HB 65 would have provided $50,000 from the Mississippi State General Fund to the City of Jackson to cover specific improvements at Livingston Park during fiscal year 2025-2026. The funds were allocated as $20,000 for general facility construction/repair and $30,000 specifically for broadband infrastructure enhancements at the park. The bill directly affected Jackson's city government and Livingston Park users by funding physical upgrades and digital connectivity. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 1776 authorizes the Greenwood Utilities Commission to construct and lease dark fiber (unused fiber optic cables) within its service area to improve broadband capacity for residents and businesses. The bill directly affects Greenwood Utilities Commission, enabling it to build this infrastructure to meet digital needs and support economic growth. Key provisions allow the commission to independently decide on construction and leasing terms for the dark fiber network. The bill died in committee in April 2025 and did not become law.
HB 217 creates the "Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act," appropriating $100 million from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to help eligible households afford broadband. It directly affects households already approved for federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) or Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits, providing up to $15 monthly in financial assistance paid directly to broadband providers to lower household costs. The program requires the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services to administer the assistance with oversight from the Wireless Communication Commission, focusing on ensuring support reaches underserved communities.
SB 2450 would allow Mississippi counties to use court fee funds for technology at public law libraries and courtrooms. Specifically, it permits spending on computers, software, legal research tools, internet access, and courtroom equipment like audio systems or digital evidence displays. Funding would come from additional court fees: $2.50 per case in chancery/circuit courts and $1.50 per case in justice courts. The bill aims to modernize legal resource access and court operations through technology, expanding existing library funding rules. (Note: This bill died in committee in March 2025 and did not become law.)
HB 1903 increases tax credits for businesses donating to specific charitable organizations focused on child welfare, youth education, and workforce development. It raises the annual limit on credits for these contributions and allows unused credits to carry forward for five years. The bill also extends deadlines for broadband infrastructure tax credits until 2029 and clarifies equipment eligibility for property tax exemptions related to broadband deployment. These changes directly affect Mississippi businesses making qualifying donations or investing in broadband technology.
SB 3266 authorizes the Greenwood Utilities Commission to construct and lease unused fiber optic cable (dark fiber) within its service area to improve broadband access for residents and businesses. The bill allows the commission to decide how to build and lease this infrastructure to meet digital needs, attract technology investments, and support local economic growth. It directly affects Greenwood residents and businesses by aiming to expand high-speed internet availability. The bill was referred to committee but died there on April 3, 2025, meaning it did not advance further.
SB 2366 amends Mississippi's broadband grant laws to clarify and expand the authority of the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM). It directly affects broadband providers, government entities, and communities lacking adequate internet access by expanding definitions of "applicant" and "eligible project," allowing BEAM to more effectively manage federal grant funds. Key provisions include authorizing BEAM to receive federal broadband grant funds, adding confidentiality protections for proprietary information, requiring a 60-day comment period for preliminary grant awards, and mandating Governor notification before distributing funds. The bill aims to streamline grant processes but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.
HB 1075 updates Mississippi's property tax exemption for broadband equipment to align with current FCC standards, requiring qualifying equipment to deliver at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. It directly affects broadband providers (like fiber, cable, DSL, or fixed wireless companies) by requiring them to report subscriber counts to county assessors and confirm equipment usage via FCC broadband data. The bill also caps fixed wireless access (FWA) site exemptions at 30% of total asset costs per site. These changes ensure tax exemptions apply only to modern broadband infrastructure meeting federal benchmarks.
HB 1545 updates Mississippi's tax incentives for broadband deployment by requiring equipment to meet minimum speed standards (35 Mbps down/3 Mbps up for mobile, matching FCC benchmarks for fixed broadband) to qualify for tax credits and property tax exemptions. It maintains tiered tax credits (5-15% based on rural area designation) but extends the property tax exemption period to 10 years for fixed broadband equipment placed in service between 2025-2030 (compared to 5 years for mobile). Telecommunications companies must submit verified equipment specifications, including speed details, to county tax assessors by April 1 each year to claim benefits. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have applied to equipment deployed after June 30, 2025.
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.
