Technology

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2500: Mississippi Consumer Data Protection Act; enact.

SB 2500, the Mississippi Consumer Data Protection Act, would have established state-level privacy rights for Mississippi residents by requiring businesses collecting personal data to provide clear privacy notices, allow consumers to access or delete their data, and implement security measures. It directly affects businesses operating in Mississippi that handle personal information, excluding healthcare data covered under HIPAA and de-identified information. Key provisions include mandating consumer requests be addressed promptly, requiring businesses to establish appeal processes for denied requests, and granting the Attorney General exclusive enforcement authority with civil penalties for violations. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates businesses to provide clear privacy notices, allow data access/deletion, and implement security measures, strengthening consumer data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2032: Mississippi Electronic Court System; require free access for public defenders.

SB 2032 requires Mississippi public defenders to have free access to the state's electronic court system records for cases involving indigent (low-income) defendants. This bill amends Section 9-1-59 of the Mississippi Code to mandate that court records be accessible without cost to public defenders handling indigent cases. The key provision removes a potential financial barrier, ensuring public defenders can efficiently review case materials for their clients. It directly affects public defenders and indigent defendants in criminal proceedings across Mississippi courts. The bill did not advance beyond committee in 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates free access to court records for public defenders representing indigent defendants, improving defense quality and aligning with criminal justice reform goals by removing financial barriers to fair representation.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates free access to electronic court system, promoting digital equity for public defenders handling indigent cases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 2796: Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act; enact.

SB 2796 creates a property right for every individual (living or deceased) in their name, photograph, voice, or likeness, prohibiting commercial use without consent. It directly affects anyone whose image or voice might be used for advertising, fundraising, or products without permission, including deceased individuals (with rights lasting 10 years post-death). Key provisions require prior consent for commercial exploitation, allow civil lawsuits for violations, and classify unauthorized use as a Class A misdemeanor. The law also specifies that using images of "definable groups" (like crowds at events) does not require individual consent, and courts can issue injunctions or seize violative materials.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates property rights for likeness/voice, requiring consent for commercial use, directly protecting personal data privacy and digital rights per bill's prohibitions on unauthorized exploitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection

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died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 2578: Mississippi Public Records Act; exempt text messages unless messages are related to the business of the public body.

SB 2578 would exempt text messages (including SMS, MMS, and RCS) sent or received on personal phones from Mississippi's public records requirements, unless the messages relate to public business. It specifically applies to messages prepared for, used by, received by, or controlled by public officials or government agencies. The exemption would cover personal device communications about non-government matters, but messages concerning official duties would still be subject to public disclosure. This bill, if enacted, would change how government communications on personal devices are handled under Mississippi's transparency laws.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts personal text messages from public records unless related to government business, protecting data privacy for non-official communications on personal devices.85% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 217: Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act; create.

HB 217 creates the "Helping Mississippians Afford Broadband Act," appropriating $100 million from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to help eligible households afford broadband. It directly affects households already approved for federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) or Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) benefits, providing up to $15 monthly in financial assistance paid directly to broadband providers to lower household costs. The program requires the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services to administer the assistance with oversight from the Wireless Communication Commission, focusing on ensuring support reaches underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100M from state recovery fund to fund broadband assistance for low-income households, advancing public service funding through targeted budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAllocates $100M to subsidize broadband costs for low-income households, expanding internet access and promoting digital equity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access Telecommunications

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died · Mississippi · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 960: Telemedicine services; extend repealer on requirement that insurance plans in MS provide coverage for.

HB 960 extends the requirement that health insurance plans and employer health benefit plans in Mississippi cover telemedicine services (like virtual doctor visits) at the same level as in-person care, keeping this policy in effect beyond July 1, 2028. The bill ensures patients pay no more for telemedicine than for in-person visits (same deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance) and requires out-of-network telemedicine providers to be reimbursed at the same rate as out-of-network in-person providers. It also specifies billing procedures for telemedicine services using correct medical codes and clarifies that the requirement does not change medical care standards for telemedicine.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends insurance coverage requirement for telemedicine at parity with in-person care, ensuring equal cost-sharing and access - directly advancing patient access and coverage under healthcare policy.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill extends insurance coverage for telemedicine (a technology) at same rate as in-person care, removing financial barriers and promoting adoption of telemedicine services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

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died · Mississippi · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 1621: CTE; remove stipulation that only certain programs leading to industry certification are considered for the statewide accountability system and diploma endorsements.

HB 1621 removes a restriction preventing Mississippi school districts from using Career and Technical Education (CTE) grant funds to purchase equipment for programs leading to industry certifications. It also eliminates a prohibition on using these grants to replace regular operating funds for CTE programs. The bill expands how CTE grant money can be used - specifically for equipment, exam fees, and teacher training - to support programs earning "qualifying industry certifications" (those tied to high-demand jobs or meeting wage standards). This directly affects Mississippi public schools and students enrolled in CTE programs seeking industry credentials. The bill died in committee in March 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves restrictions on CTE grant funding for equipment, exam fees, and teacher training, expanding program support and access for industry certification programs in education.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands CTE funding for tech industry certifications (e.g., cybersecurity, IT), promoting workforce development in technology fields per subject areas.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2821: Law Enforcement Anti-Doxxing Act of 2025; exempt certain private information from the MS Public Records Act.

SB 2821, the "Law Enforcement Anti-Doxxing Act of 2025," exempts home addresses, phone numbers, and other private information of Mississippi law enforcement officers, judges, district attorneys, and their spouses or children from public disclosure under the state's public records law. Public bodies must redact this information from their records upon written or online request from affected individuals and provide a dedicated request form. The exemption does not apply to court transcripts, incident reports, or victim information, which remain public under existing rules. The law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts law enforcement personal data from public records, directly protecting data privacy under Technology policies.90% confidence

Tags Government Transparency

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died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2450: County law library; authorize use of money for technological purposes.

SB 2450 would allow Mississippi counties to use court fee funds for technology at public law libraries and courtrooms. Specifically, it permits spending on computers, software, legal research tools, internet access, and courtroom equipment like audio systems or digital evidence displays. Funding would come from additional court fees: $2.50 per case in chancery/circuit courts and $1.50 per case in justice courts. The bill aims to modernize legal resource access and court operations through technology, expanding existing library funding rules. (Note: This bill died in committee in March 2025 and did not become law.)

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates court fees to fund internet access, computers, and digital tools in public law libraries and courtrooms, directly advancing technology access for legal services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

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died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2151: Education; require public schools to adopt policies prohibiting or restricting cell phone possession or use by students in class.

SB 2151 requires all Mississippi public school districts, charter schools, agricultural high schools, and specific state schools (like the Mississippi School for the Arts) to adopt and submit by January 1, 2026, policies banning or limiting student cell phone use during class or under staff supervision. Schools failing to comply face daily funding deductions under the state’s funding formula. Exceptions allow phone use during emergencies, for medically necessary reasons (as certified by a healthcare provider), or per a student’s special education plan. The bill also specifies that cell phone policy violations alone cannot justify suspension or expulsion, except as a final disciplinary step.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires schools to adopt policies limiting distractions (cell phones) during class to improve educational focus, aligning with enhancing learning environments per education topic description.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly restricts cell phone use (technology device) in schools, directly limiting technology access during class per its requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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