"Arborist Registration Law of 2026"; create to require individuals to engage in the profession of arboriculture to be registered and licensed.

HB 1012 would have required commercial tree care professionals (arborists) to register and hold a state license to practice in Mississippi. It exempted property owners performing tree work on their own land, government employees on public lands, and employees working under licensed arborists. The bill created a state board to manage licensing, set a $100 application fee, and mandated exams for applicants. However, it died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.