Technology

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2437: "Prohibition of Exploitation by Deepfakes Act"; enact.

SB 2437, the "Prohibition of Exploitation by Deepfakes Act," would have prohibited platforms from knowingly publishing non-consensual intimate visual depictions (like AI-altered sexual images) of identifiable people without their consent, unless specific exceptions apply. It required covered platforms (like social media sites) to remove such content upon notification from the affected person and establish clear removal processes. The bill clarified that consent for creating an intimate image does not cover its publication, and threatened intentional harm through deepfakes would be punishable. This proposed law died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits non-consensual deepfake content and mandates platform removal processes, directly protecting data privacy and digital rights through tech regulation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

Track

died · Mississippi · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 2366: BEAM; protect proprietary information and amend digital skills grant.

SB 2366 amends Mississippi's broadband grant laws to clarify and expand the authority of the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM). It directly affects broadband providers, government entities, and communities lacking adequate internet access by expanding definitions of "applicant" and "eligible project," allowing BEAM to more effectively manage federal grant funds. Key provisions include authorizing BEAM to receive federal broadband grant funds, adding confidentiality protections for proprietary information, requiring a 60-day comment period for preliminary grant awards, and mandating Governor notification before distributing funds. The bill aims to streamline grant processes but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill expands broadband access via federal grant management to underserved communities, directly advancing internet access infrastructure under technology policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

Track

died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 1075: Broadband equipment speed; increase to FCC requirement regarding ad valorem tax exemption.

HB 1075 updates Mississippi's property tax exemption for broadband equipment to align with current FCC standards, requiring qualifying equipment to deliver at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds. It directly affects broadband providers (like fiber, cable, DSL, or fixed wireless companies) by requiring them to report subscriber counts to county assessors and confirm equipment usage via FCC broadband data. The bill also caps fixed wireless access (FWA) site exemptions at 30% of total asset costs per site. These changes ensure tax exemptions apply only to modern broadband infrastructure meeting federal benchmarks.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUpdates ad valorem tax exemption criteria for broadband providers, maintaining tax relief under revised FCC standards per Ways and Means subject.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires broadband providers to meet FCC speed standards (25/3 Mbps) for tax exemptions, directly advancing internet access infrastructure and aligning with current broadband requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Broadband Access Telecommunications

Track

died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 1545: Mississippi Broadband Technology Development Act; revise equipment definition and speed requirements for certain tax credits and exemptions.

HB 1545 updates Mississippi's tax incentives for broadband deployment by requiring equipment to meet minimum speed standards (35 Mbps down/3 Mbps up for mobile, matching FCC benchmarks for fixed broadband) to qualify for tax credits and property tax exemptions. It maintains tiered tax credits (5-15% based on rural area designation) but extends the property tax exemption period to 10 years for fixed broadband equipment placed in service between 2025-2030 (compared to 5 years for mobile). Telecommunications companies must submit verified equipment specifications, including speed details, to county tax assessors by April 1 each year to claim benefits. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have applied to equipment deployed after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends property tax exemptions (10 years) for broadband equipment deployment, providing tax relief to incentivize infrastructure investment under tax credit programs.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill extends tax exemptions and sets speed standards to incentivize broadband deployment, directly promoting internet access expansion through financial incentives for infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Broadband Access Telecommunications

Track

died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 1686: Appropriation; Hinds County for expanding broadband Internet access.

HB 1686 appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund to Hinds County's Board of Supervisors to help cover costs for expanding broadband internet access to county residents during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds are intended to support infrastructure projects that would improve broadband availability for Hinds County residents. The bill specifies that state funds will be paid to the county upon proper requisitions, following standard state fiscal procedures. This is a funding measure targeting direct broadband expansion costs, not a policy change affecting broader regulations or services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k from state fund for broadband infrastructure, funding essential public service expansion per budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAppropriates $500k to expand broadband internet access, directly advancing digital infrastructure and connectivity for residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

Track

died · Mississippi · House Feb 26, 2025

HB 543: Bonds; create rural counties and municipalities cellular and broadband grant program and authorize issuance of bonds.

HB 543 creates a grant program to help businesses expand cellular and broadband access in Mississippi's rural areas. It directly affects businesses operating in counties with ≤30,000 people or municipalities with ≤10,000 people, as defined by the latest census. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will administer grants covering up to 25% of project costs for infrastructure improvements. The program is funded by $15 million in state bonds, with unspent funds rolling over annually instead of lapsing. The bonds must be issued by July 1, 2029, to support this initiative.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds broadband expansion in rural Mississippi via grants, directly advancing internet access infrastructure for underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Broadband Access

Track

died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2220: Mississippians' Right to Name, Likeness and Voice Act; enact.

Mississippi's SB 2220, the "Mississippians' Right to Name, Likeness and Voice Act," establishes that every resident (living or deceased) has a property right in their name, likeness, and voice. It requires explicit consent for commercial use of these elements, especially for digital replicas created via AI or digital technology (like voice clones or image simulations), and sets penalties: $50,000 per violation for unauthorized digital cloning services and $5,000 for other unauthorized uses. The law allows heirs to enforce these rights for 10 years after death but requires written consent from individuals aged 18+ (or court-approved for minors) for new commercial uses. This bill directly affects all Mississippi residents and businesses or entities using personal identity commercially, particularly in digital advertising or media.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI-generated digital replicas requiring consent, imposing penalties for unauthorized use - protects privacy against tech misuse.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2202: Images or audio altered or created by digitization; criminalize dissemination of in certain circumstances.

SB 2202 would criminalize sharing digitally altered or AI-generated images/audio (including deepfakes) depicting someone in intimate situations without their consent, when shared with intent to cause emotional, financial, or physical harm. It directly affects victims of non-consensual image sharing and perpetrators who create or disseminate such content, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors for under-21 offenders to felonies for adults (up to penalties similar to voyeurism laws). Key provisions include defining "digitization" broadly to cover AI tools, requiring intent to cause harm, and listing exceptions for law enforcement, journalism, and public exposure. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization of non-consensual deepfakes, adding new offenses under criminal justice system per indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCriminalizes non-consensual deepfakes to protect privacy, directly advancing data privacy protections in digital rights context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

Track

died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2443: Technology Innovation Fund; establish.

SB 2443 proposed establishing Mississippi's Technology Innovation Fund to support government technology projects. The fund would provide grants and other support to state agencies, schools, nonprofits, and private companies partnering with government to develop digital solutions for improving public services, cybersecurity, and efficiency. Recipients would need to report progress to the state's Chief Information Officer, who would also submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes Technology Innovation Fund with grants for cybersecurity, public services, and digital solutions, directly advancing tech policy goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Cybersecurity Digital Government

Track

died · Mississippi · Senate Mar 4, 2025

SB 2059: Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force Act; enact.

SB 2059, the "Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force Act," proposes establishing a 12-member task force to study AI's potential in Mississippi K-12 education and develop policy recommendations. The task force, appointed by state leaders and including education, tech, ethics, and industry experts, would evaluate AI applications, assess privacy/ethics concerns, and recommend guidelines for student/teacher use, curriculum integration, and data privacy. It would submit interim reports by November 2025 and a final report by December 2025 to state leaders. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and never became law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes task force to study AI integration in K-12 education, develop policy recommendations for curriculum/tech use, aiming to enhance educational tools and practices.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes task force to assess AI privacy/ethics concerns in education and recommend data privacy guidelines, directly aligning with data privacy protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

Track