SB 3169 ends several existing economic development tax incentives in Mississippi after specific dates in 2025. It stops income tax credits for job creation in alternative energy projects after 2025, eliminates sales tax exemptions for construction/expansion after July 2025, and halts new applications for the Mississippi Advantage Jobs Act incentives after December 2025. The bill also removes outdated incentive tiers that expired before 2025. These changes directly affect businesses currently using these tax credits or exemptions to support job growth or facility expansion. The law phases out overlapping incentives to streamline the state's economic development programs.
This bill (HB 1212) died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law. If enacted, it would have created a 9-member study committee to examine unintended impacts of wind turbines on agriculture, including property rights (e.g., pesticide drift), aquifer safety, and aviation pilot concerns. The bill also included a temporary moratorium on new wind turbine construction permits until July 1, 2026, to allow time for the committee’s study. The committee was required to report findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2025, but the bill did not advance beyond the committee stage.
HB 1195 prohibits retail electric suppliers (like utility companies) from passing the costs of owning or operating public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to electricity customers (ratepayers). It requires suppliers to file specific tariffs for selling electricity to EV charging station operators, banning demand charges and requiring billing based on kilowatt-hours. The bill also mandates that suppliers operate public EV charging stations through separate subsidiaries on non-discriminatory terms. These requirements would have applied to all rate-regulated suppliers by October 1, 2025, but the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.
SB 2333 requires Mississippi's Public Service Commission to study security threats to the state's electric grid, including electromagnetic pulse attacks and solar flares, and evaluate current grid vulnerabilities. The study must assess the need for security improvements and grid diversification, then propose specific measures to strengthen the system against damage. The Commission must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations by December 1, 2026, and the process is exempt from public meeting and record laws due to security sensitivity. This bill is procedural, focusing on a security assessment rather than immediate policy changes.
SB 2229 prohibits Mississippi electric utilities from charging customers for costs related to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, including investments in ownership or operation. It requires utilities operating public EV charging stations to use a separate, unregulated subsidiary and charge the same fees as private providers. The bill mandates that utilities set commercial rates based solely on kilowatt-hours (not demand charges) for EV charging station operators, with tariffs due by October 2025. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not advance to become law.
SB 2249 would have authorized Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to create rules governing the placement of large solar panel installations. It directly affects solar energy developers and property owners planning large-scale solar projects by requiring them to comply with MDEQ's placement regulations. The bill amended state law to explicitly grant MDEQ authority to regulate solar panel siting, including potential requirements for environmental reviews. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.
SB 2231 defines which energy sources count as "clean" for local government requirements on public utilities. It explicitly lists 18 permissible sources, including solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and geothermal, ensuring local governments (like cities or counties) cannot restrict utilities to only specific types. The bill applies to any political subdivision imposing clean energy rules on utilities, requiring them to accept any of the listed sources. It would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee in February 2025.
Mississippi HB 214 creates income tax credits for businesses and homeowners who install clean fuel infrastructure for motor vehicles. It provides a 50% credit (capped at $2,500) for residential natural gas fueling systems or vehicle modifications, and a 75% credit for commercial fueling stations (per location). Unused credits can be carried forward to offset future tax bills for up to five years. The bill specifically covers natural gas, propane, and electric vehicle fueling equipment meeting defined safety and installation standards.
HB 968 extends the expiration date of existing rules allowing Mississippi public entities (like schools, hospitals, and government agencies) to enter energy efficiency service contracts. It does not change the contract requirements or definitions but delays when those specific provisions will automatically expire. The bill ensures current energy efficiency contracting rules remain in effect longer, maintaining the process for entities to select qualified energy service providers and use performance-based contracts. This change applies to all public entities currently using or planning such contracts under the existing framework.
SB 2079 extends the deadline for public entities (like schools, hospitals, and state agencies) to use energy efficiency contracts under existing rules. It amends Mississippi Code § 31-7-14 to delay the expiration date of provisions allowing these contracts for equipment/services that reduce operating costs, such as HVAC systems or lighting upgrades. The bill clarifies definitions for "energy services providers" and requires prequalification by the Energy Division, ensuring contracts meet criteria like 20-year simple payback periods. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, so it did not become law.
