SB 2835 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Emergency Communications Act; create.

SB 2835 creates the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to oversee emergency communications. It requires all emergency communications districts (ECDs) to adopt a next-generation 911 (NG911) system plan by December 31, 2030, and establishes a fund to collect fees from service providers on emergency communications. The authority will manage these fees, set standards for NG911 systems, audit charges, and require annual financial reports from ECDs. The bill also repeals outdated sections of law related to emergency telephone services.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill was amended to strengthen the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority (MECA) by adding an advisory board with expanded membership, clarifying funding mechanisms for NG911 implementation, and updating service charge collection procedures. The changes shift more operational control to the Authority while maintaining oversight through the Advisory Board and Department of Revenue.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include clearer definitions of NG911, expanded authority over service charge administration, and new requirements for ECD reporting and plan adoption.

FISCAL

Created the NG911 CMRS Grant Fund as a separate special fund in the State Treasury to provide competitive grants for NG911 implementation, with unexpended funds not lapsing into the General Fund.

Changed the distribution of service charges so the Department of Revenue retains 7% for administrative costs, with remaining funds going to the Emergency Communications Public Safety Trust Fund for ECDs.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that all emergency communications districts adopt an NG911 plan by December 31, 2030, with failure to do so restricting access to NG911 implementation funds.

Expanded the Advisory Board to include representatives from MEMA legal and accounting departments, technology committee chairs, appropriations committee chairs, and additional stakeholders.

Changed service charge remittance timeline from 30 days to 30 business days after month-end, and updated the 0.5% collection fee retention for service providers.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Public Safety Answering Point' (PSAP), 'Commercial Mobile Radio Service Provider' (CMRS provider), and 'State NG911 Plan' to clarify technical requirements and responsibilities.

TECHNICAL

Added requirement for ECDs to submit financial and program reports annually to the Advisory Board, replacing the previous audit-only requirement.

TIMELINE

Extended the sunset date for repealing certain legacy sections from June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025, and added a new effective date of July 1, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY

Added provisions allowing municipalities to join contiguous or noncontiguous ECDs after October 1, 2027, with fair share funding contributions required.

ENFORCEMENT

Maintained misdemeanor penalties for unauthorized personal use of emergency services but clarified that service providers have no obligation to enforce collection of service charges.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill creates a new Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority to oversee Next Generation 911 (NG911) implementation, establishes a $2.00 monthly service charge on wireless and telephone services, and repeals previous emergency telephone service laws. The changes modernize emergency communications infrastructure to support advanced 911 services while maintaining funding mechanisms for local districts.

Scope change

The bill expands emergency communications oversight from county-level management to a state-level authority with broader powers over service providers and funding distribution across the state.

INSTITUTIONAL

Created the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority as a state subdivision within the Emergency Management Agency to coordinate NG911 implementation statewide.

FISCAL

Established a $2.00 monthly emergency communications service charge on residential, commercial, VoIP, CMRS, and prepaid wireless services to fund NG911 implementation.

DEFINITION

Added comprehensive definitions for NG911, emergency communications districts, service providers, and related technical terms to clarify regulatory requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Requires all emergency communications districts to adopt NG911 plans by December 31, 2030, with penalties for non-compliance.

GOVERNANCE

Replaced the previous Commercial Mobile Radio Service Board with a new 13-member advisory board with representation from various emergency services, telecommunications, and local government stakeholders.

REPEALED

Repealed multiple existing emergency telephone service sections (19-5-303, 19-5-311, 19-5-313, 19-5-331, 19-5-333, 19-5-335, 19-5-337, 19-5-339, 19-5-341, 19-5-343) to eliminate outdated regulations.

ENFORCEMENT

Added criminal penalties for misuse of wireless emergency telephone service, including fines up to $5,000 and imprisonment up to 3 years for felony violations.

TECHNICAL

Established new funds including the Emergency Communications Public Safety Trust Fund, NG911 CMRS Grant Fund, and ECD NG911 Implementation Fund to manage service charge revenues.

TIMELINE

Set effective date of July 1, 2025, with transition period for existing charges continuing through December 31, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 12, 2025 · House Mar 10, 2025

How they voted

48–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Feb 12, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

32 Yea 1 Nay 2

91% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Filed

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Committee

Recommitted For Further Conf

lower

Mar 29, 2025

Committee

Recommitted For Further Conf

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Technology;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Technology

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors