Technology (Digital Government)

HB 843 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to create a secure online portal on their official website. This portal would let voters who cast affidavit ballots (used when unable to show ID or verify registration) enter a PIN (like last four SSN digits) to check if their vote was counted within 30 days of an election. If rejected, the portal would display the specific reason for rejection. The bill directly affects voters using affidavit ballots in Mississippi elections, providing transparency about their ballot status. It does not change eligibility rules but adds a verification mechanism for those ballots.

HB 1074 establishes a dedicated "Electronic Government Services Fund" within the State Treasury, allowing unspent funds to roll over annually instead of lapsing into the general fund. It expands the existing Electronic Government Oversight Committee to include additional state agency representatives and mandates a new procurement portal for vendors to access state buying opportunities, featuring a searchable database, FAQs, and links to agency websites. The bill requires the portal to link to Mississippi's Transparency website and ensures the Department of Information Technology Services provides administrative support, with expenses covered by state appropriations starting July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects state agencies managing digital services and vendors seeking to sell goods/services to the state government.

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.

HB 20, the "Statewide Digital Services and Procurement Modernization Act," requires all Mississippi state agencies to transition to a centralized cloud storage system by July 1, 2030, to improve efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness in government operations. The bill establishes a Procurement Modernization Advisory Council to oversee implementation, develop cybersecurity plans, and guide data integration across state, county, and municipal governments. It directs the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (MDITS) to create the cloud center, enforce cybersecurity standards, and provide training and technical support for agencies during the transition. MDITS must also report annually to the legislature on progress, cost savings, and cybersecurity enhancements.