Technology

SB 2535, the "MS Future Innovators Act," would require all Mississippi public high school students to earn one credit in a computer science course or a career and technical education (CTE) course with embedded computer science before graduation, starting with the 2027-2028 ninth-grade class. The bill mandates that these courses include instruction on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), covering what AI is, how it works, and its societal impact. It allows these courses to fulfill specific graduation requirements without increasing the total required credits. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and is not currently law.

SB 2471 limits liability for government entities (like counties and municipalities) and commercial businesses if they adopt cybersecurity programs aligned with nationally recognized standards, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. It creates a "rebuttable presumption" against liability for compliant entities, meaning plaintiffs must prove non-compliance with these standards to override the protection. The law requires documentation of compliance and shifts the burden of proof to the plaintiff in lawsuits, though it does not create new private lawsuits for non-compliance. This bill applies to entities handling personal information and takes effect July 1, 2025.