HB 1686 appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund to Hinds County's Board of Supervisors to help cover costs for expanding broadband internet access to county residents during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds are intended to support infrastructure projects that would improve broadband availability for Hinds County residents. The bill specifies that state funds will be paid to the county upon proper requisitions, following standard state fiscal procedures. This is a funding measure targeting direct broadband expansion costs, not a policy change affecting broader regulations or services.
HB 543 creates a grant program to help businesses expand cellular and broadband access in Mississippi's rural areas. It directly affects businesses operating in counties with ≤30,000 people or municipalities with ≤10,000 people, as defined by the latest census. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will administer grants covering up to 25% of project costs for infrastructure improvements. The program is funded by $15 million in state bonds, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of lapsing. The bonds must be issued by July 1, 2029, to support this initiative.
Mississippi's SB 2220, the "Mississippians' Right to Name, Likeness and Voice Act," establishes that every resident (living or deceased) has a property right in their name, likeness, and voice. It requires explicit consent for commercial use of these elements, especially for digital replicas created via AI or digital technology (like voice clones or image simulations), and sets penalties: $50,000 per violation for unauthorized digital cloning services and $5,000 for other unauthorized uses. The law allows heirs to enforce these rights for 10 years after death but requires written consent from individuals aged 18+ (or court-approved for minors) for new commercial uses. This bill directly affects all Mississippi residents and businesses or entities using personal identity commercially, particularly in digital advertising or media.
SB 2202 would criminalize sharing digitally altered or AI-generated images/audio (including deepfakes) depicting someone in intimate situations without their consent, when shared with intent to cause emotional, financial, or physical harm. It directly affects victims of non-consensual image sharing and perpetrators who create or disseminate such content, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors for under-21 offenders to felonies for adults (up to penalties similar to voyeurism laws). Key provisions include defining "digitization" broadly to cover AI tools, requiring intent to cause harm, and listing exceptions for law enforcement, journalism, and public exposure. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and never became law.
SB 2443 proposed establishing Mississippi's Technology Innovation Fund to support government technology projects. The fund would provide grants and other support to state agencies, schools, nonprofits, and private companies partnering with government to develop digital solutions for improving public services, cybersecurity, and efficiency. Recipients would need to report progress to the state's Chief Information Officer, who would also submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 2059, the "Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force Act," proposes establishing a 12-member task force to study AI's potential in Mississippi K-12 education and develop policy recommendations. The task force, appointed by state leaders and including education, tech, ethics, and industry experts, would evaluate AI applications, assess privacy/ethics concerns, and recommend guidelines for student/teacher use, curriculum integration, and data privacy. It would submit interim reports by November 2025 and a final report by December 2025 to state leaders. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and never became law.
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.
HB 1535 establishes Mississippi's Artificial Intelligence Regulation (AIR) Task Force to study AI's impact on state operations and develop policy recommendations. The task force, composed of state officials and sector experts (including IT, homeland security, healthcare, and private industry representatives), must annually evaluate AI risks, government use, and ethical frameworks by December 1. Key provisions require the group to review other states' AI policies, assess privacy and bias concerns, and propose funding strategies for responsible AI adoption across state agencies. This bill directly affects Mississippi state government departments and agencies using AI tools, aiming to balance innovation with public safety through structured oversight.
SB 2894 adds cybersecurity insurance to Mississippi's Insurance Guaranty Association (MIGA) coverage by defining it to include first- and third-party claims for data breaches, ransomware, and similar cyber incidents. The bill sets a $300,000 maximum payout per policy for all cyber claims arising from a single event, regardless of how many claims or claimants are involved. This affects Mississippi insurers offering cybersecurity coverage, policyholders with such policies, and the MIGA, which will handle claims if an insurer becomes insolvent. The law applies to claims filed under MIGA’s existing framework for insolvent insurers.
