Ways and Means

SB 3110 creates tax credits for Mississippi taxpayers who make voluntary cash donations to qualifying rural hospitals. It allows a credit against either income tax (up to 50% of annual tax liability) or ad valorem property tax (up to 50% of property tax liability), but not both for the same donation. The bill caps the credit for any single hospital at $100,000 annually and sets a statewide annual limit of $1,000,000 for all hospitals combined. Unused credits may be carried forward for five years, and contributions must be cash-only (not goods or services).

This bill increases the maximum total annual tax credit amount available to employers sponsoring employee skills training through Mississippi community colleges. It directly affects businesses that provide job-related training programs, allowing them to claim a 50% credit on qualified expenses (like instructor costs and materials) up to $2,500 per employee per year. The key changes are raising the statewide cap on total credits claimed and extending the program's expiration date beyond 2030. Employers must work with local community colleges for certification, and credits can be carried forward for up to five years if unused. The bill maintains existing rules requiring training to be job-focused and certified by community colleges.

SB 3111 exempts licensed wine sellers (permittees) from paying alcohol taxes, markups, and other charges on up to 10 cases of wine annually when donated to Mississippi-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This directly affects winery permittees and qualifying charitable organizations by removing tax burdens on these specific donations. The key provision limits the exemption to 10 cases per year per nonprofit, as specified in amended Section 27-71-7(4) of Mississippi law. The bill does not change general tax rates for commercial wine sales but creates a targeted tax relief for charitable wine donations.

SB 3229 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue revenue bonds to cover repair costs for electric utilities damaged by the 2026 winter storm. Electric utilities can petition the Public Service Commission for a financing order, which, if approved, allows the state to issue bonds for storm-related repairs. The cost will be recovered through a new "system restoration charge" added to customers' monthly utility bills, adjusted annually to ensure it covers bond payments. The bonds are limited to the exact repair costs specified in the financing order and cannot be used for other purposes.

SB 3124 revises Mississippi's Pregnancy Resource Act to expand eligibility for a state income tax credit. It allows individual taxpayers (not just businesses) to claim a credit for cash donations to pregnancy resource centers meeting specific criteria, such as not providing or referring for abortions and limiting administrative spending to 20% of funds. The bill requires organizations to certify compliance with these standards annually and verify they serve Mississippi residents. Taxpayers can use the credit to offset up to 50% of their state income or property tax liability, with unused credits carrying forward for five years.