Technology (Emerging Technology)

HB 1590, the "Blockchain Basics Act," prohibits Mississippi state agencies and local governments from accepting Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) payments or participating in federal CBDC tests. It protects individuals' rights to use digital assets for purchasing legal goods/services and exempts small transactions (under $200, adjusted annually for inflation) from capital gains tax. The bill also allows digital asset mining businesses in industrial zones with zoning protections and exempts home mining and certain service providers from licensing requirements under existing financial laws. These provisions directly affect state entities, consumers using digital assets, and businesses operating in the digital asset sector.

HB 384 creates a grant program administered by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to help public universities establish endowments for hiring professors specializing in quantum computing and artificial intelligence engineering. State institutions of higher learning must apply to the MDA, detailing their endowment plans, matching funds, and requested grant amounts. The bill establishes a dedicated "State Institutions of Higher Learning Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence Engineering Professors Fund" in the state treasury, with unspent funds rolling over annually. Grants are disbursed at the MDA's discretion after legislative appropriation, focusing solely on recruiting and employing professors in these two specific fields.

HB 1489 establishes the Technology Innovation Fund, managed by Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services, to provide grants for technology projects that improve government services and address community needs. The fund will support state agencies, schools, non-profits, and private companies collaborating on initiatives using AI, cloud computing, blockchain, and data analytics to enhance efficiency, cybersecurity, and equitable technology access. Initial funding includes a $5 million state appropriation and ongoing revenue from 1% of cloud service sales, with projects requiring measurable public benefits and regular progress reporting. Recipients must demonstrate scalability, partnership collaboration, and alignment with state digital modernization goals.