HB 1859 allocates $800,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for a mobile air-quality monitoring van. The van will be used by the DEQ’s Air Division to conduct community-based air quality monitoring during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). This funding directly supports the DEQ’s operational capacity to monitor air quality in communities, particularly in areas where localized data may be needed. The bill is a straightforward appropriations measure with no additional policy provisions beyond the funding allocation.
HB 1083 prohibits intentionally releasing chemicals into Mississippi's atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It directly affects public infrastructure operators (like airports) and any individuals or entities conducting such "geoengineering" activities. Key provisions require public infrastructure operators to report aircraft equipped for atmospheric modification starting in 2026, impose felony penalties (up to $100,000 fines or 5 years in prison), and establish a reporting system for violations. The bill also references existing air pollution laws to clarify enforcement but does not create new environmental standards.
HB 1406 prohibits intentionally injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals into Mississippi's atmosphere with the purpose of altering temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. The bill directly affects any individual, corporation, or aircraft operator conducting such "geoengineering" activities within the state. Key mechanisms include imposing felony penalties (up to $100,000 fines or 5 years in prison for violators, with reduced penalties for aircraft operators) and requiring public infrastructure operators to report aircraft equipped for weather modification starting in 2026. The law also mandates reporting violations to the Mississippi Department of Transportation and integrates with existing air pollution definitions in state code.
Mississippi's HB 1412 prohibits intentionally releasing chemicals into the state's atmosphere with the purpose of altering weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. The bill directly affects individuals, organizations, or entities considering weather modification activities within Mississippi's borders. It amends existing air pollution laws (specifically referencing Sections 49-17-5, 17-19, 17-25, and 17-36 of the Mississippi Code) to explicitly ban such atmospheric interventions. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
HB 684 creates the Mississippi Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force to address odor and toxic air pollution from Gulf Coast processing plants. The task force, composed of state environmental agency leaders and coastal legislators, will investigate current pollution levels, review existing odor-reduction measures, and recommend solutions and potential policy changes. It must submit a final report with findings and legislative recommendations to the state legislature by December 1, 2026, after meeting monthly and conducting investigations. This bill directly affects Gulf Coast residents impacted by air quality issues and requires state agencies to support the task force's work.
HB 1162 requires Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to identify up to five toxic air pollutants most likely to harm infants and children, review existing controls for them within two years, and prepare reports on new regulations for unregulated pollutants within three years. It mandates MDEQ to annually evaluate at least 15 toxic pollutants, update its list by 2027, and adopt new control measures to reduce emissions. The bill also requires public reporting of fence-line monitoring data for "covered facilities" and public input on proposed regulations. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
