalities, faith groups, or private citizens contribute specifically for the Transition Center's daily operations. This directly supports the county's facility serving homeless residents. The law expires on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds homeless shelter operations via increased county contributions, directly addressing homelessness under housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2707: Registered providers of services for homeless persons; exempt from certain fees.

SB 2707 would have exempted registered homeless service providers from specific fees when assisting homeless individuals. It directly affects homeless persons by waiving civil court filing fees for altering birth/marriage certificates and driver's license/ID application fees. The bill amended Mississippi Code sections to implement these exemptions for registered providers under a Continuum of Care Program. The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill exempts homeless service providers from fees, removing barriers for homeless individuals to access ID/court services, directly addressing homelessness (core housing issue).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2296: Safe Parks and Public Spaces Act; enact.

Mississippi's SB 2296, the Safe Parks and Public Spaces Act, prohibits public camping on non-designated public property (like parks and sidewalks) except for temporary homeless encampments. It makes unauthorized camping a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $100 (with first offenses requiring referral to homeless shelters), and requires counties/municipalities to enforce this ban to receive state homelessness funding. Counties failing to enforce the law risk losing a pro-rata share of state homelessness funds, and residents or businesses can sue non-compliant local governments to compel enforcement. The bill directly affects homeless individuals camping in public spaces and local governments managing homelessness services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes public camping as a misdemeanor, expanding criminalization of homelessness-related activities - directly aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits public camping on non-designated property, criminalizes homelessness, and ties homelessness funding to enforcement - restricting housing access for vulnerable populations without advancing housing solutions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2330: Homeless encampments; prohibit camping, panhandling or loitering on public and private property with conditions.

Mississippi's SB 2330 proposes to prohibit camping, panhandling, and loitering on public and private property statewide, with limited exceptions like designated camping areas or permits. It allows local governments to create permitting programs for homeless camping on private property under strict conditions (e.g., no feasible alternatives, waste management plans) and requires 48 hours' notice before enforcement. Violations would be misdemeanors (not appearing on public records) and encampments could be removed humanely after 72 hours' notice. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill prohibits camping in homeless encampments on public/private property, restricting informal housing for homeless individuals. Allows limited exceptions but primarily restricts, aligning with 'oppose' as it limits housing development (encampmen...85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 2969: Sales tax; exempt sales to 501(c)(3) organizations that provide temporary housing for homeless persons.

SB 2969 would exempt sales of tangible personal property to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that provide temporary housing for homeless persons from Mississippi's state sales tax. This directly affects qualifying homeless service nonprofits by removing a sales tax burden on their necessary purchases. The bill amends Mississippi's sales tax code to add this specific exemption category to existing tax exemptions for organizations like hospitals and educational groups. The bill was referred to the Finance Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts sales tax for homeless housing nonprofits, reducing their operational costs to provide essential services per tax code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts sales tax for nonprofits providing homeless temporary housing, reducing operational costs to directly address homelessness and support affordable housing services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 473: Department of Child Protection Services; require to create certain transition-aged youth aftercare housing program.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates mandatory housing program for foster youth to prevent homelessness, using federal funds to address housing instability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 505: Mississippi Special Needs Housing Steering Council; create.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates council to develop housing solutions for homeless families and special needs populations, directly addressing homelessness and expanding affordable housing options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homelessness Housing Finance

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 717: State identification for homeless persons; authorize.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves ID barrier preventing homeless individuals from accessing housing services and stability, directly addressing homelessness as a housing policy issue.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1346: Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and Community Advisory Council on Homelessness; create within DHS.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates entities to develop statewide homelessness plan and improve housing stability, directly addressing homelessness reduction per summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 297: Homeless encampments; prohibit on public property and define as a public nuisance on private property.

This bill prohibits sleeping, sitting, or storing personal items on public streets or sidewalks within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, hospitals, or critical infrastructure (like bridges or power lines). It classifies such encampments as public nuisances on public property and requires local authorities to provide 48 hours' written notice before enforcement, including information about shelter services. For private property, the bill adds homeless encampments to the public nuisance law, allowing property owners to request removal (with humane enforcement) and imposing cleanup costs as a lien on the property. Violations on public property may be charged as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $5,000 or six months in jail.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization of homelessness by classifying encampments as public nuisances, increasing enforcement against vulnerable populations without addressing root causes or rehabilitation.85% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingProhibits homeless encampments on public property and classifies them as nuisances, restricting housing access for homeless individuals rather than advancing housing solutions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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