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2024 Regular Legislative Session
The Mississippi Legislature began the first session of the new four-year term on Tuesday, January 2. Legislators had their work cut out for them with more than 3,300 filed bills. Out of this large number, approximately 406 have become law. The Mississippi House of Representatives adjourned sine die on Saturday, May 4, one day ahead of schedule.
This session brought new faces to the Capitol. The House welcomed 25 freshman legislators, while the Senate welcomed seven new members. The new lawmakers jumped right in authoring bills, serving on committees and presenting bills on the floor.
Although there were some partisan disagreements from time to time, most disagreements were between the two legislative bodies. Despite this, major legislation was adopted:
BUDGET
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 State Support Budget (includes General and additional State Funds) demanded a lot of attention as it was crafted throughout the 2024 session. House and Senate Members were able to reach an agreement on a State Support budget of approximately $7.87 billion. This is an estimated decrease of 2.28% from FY24.
K-12 EDUCATION
The Mississippi Student Funding Formula (House Bill 4130) replaces the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, or MAEP, the state’s current funding formula. MAEP has only been fully funded twice since its inception in 1997. Under the new formula, the base student cost is $6,695.34, and districts would receive more money for low-income students, special-needs students, English language learners and others. The new formula funds K-12 education at $2,958,652,725, which is over $558 million more than last year’s education funding.
House Bill 346, or the Seizure Safe Schools Act, will require schools to have at least one employee who has been properly trained to assist a person who is having a seizure.
House Bill 1696 revises the processes relating to failing schools being placed into a District of Transformation and abolishes the Mississippi Achievement School District.
Senate Bill 2339 allows school districts to offer American Sign Language as a “foreign language” credit towards high school graduation requirements.
Senate Bill 2349 requires school boards to adopt and implement a cardiac emergency response plan to aid individuals experiencing a life-threatening cardiac event on school grounds or at an athletic event.
Senate Bill 2681 allows for Certified Academic Language Therapists to be employed by schools to help instruct students with dyslexia.
Senate Bill 2695 requires school districts to establish driver’s education courses for high school students including both classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction.
Senate Bill 2727 creates the Mississippi K-12 and Postsecondary Mental Health Task Force, which will study mental health challenges in students across the state and make recommendations to the Legislature for potential solutions.
PERS
Senate Bill 3231 rescinds the scheduled employer contribution increase to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). This would have been a 5% increase over the next three years starting with a 2% increase in July 2024.
Instead, the employer contribution will increase by one-half percent every year until 2028, saving counties and municipalities from having to make huge layoffs in order to pay PERS. The Legislature also plans to introduce a new tier for future members of the system during the 2025 legislative session.
BUSINESS, COMMERCE & ECONOMIC GROWTH
House Bill 313 creates the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to regulate cosmetology and barber professions. Previously, these were separate boards.
House Bill 845 requires that a charitable organization’s IRS forms be filed annually with the Secretary of State for the organization’s most recent fiscal year end.
House Bill 1021 authorizes the Commissioner of Banking and Consumer Finance to establish a process allowing pawnbrokers to store certain purchased and/or pledged goods off premises.
House Bill 1105 removes the prohibition on using the words “partnership” and “limited partnership” when providing a name for a Limited Liability Company.
House Bill 1161 authorizes municipalities that are located in dry counties to vote to come out from under the dry law.
House Bill 1344 require nonprofit organizations to file an annual report with the Secretary of State.
House Bill 1354 increases the amount of state revenue bonds to assist with the construction of a new warehouse for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division.
House Bill 1984 authorizes an ad valorem tax credit for certain refines of oil, gas and petroleum products.
Senate Bill 2382 allows pawnbrokers to pass credit or debit card processing charges to customers.
Senate Bill 2405 increases the number of package retailer’s permits under certain conditions.
Senate Bill 2470 moves the back-to-school sales tax holiday to the second Friday in July.
Senate Bill 2519 creates the Mississippi Foreign Land Ownership Act to limit the ability of nonresident aliens to maintain ownership of Mississippi agricultural and forestry land if they are from a country that is considered an adversary by the United States Secretary of Commerce.
Senate Bill 3099 authorizes an income tax credit for certain employers that sponsor skills training for their employees.
TWO Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act Projects in two weeks:
In addition to the regular session, there were two special sessions in January for Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act Projects: “Project Poppy” and “Project Atlas.” These two projects were some of the largest capital investments in state history, and they are expected to bring a combined 3,000 jobs to Mississippi.
Project Poppy is a $1.9 billion corporate capital investment, bringing 2,000 jobs to Marshall County. The project is a joint venture between Accelera by Cummins, Inc., Daimler Trucks & Buses, and PACCAR. The plant will build batteries for electronic commercial vehicles (18-wheelers).
Project Atlas is a $10 billion corporate capital investment from Amazon Web Services to build two hyperscale data center complexes in Madison County. It is the largest capital investment in state history and is expected to create 1,000 jobs for the area.
When the Legislature passes an MMEIA project, the state provides some funds and/or incentives like tax breaks to recruit these businesses. The funds appropriated to both of these projects will go towards things like infrastructure, site development, sewage, etc.
CRIME, COURTS & LAW ENFORCEMENT
House Bill 295 authorizes electronic applications, signatures and records for arrest warrants.
House Bill 349 prohibits modifications to motor vehicles which raise the front fender a certain height above the rear fender. These “squatted vehicles” pose a risk to others on the road due to limited visibility out of the windshield.
House Bill 438 revises the penalties for the crime of shoplifting.
House Bill 634 authorizes an employing government agency of a retired or deceased law enforcement officer to determine the amount to be paid for the officer’s sidearm.
House Bill 691 revises the composition of the Mississippi Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training and provides them with investigative authority.
House Bill 873 establishes the Purple Alert as an additional mean to aid search of missing persons with cognitive disabilities.
House Bill 903 prohibits the manufacture and possession of machine gun conversion devices. These “Glock switches” or “auto sears” can easily change a semiautomatic handgun or rifle into a fully automatic weapon. The law is named in honor of fallen George County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Malone who was gunned down during a routine traffic stop in January.
House Bill 1015 authorizes inspectors at the Department of Public Safety to assist other officers.
House Bill 1196 creates the crime of sextortion, or when a person entices another into sharing explicit images or videos and then threatens to post the material online, usually to extort money or sexual favors from the victim.
House Bill 1323 removes the statute of limitations for the sexual battery of a vulnerable person.
House Bill 1487 revises the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID). The district will now extend north to Westbrook Road in Jackson.
House Bill 1624 establishes state standards and operating procedures for local Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs. CASA is a national program that allows for volunteer advocacy for children and youth who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.
House Bill 1697 authorizes an employing agency or entity to make payment to a family for up to 60 days for law enforcement and certain first responders killed in the line of duty.
Senate Bill 2174 increases the penalty for theft of motor vehicles.
Senate Bill 2285 revises the salary scale for officers of the Department of Public Safety.
Senate Bill 2311 revises the cap on an annual salary supplement payable by a county board of supervisors to the county’s sheriff.
Senate Bill 2487 increases the amount of payment to covered individuals under the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund. The death benefits increase from $100,000 to $250,000 while also covering funeral expenses up to $15,000.
Senate Bill 2577 creates a criminal penalty for a person creating and disseminating a deepfake or digitization of a candidate 90 days before an election. A deepfake is a video in which a person has been digitally altered to appear as someone else, typically with malicious intent.
HEALTH
House Bill 539 allows for presumptive Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women who may qualify for Medicaid but are still in the application process to receive coverage for prenatal visits. A pregnant woman could receive care for 60 days while the Mississippi Division of Medicaid is reviewing her application. Her doctor would have to deem the woman eligible to receive benefits by confirming the pregnancy and establishing her income level.
“Defending Affordable Prescription Drug Costs Act,” or House Bill 728, prohibits discriminating actions against participants of the federal 340B drug discount program.
House Bill 1137 authorizes community organizations to receive and administer opioid antagonists, such as Narcan.
House Bill 1376 authorizes certain youth in Child Protection Services to be placed in qualified residential treatment programs.
“Chris McDill Law,” or House Bill 1542, provides that for the purpose of intestate succession, if the decedent dies before the birth of an individual, that individual is deemed to be living at the time of the decedent’s death under certain conditions.
House Bill 1640 revises procedures for screening, evaluation and commitments for those with mental health issues.
Senate Bill 2072 revises the criteria under which a physical therapist may treat a patient without a referral from another health care provider.
Senate Bill 2157 authorizes the State of Mississippi to enter the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.
Senate Bill 2159 revises certain licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists.
Senate Bill 2408 requires identification cards at universities and colleges to have 988 Crisis Lifeline information printed on the card.
Senate Bill 2888 enacts the Medical Cannabis Research Advisory Board and creates the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Research Program.
INSURANCE
House Bill 1143 prohibits health plans from requiring step therapy before covering certain treatments of advanced metastatic cancer.
“The Living Donor Protection Act,” or House Bill 1213, prohibits insurance companies from discriminating a person who is a living organ donor.
House Bill 1350 prohibits telephone solicitors from making any solicitation regarding Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplements.
House Bill 1408 revises the requirements for residential roofing contractors under the Insurance Benefits Roofing Repair Consumer Protection Act.
House Bill 1410 revises certain provisions regarding insurance reimbursement rates.
House Bill 1647 authorizes the Commissioner of Insurance to implement a state-based insurance exchange.
Senate Bill 2125 authorizes the state to offer health savings accounts to state employees.
Senate Bill 2130 prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or to renew a homeowner’s insurance policy solely based on roof’s age.
“The Mississippi Prior Authorization Reform Act,” or Senate Bill 2140, regulates how insurance companies can use prior authorization, which is when a doctor or provider must check with a patient’s insurance to see if certain non-emergent medications or procedures are covered.
Senate Bill 2530 creates the “Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Act.”
PUBLIC SAFETY
“Securing Areas for Females Effectively and Responsibly Act (SAFER),” or Senate Bill 2753, ensures that a person must use bathrooms in public buildings that align with his or her biological sex.
House Bill 1092 establishes standards for the installation of automobile airbags and supplemental restraint systems.
“The Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act,” or House Bill 1126, protects minors from harmful content on the internet. The law requires digital service users to register their age and limits the collection and use of minors’ personal identifying information.
Senate Bill 2698 creates the Cyber Security Review Board. The board shall be responsible for ensuring a collaborative effort to address cybersecurity threats to the State of Mississippi.
MILITARY/VETERANS
House Bill 1378 provides for a homestead exemption for honorably discharged veterans who are 90 years old or older.
House Bill 1341 revises the residency requirements to allow students of active-duty service members and civilian personnel to transfer to another school district of choice.
House Bill 1450 authorizes the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact for teachers who are married to service members.
House Bill 124 designates the fourth Thursday of March as Tuskegee Airmen Day. This recognition is for the service, courage and sacrifice displayed by these brave African Americans in World War II.
Senate Bill 2514 revises the composition of the State Veterans Affairs Board.
ELECTIONS
House Bill 1035 includes justice court judges in the “Nonpartisan Judicial Election Act.”
House Bill 1406 makes certain changes to absentee voting in the state. It allows for two new eligible reasons for an absentee ballot: voters who are scheduled to be on-call on Election Day and voters who are incarcerated in the county where they are registered to vote. HB 1406 also changes how a person’s identity is validated, circuit clerks’ offices no longer have to match signatures and minor signature infractions are no longer grounds for rejection.
Senate Bill 2144 revises the time for holding runoff elections from three weeks after the first election to four weeks.
Senate Bill 2576 clarifies what constitutes a valid voter ID.
AGRICULTURE, WILDLIFE & OUTDOORS
House Bill 299 authorizes the Mississippi Forestry Commission to electronically accept bids for timber sales.
House Bill 526 authorizes hunters to wear fluorescent pink while hunting as an alternative to fluorescent orange.
House Bill 1208 revises provisions relating to hunting and fishing on lands of others and provides penalties for this act.
House Bill 1304 requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce to adopt procedures for grain grading.
Senate Bill 2059 creates definitions for biomass and bioenergy with carbon capture technology.
MISCELLANEOUS
House Bill 1210 establishes the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians Scholarship Program at Mississippi State University. The scholarship will go towards qualified veterinary students who will commit to practicing veterinary medicine in rural areas of the state upon graduation. The scholarship is named after the late Dr. Mac Huddleston who was a longtime veterinarian in Pontotoc and former member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
House Bill 315 modernizes terminology in the Mississippi Code by replacing “mentally retarded” with “intellectual disability.”
House Bill 317 directs the Mississippi Department of Health to design and construct a memorial to honor EMS personnel who died in the line of duty.
House Bill 365 designates the month of March each year as “Mississippi Musicians Month.”
Senate Bill 2244 allows foster care children free transcripts from colleges and junior colleges as well as free access to public museums and state parks.
Senate Bill 2142 designates the American Quarter Horse as the Official State Horse and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle as the Official Sea Turtle of Mississippi.
Senate Bill 2799 revises terms of office and appointment procedures on certain state boards, districts and agencies.
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