Municipalities

SB 2060 allows Mississippi municipalities operating public utilities (such as water, electricity, or gas systems) to accept credit and debit card payments from customers. The bill requires utilities to cover any transaction fees associated with electronic payments themselves, rather than charging customers directly. These fees can then be included in the utility's regular rate base, meaning all customers indirectly pay for the service through their standard bills. This change modernizes payment options without increasing costs for individual customers.

SB 2352 allows Mississippi municipalities, police departments, and sheriff's offices to contract with private nonprofit school boards to provide certified law enforcement security services. The bill directly affects private nonprofit schools by enabling them to access off-duty police officers for campus security, who may wear official uniforms and use department equipment under agreed terms. Key provisions include requiring school districts to secure liability insurance that indemnifies the law enforcement agency, and mandating that agencies only approve uniform/equipment use if insurance covers the jurisdiction. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee in February 2026.

SB 2375 requires municipalities and court-appointed receiverships to treat unpaid water fees as a lien against the property owner, not just the tenant. It clarifies that renters who pay water fees through rent are not liable if the property owner fails to pay. The bill establishes that fees become a yearly lien on the real property, prohibits selling personal property to satisfy these liens, and mandates notification to county tax collectors. This directly affects property owners of residential or commercial properties using municipally owned water services, ensuring fees are collected through property-based liens rather than tenant liability.

HB 1211 removes two procedural requirements for Mississippi municipalities when granting utility franchises or street usage rights. Specifically, it eliminates the need for municipal ordinances on these matters to receive voter approval (a majority of qualified electors) and removes the requirement that such ordinances be read by the municipal clerk before final passage. This change directly affects local governments in Mississippi that issue utility franchises or permit street usage, streamlining their ordinance process. The bill simplifies administrative steps without altering the substantive authority of municipalities to grant such franchises. The law took effect after being signed by the governor on March 6, 2025.

SB 2070 allows Mississippi municipalities to authorize their publicly owned utilities (such as water, electricity, or gas systems) to accept electronic payments like credit or debit cards. The bill requires utilities to absorb any transaction fees from these payments by including them in their rate base, meaning customers won’t pay extra fees for using electronic methods - instead, the cost is covered through standard utility rates. This change directly affects municipal utilities and their customers by simplifying payment options without adding separate charges. It does not alter existing service rates or require new customer fees.