MAS Weekly Legislative Recap Newsletter

Week 12 - March 27

2026 Regular Legislative Session

The Twelfth week of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session has passed.

• The deadline for final adoption of conference reports on appropriations and revenue bills and the deadline for conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments to be filed is Monday, March 30th.

Both Chambers Name Conferees for Municipal Inmates in County Jail Facilities Measure

Senate Bill 2432

House Conferees:

• Rep. Kevin Ford,
• Rep. Hank Zuber, and
• Rep. Randy Rushing

Governor VETOs Emergency Disaster Relief Loan Program

Senate Bill 2632

Senate Bill 2632: On Tuesday March 24th, Governor Tate Reeves VETOED Senate Bill 2632. It is reported that Governor Reeves's veto addressed his concern that the legislative process exercised a material change to the legislation that he viewed as unconstitutional.

NOTE: Both the House and Senate Chambers are currently looking for ways to reintroduce the language of the proposed emergency loan program forward and back to the Governor's desk.

Legislative Measures in Conference Committees

Potential Debt Issued Special Projects Legislation

House Bill 4067: This measure authorizes the issuance of bonds for various

purposes.



NOTE: There is also strong sentiment that this measure could also be a special projects measure for the 2026 Regular Legislative Session by way of issuing bond debt.

HOUSE CONFEREES:

Rep. Lamar

Rep. Steverson

Rep. Zuber

SENATE CONFEREES:

Sen. Harkins

Sen. Johnson

Sen. Sparks 

PERS Legislation Addressing Tier 5 & Liability

House Bill 4073: The Senate Strike All language in this measure also makes changes to PERS that include reducing new-member retirement service requirements from 35 to 30 years, shortening the return-to-work separation period from 90 days to 30 days, and directing large state transfers to strengthen PERS funding and a Tier 5 COLA account. The PERS transfers consist of $1 Billion PERS Stabilization Funding: $500M one-time transfer in 2026 + $50M annually through 2036 (with General Fund backstop if needed) to strengthen the PERS Employers’ Accumulation Account.

$50 Million Tier 5 COLA Funding: $5M annually from the General Fund (2026–2035) into a dedicated account to support COLA-type benefits for new Tier 5 members.

NOTE: This measure is currently in conference committee.

The conferees are as follows:

House Conferees:

• Rep. Lamar
• Rep. Steverson
• Rep. Zuber

Senate Conferees:

• Sen. Harkins
• Sen. Michel
• Sen. Sparks

Legislation Addressing Fire Funding

House Bill 939: This measure originally addressed the MS Length-of-Service Award Program (LOSAP), the Senate Chamber exercised a “strike all amendment” and reinserted language from House Bill 1392 that died last week. With the strike all language, the Rural Fire Truck Fund, Rural Fire Truck Matching Assistance Fund, Supplementary Rural Fire Truck Fund, and the Annual Fire Fund will be transferred into a new “Fire Grant Fund.” A newly created “Fire Grant Advisory Committee” will provide guidance to the Department of Finance and Administration regarding grant awards and program administration. There will be grant categories such as fire trucks, firefighting equipment, and countywide fire protection programs. Grants can cover up to 70% of the purchase cost or up to 90% for first-time applicants. To qualify for any grant, applicants must maintain a fire rating plan with one-year and three-year goals for maintaining or improving their fire protection rating.

NOTE: This measure is currently in conference committee.

The conferees are as follows:

House Conferees:

• Rep. Turner
• Rep. Hawkins
• Rep. Deweese

Senate Conferees:

• Sen. Hopson
• Sen. DeLano
• Sen. Michel

Beaver Control Assistance Program (BCAP)

Senate Bill 3091: This measure makes an appropriation for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Section 4 of this measure provides funding at $1.1 million for the Beaver Control Assistance Program. 

NOTE: This measure is currently in conference committee.

The conferees are as follows:

House Conferees:

• Rep. Pigott
• Rep. Bounds
• Rep. Cockerham

Senate Conferees:

• Sen. Hopson
• Sen. McCaughn
• Sen. Tate

Special Call Meeting Notice Legislation

Approved by the Governor

House Bill 1231

House Bill 1231: This measure shortens the requirement for notice of a special call meeting of the county board of supervisors from five (5) days to three (3) days.

NOTE: This measure was approved by the Governor

The House and Senate will reconvene on Sunday at 2 p.m.

*Copyright. All rights reserved.

Authors: Steve Gray, MAS Government Affairs Director & Deputy Director, and Derrick Surrette, MAS Executive Director.