County Affairs

HB 1525 allows Mississippi counties to join group purchasing programs run by the Mississippi Association of Supervisors (MAS) for supplies, commodities, and equipment. County boards of supervisors can authorize participation via resolution if they determine it would promote economy, efficiency, or effectiveness in county operations. Purchases made through MAS programs are exempt from standard procurement rules in Sections 31-7-12 and 31-7-13 of Mississippi law. This bill directly affects all Mississippi counties seeking to use MAS’s group purchasing system for non-competitive procurement.

HB 4 requires municipalities seeking to annex adjacent unincorporated land to hold separate voter elections in both the municipality and the proposed annexation area, replacing the previous court approval process. If 20% of residents in the target area petition for an election within 60 days of an annexation ordinance, officials must schedule votes in both locations within 60 days of petition certification. Annexation only proceeds if majority voters in *both* areas approve the measure; otherwise, the municipality cannot re-propose the same annexation for five years. This bill directly affects municipalities aiming to expand and residents in territories targeted for annexation by shifting decision-making from courts to voter input.

HB 100 would allow Mississippi county board of supervisors members to simultaneously work for a community college district while serving on their board, removing a prior restriction under state law. This bill directly affects current county supervisors who might seek employment with community colleges, enabling them to hold both positions without violating existing conflict-of-interest rules. The key provision modifies Section 25-4-105 and related laws to explicitly permit this dual employment. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

HB 275 increases the number of days counties and cities in Mississippi can declare as legal holidays to replace certain existing holidays, from one day to two days. Specifically, local governments may now choose two days (like Mardi Gras or other dates) instead of just one to serve as official holidays in lieu of holidays listed in state law, excluding Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Veterans' Day. The bill does not create new holidays but adjusts local flexibility in holiday scheduling. This is a procedural change affecting only county and municipal governing bodies, not individual residents or businesses.

SB 2562 increases the fee paid to circuit clerks and deputies for each day they attend court sessions from an unspecified prior amount to $85.00 per day, with counties covering this cost. This change directly affects county governments, which must now pay this higher fee for clerk and deputy attendance during circuit court terms. The bill modifies existing fee structure (Section 25-7-13) to set this specific daily rate, effective July 1, 2025. It does not alter other court fees or services, focusing solely on the compensation for court attendance time.