SB 2311, the Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act, creates a standardized letter grading system (A-F) for Mississippi's community public water systems - those serving at least 15 year-round connections. The Mississippi State Board of Health will assign grades annually based on criteria including water quality violation history, financial stability, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. Water systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days of the Board's public report, which will be published online starting January 1, 2028. This law directly affects over 300 community water systems across Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency and accountability in drinking water safety.
SB 2022 prohibits the land application of sewage sludge, septage, and related products containing "forever chemicals" (PFAS) above safe levels. It requires wastewater facilities to test for these chemicals and bans new licenses for spreading septage, while allowing existing licenses to continue only if PFAS levels are below established limits. The Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission must develop a plan to phase out land application of septage, including identifying alternative disposal capacity. This bill directly affects wastewater treatment facilities, septage spreaders, and agricultural businesses using sludge-derived fertilizers or soil amendments.
HB 1086 prohibits intentionally using chemicals within Mississippi to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity through methods like injection, release, or dispersion. Violations carry felony penalties, including fines up to $100,000 or up to five years in prison for most individuals or businesses, with reduced penalties for aircraft operators. The bill requires public infrastructure operators (like airports) to report on aircraft equipped for such activities starting October 2026, and mandates public reporting mechanisms for observed violations. It also references existing air and water pollution laws (Mississippi Code Sections 49-17-5 et seq.) for potential future updates.
SB 2312, the Wastewater Treatment System Infrastructure Sustainability Act, requires Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to create a statewide letter grading system (A-F) for community wastewater systems serving 15+ connections. The grades will be based on compliance with permits and water quality standards, financial health, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. MDEQ must publish annual scores and grades online by 2028, and each wastewater system must notify customers of their grade within 30 days of publication. This law directly affects all municipal wastewater systems in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency, public health protection, and infrastructure sustainability.
HB 1087 prohibits any intentional release of chemicals into Mississippi's atmosphere with the purpose of altering weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It directly affects individuals, companies, or government entities attempting weather modification activities within the state. The bill adds this specific prohibition to Mississippi's existing environmental laws (referencing Sections 49-17-5, 19, 25, and 36 of the Mississippi Code), which govern air and water pollution. This is a concrete policy change banning a defined activity, not a new regulatory framework. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee without becoming law.
HB 1306 creates the "Community Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Act" to establish a statewide grading system for Mississippi's community public water systems (those serving at least 15 year-round connections or 25 regular consumers). It requires the Mississippi State Board of Health to assign annual letter grades ("A" to "F") based on water quality violations, financial health, infrastructure condition, customer satisfaction, and other objective metrics. The board must publish these grades online by 2028, and water systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days. This directly affects small water systems across Mississippi, promoting transparency and accountability for water safety and service quality.
HB 1632 establishes a statewide accountability system for Mississippi's community public wastewater systems (serving at least 15 year-round connections or 25 consumers). It requires the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to create a letter grade system (A-F) based on objective criteria including permit compliance, water quality standards, financial health, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. The department must publish annual performance scores and letter grades for each system online, and systems must notify customers of their grade within 30 days. This law directly affects local wastewater providers by mandating transparent public reporting of their service quality and sustainability.
Mississippi HB 552 defines "geoengineering" as the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere within state borders to alter temperature, weather, or sunlight intensity. The bill amends existing pollution control laws to explicitly prohibit such activities and grants the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission authority to enforce the ban and impose penalties for violations. It directly affects any entity - federal or private - planning to conduct atmospheric geoengineering within Mississippi. The legislation aims to protect public health and environmental welfare by adding geoengineering to the state's regulatory framework under air and water pollution laws.
SB 2264 creates a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to develop and annually update a comprehensive coastal conservation and restoration plan for Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The TAB, composed of state agency representatives, university officials, environmental groups, and legislators, will establish priorities and goals for projects involving storm protection, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. State agencies like the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) must follow this plan when selecting and funding future projects. The bill requires an annual report tracking progress toward the plan's goals and limits TAB administrative costs to 1% of related funds.
