Mississippi Minimum Wage Act; enact.

SB 2277 establishes Mississippi's first state minimum wage law, requiring most private-sector employers to pay $12 per hour starting January 1, 2027, increasing to $15 per hour by January 1, 2029. It directly affects most full-time and part-time workers in Mississippi but excludes small businesses (with fewer than five employees), certain agricultural workers, government employees, students, and some independent contractors. Key mechanisms include enforcement by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, criminal penalties for violations, and a civil lawsuit option for affected workers. The law also allows local governments to set higher minimum wages if they choose.