Technology

signed · Mississippi · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SB 2508: Mortgage brokers and lenders; authorize to perform organization activities at a remote location.

SB 2508 allows mortgage originators working for licensed companies to perform loan origination work remotely (e.g., from home or other off-site locations) under specific security and supervision rules. It requires mortgage companies to implement strict safeguards, including secure digital connections (like encrypted VPNs), annual security audits, breach reporting within three business days, and compliance with federal privacy laws like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The bill defines "remote location" and clarifies that remote work must follow company policies, with originators’ NMLS records designating the company’s main office as their registered location. This directly affects mortgage companies and their originators in Mississippi by expanding work locations while maintaining data security standards.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates encrypted VPNs, security audits, and breach reporting, strengthening data security and privacy compliance under GLBA for remote mortgage operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 2510: Gaming; include online, interactive and computerized versions thereof, increase penalties, and authorize forfeiture.

SB 2510 amends Mississippi law to prohibit online, interactive, and computerized gambling games - including internet sweepstakes casinos - by expanding existing gambling definitions. It increases penalties for illegal online wagering operations from a misdemeanor to a felony, with fines up to $100,000 or 10 years in prison per violation. The bill authorizes seizure of assets, rights, and privileges used in violations and allows prosecutions to occur in the county of the offense or Hinds County. It directly affects operators of illegal online gaming platforms and businesses offering unlicensed digital gambling services.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for gambling violations, expanding criminalization (felony vs misdemeanor), directly opposing criminal justice reform by harshening sentencing.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts online gambling (tech-enabled) by increasing penalties and authorizing asset forfeiture, directly limiting tech-based gambling services per bill's explicit focus on prohibiting online/computerized games.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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died · Mississippi · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 993: Mortgage brokers and lenders; authorize to perform organization activities at a remote location.

HB 993 allows mortgage lenders and brokers in Mississippi to permit loan originators to process mortgage applications remotely (e.g., from home or other off-site locations) under specific security and supervision rules. The bill requires licensees to implement digital safeguards - including secure system access via encrypted networks, regular security audits, and protocols to protect customer data - to ensure compliance with privacy laws like the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It directly affects mortgage brokers, lenders, and their originators by expanding where they can legally conduct business while mandating strict data security measures. The bill also updates definitions (like "remote location" and "branch") in Mississippi’s mortgage licensing law but does not change core licensing requirements beyond these remote-work provisions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires encrypted networks, security audits, and data protection protocols to comply with privacy laws, directly enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy safeguards in financial services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 1677: Bonds; authorize issuance for construction of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math Center at Alcorn State University.

HB 1677 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund the construction, equipment, and operation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math (STEAM) outreach center at Alcorn State University. The bill specifies that bond proceeds would cover all project costs, including construction and equipment, and are backed by the full credit of the Mississippi state government. This funding mechanism would directly support Alcorn State University's facility development. The bill was referred to the Ways and Means committee but died there on February 26, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes state bonds for STEAM center construction at Alcorn State University, directly funding higher education infrastructure and programs to enhance STEM education access and facilities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds STEAM center construction including technology education, advancing tech workforce development through infrastructure investment85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 305: Prekindergarten; require State Department of Education to create the "ABC Program" to provide instruction via Internet.

HB 305 requires Mississippi's State Department of Education to create an online prekindergarten program called the "ABC Program" to provide instruction statewide via the internet. The program must deliver daily, real-time lessons by licensed prekindergarten teachers during three different time slots each day, with all lessons available for replay on the program's website. It directly affects all Mississippi prekindergarten children and their families or caregivers by making structured early education accessible online. The department must track participation and report on the program's success to education committees by January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates statewide online pre-K program with licensed teachers, expanding access to early education for all Mississippi children via structured curriculum delivery.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates internet-based prekindergarten instruction, expanding educational technology access and requiring statewide internet delivery for lessons.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 29, 2025

SB 3013: Appropriation; Employment Security, Department of.

This bill appropriates $136.7 million (including $33 million from the Unemployment Trust Fund) for Mississippi's Department of Employment Security to cover fiscal year 2026 expenses (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 453 positions (389 permanent, 64 time-limited) and specifies that funds must cover staff costs, One-Stop Career Center operations (rent, equipment, disability access), technology systems, and workforce data programs like the SLDS. Strict limits prevent using funds for salary increases beyond approved levels or replacing federal funds, requiring new funding approval for any salary actions. The department must align actual spending with projected costs published by the Legislative Budget Office.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $136.7M for Employment Security Department operations, funding essential workforce programs and career centers per appropriation language.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly restricts funds for salary increases (a worker benefit) while funding employment services. Limits prevent advancing wage-related protections.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly allocates funds for technology systems and SLDS workforce data programs under Department of Employment Security funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1290: Increasing Reading Efficiency and Accountability Development (iREAD) Pilot Program; establish for "D" and "F" schools.

HB 1290 establishes the iREAD Pilot Program to improve early literacy in Mississippi elementary schools rated "D" or "F" for accountability. The program provides a technology platform for K-3 students in these schools, requiring vendors to offer features like real-time reading data, 12,000 Lexile-scoped books, voice recognition, and parent/teacher access. It mandates $750,000 annually for implementation starting in 2025-2026, with Jackson Public Schools as the initial site and priority for expansion to districts with high populations of at-risk 4-year-olds. The State Board of Education must develop policies for vendor selection and report on program outcomes to legislators by January 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates $750,000 annually for literacy tech platform in struggling schools, providing real-time data, 12k books, and parent/teacher access to improve early reading outcomes.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds $750k for tech platform with real-time data, voice recognition, and parent access in K-3 schools, promoting digital equity for literacy in underperforming schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2831: Public notice; provide counties and municipalities with alternatives to newspapers.

SB 2831 would allow Mississippi counties and municipalities to publish required public notices online via their official websites or social media platforms instead of using traditional newspapers. The bill amends multiple sections of state law (including notice requirements for bond issuances and public sales) to replace "newspaper publication" with "posting on a county or municipality website or official social media page." This change directly affects local governments responsible for publishing legal notices, such as those related to jail construction bonds or bond sales. The key mechanism is updating notice publication methods to modernize the process, reducing costs and increasing accessibility for residents. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates online publication of public notices, advancing digital government transparency and accessibility by replacing print with digital platforms.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 843: Affidavit ballots; require Secretary of State to make status of available through secure portal on his website.

HB 843 requires Mississippi's Secretary of State to create a secure online portal on their official website. This portal would let voters who cast affidavit ballots (used when unable to show ID or verify registration) enter a PIN (like last four SSN digits) to check if their vote was counted within 30 days of an election. If rejected, the portal would display the specific reason for rejection. The bill directly affects voters using affidavit ballots in Mississippi elections, providing transparency about their ballot status. It does not change eligibility rules but adds a verification mechanism for those ballots.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill requires secure portal for ballot status, enhancing election cybersecurity transparency through secure data access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Digital Government

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 2913: General Fund; FY2026 appropriation to Alcorn State University for STEM-related programs.

SB 2913 was a bill to allocate $1.67 million from Mississippi's General Fund to Alcorn State University for STEM-related programs during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It would have provided direct funding to support the university's science, technology, engineering, and math initiatives. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law. This was a straightforward funding measure, not a policy change, affecting only Alcorn State University's STEM programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.67M from General Fund to fund STEM programs at Alcorn State University, directly supporting budgetary allocation for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.67M to Alcorn State University's STEM programs, directly funding higher education initiatives per bill's explicit purpose.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $1.67M for STEM programs at Alcorn State University, directly funding technology education and initiatives as part of STEM.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

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