HB 1651 prohibits Mississippi state agencies from spending funds on personal or professional services from private companies unless they first certify those services aren't available through another state agency at no cost. It requires the Department of Finance and Administration to maintain a "shared services inventory" listing available state agency capabilities. The bill creates a Shared Human Resources Program under the State Personnel Board to serve agencies with fewer than 30 employees, and designates the Department of Finance and Administration as the accounting and procurement department for those same small agencies. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 562 establishes the MissCATEE Program, providing tuition-free community college education in career and technical education (CTE) for eligible Mississippi residents. It directly affects high school graduates or equivalent who enroll in approved CTE programs aligned with high-wage, high-demand industries (like healthcare, manufacturing, and IT) identified by the Office of Workforce Development. Key provisions require participants to commit to working in their field within Mississippi for a period set by the Office, with potential fund recoupment if they fail to fulfill this obligation. The program aims to address workforce shortages by connecting training to industry needs while prioritizing rural communities and supporting adults seeking new skills.
SB 2599 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration (acting for the Department of Public Safety) to sell a specific 8.85-acre property in Meridian (used as the Highway Safety Patrol's Troop H Headquarters and Driver Service Bureau) to Compass Datacenters JAN I, LLC. The bill requires the property to be sold at fair market value - determined by averaging two appraisals from Mississippi-licensed appraisers - and mandates that Compass Datacenters pay all closing costs. It also requires an accurate legal description in the sale deed and allows corrections to discrepancies in the property or buyer details. This bill directly affects the state's property management and Compass Datacenters as the buyer.
SB 2596 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to transfer a 3.24-acre parcel of land in Ridgeland to the City of Ridgeland at no cost. The bill specifies that the State of Mississippi retains all mineral rights to the property and allows MDOT to correct any errors in the land’s legal description. This procedural bill directly affects the City of Ridgeland (as the recipient) and MDOT (as the transferor), with no new policy or financial obligations beyond the property transfer.
SB 2710 expands youth court jurisdiction for certain juvenile firearm offenses, moving cases involving children attempting or committing acts related to firearms under specific sections (like 97-37-35) from circuit court back to youth court. It significantly increases penalties for selling, delivering, or transferring stolen firearms, with sentences ranging from 10 to 40 years depending on the circumstances - such as selling to minors (10-20 years), using the firearm in violent crimes (10-30 years), or in murder/attempted murder cases (10-40 years). The bill also adds new trafficking penalties for possessing two or more stolen firearms (minimum 15 years). These changes directly affect juveniles charged with firearm-related offenses and individuals convicted of trafficking or selling stolen firearms.
HB 1911 allocates $13.61 million from general funds and $28.91 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance’s (DOI) operating expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It specifically restricts $11.27 million for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), limiting the DOI to 130 permanent staff positions and requiring unused "Vacancy Funding" to fill unfilled roles from the prior year. The bill prohibits using these funds for employee promotions, title changes, or salary increases beyond the approved budget, and mandates compliance with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan. It also requires DOI to maintain detailed financial records and prohibits replacing federal funds with general appropriations.
HB 1928 is a funding bill that allocates $24.8 million from Mississippi's State General Fund for legislative operations during fiscal year 2027. It covers salaries, travel, and daily allowances for House and Senate members ($7.02 million total), contingent funds for both chambers ($17.43 million total), and expenses for joint committees including the Budget Committee ($5.8 million) and Performance Evaluation Committee ($2.99 million). The bill also includes specific provisions requiring detailed financial reporting for the Reapportionment Committee, restricting out-of-state travel without committee approval, and directing preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions. This bill directly affects all legislative staff, committees, and state agencies receiving these appropriations.
This bill places the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau on hold due to financial constraints, suspending all its activities until the county board of supervisors decides to reactivate it. The legislation amends existing state law to allow the county to potentially impose a new tourism tax on hotels, motels, and similar lodging establishments that rent rooms to transient guests for 90 days or less. If the county board chooses to implement the tax, it would be capped at 2% of gross room rental proceeds, excluding complimentary services and non-taxable rooms. The bill includes a public notice requirement and a protest mechanism where 20% of qualified voters or 1,500 signatures can trigger a vote on whether to proceed with the tax.
This Mississippi bill authorizes the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors to create an Industrial Zone Emergency Response District to provide fire protection, emergency medical care, and other emergency services to industrial businesses in a specific area near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The district would be formed through a county resolution and a petition signed by industrial taxpayers representing at least 80% of the area's total participation factors, which are calculated based on property value and employee numbers. Once established, the district would have the power to levy special assessments on industrial property owners, issue bonds for funding, and enjoy tax exemptions on its property and revenue.
This bill authorizes Yazoo County, Mississippi, to create a new organization called the Yazoo Economic Alliance to oversee economic and industrial development projects within the county and its municipalities. The new authority would be governed by five trustees who can either be county supervisors themselves or independently appointed residents, with specific rules for terms, removal, and advisory roles for supervisors. The Alliance would have the power to acquire, develop, and manage real estate and infrastructure for industrial parks, business sites, and related facilities, while also being able to sell or lease these properties to private or public entities. Additionally, the bill allows the county to dissolve its existing economic development district once the new Alliance is established.
This bill authorizes the City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to enter into a long-term lease agreement for city-owned property. The legislation allows city officials to lease such property for a period of up to 30 years at their discretion. It applies specifically to the governing authorities of Hattiesburg and enables them to formalize lease arrangements for municipal assets. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and does not impose additional restrictions beyond the 30-year maximum lease term.
This bill authorizes the Perry County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to charge a $50 fee on civil cases filed and misdemeanor convictions in the county's justice court. The collected funds would be used to cover repairs, upgrades, operations, and maintenance of the justice court building, including potential grant matching. The assessment is optional and can only be implemented through a formal board resolution. The provision would automatically expire on July 1, 2030, unless renewed by the legislature.
