MAS Weekly Legislative Recap Newsletter

Week 9 - March 6, 2026

Regular Legislative Session

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

• The deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in “other” house has passed.
• The deadline for original floor action on general bills and constitutional amendment originating in other house is Wednesday March 11.

Municipal Inmates in County Jail Passes House Chamber

Senate Bill 2432

Senate Bill 2432: On Thursday March 5, the House Chamber passed Senate Bill 2432 by a vote of 82 to 32. 

This measure revises methods that counties and municipalities use to calculate costs for housing municipal prisoners in county jails.

MAS Member Feedback Request – Senate Bill 2432

Municipal Prisoners in County Jails

As discussed during today’s MAS Zoom call, MAS will be sending an email to counties requesting brief member feedback regarding municipal prisoners housed in county jails.



The feedback will help MAS provide legislators with county input as discussions continue on Senate Bill 2432, including potential changes to the statutory framework governing municipal payments to counties.

To ensure the information collected is consistent, MAS is requesting one response per county. Please watch for the email and take a moment to complete the short form when it arrives.

Group Purchasing Measure Dies on Deadline Day

House Bill 1525

Measures to Monitor with Caution!

Data Reporting

Senate Bill 2840: This measure requires the Department of Revenue to provide a report containing certain 2025 information regarding the inventory tax.

Ad Valorem Tax Credit

House Bill 1944: This measure revises credits authorized for contributions to certain charitable organizations. With this measure, counties are technically reimbursed by the Department of Revenue for ad valorem credits applied, the bill effectively shifts local property tax revenue replacement to the state’s general tax collections.

Sending Ad Valorem Back to the State

House Bill 4044: This measure revises certain homestead exemption eligibility provisions and revises the distribution of the portion paid on certain homestead property. Basically, this measure proposes to withhold the homestead exemption from taxpayers who fail to comply with Mississippi’s income tax laws, but instead of the county keeping the revenue, it would go to the Department of Revenue. This would be a fundamental shift in policy/process of sending local county ad valorem taxes up to the State level.

NOTE: This measure currently resides in the Senate Finance Committee. Please contact your local Senate delegation regarding this measure to Oppose.

Mississippi Video Service Act Amended By Senate Chamber to Give Local Control/Power Back to Local Governments

House Bill 1664

House Bill 1664: This measure creates a statewide franchise authority. The language within the “As Passed The House” version was weighted heavily towards cable providers. The Senate “Strike All” amendment stripped the cable providers leverage over local government and restored the local government control back into place.

NOTE: This measure currently resides on the Senate Floor Calendar.

Numerous Measures Impacting Counties Die

on Tuesday’s Deadline Day

House Bill 1392: This measure consolidating multiple existing rural fire funding streams into a single “FIRE Grant Fund” in the State Treasury to be administered by the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).

This Measure Has Died.

House Bill 1383: House Bill 1383 amends Section 27-39-203 of the Mississippi Code to require that each taxing unit annually mail individual property tax notices to taxpayers comparing the prior year’s ad valorem tax and millage rate with the projected current year tax if the same millage is applied, along with the difference between the two amounts, while maintaining existing public hearing and advertisement requirements.

This Measure Has Died.

House Bill 1730: This measure prohibits public facilities from being constructed with flat or low-slope roofs.

This Measure Has Died.

Senate Bill 2894: This measure requires the return of unexpended funds and earned interest for the Local Improvement Projects measure passed in 2021.

NOTE: This measure currently resides in the House Ways and Means Committee. This Measure Has Died.

House Bill 1314: This measure significantly revises Mississippi’s public purchasing laws by raising bid thresholds, expanding procurement flexibility, and modernizing competitive processes for state agencies and local governing authorities.

This Measure Has Died. 

House Bill 1657: This measure seeks to improve on an ambulance patient protection bill that passed two sessions ago. 

This Measure Has Died. 

House Bill 329: This measure revise the method of receiving bids through agencies and governing authorities for reverse auction.

This Measure Has Died.

Senate Bill 2650: This measure brings forward the full code section for the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority Act.

This Measure Has Died.

Senate Bill 2696: This increases the jurisdiction of justice court from $3,500.00 to $5,000.00.

 This Measure Has Died.

Measures Impacting the PERS System Die

on Tuesday’s Deadline Day

Senate Bill 2613: This act requires the PERS Board of Trustees to open maintain and manage an account that shall be designated the PERS Tier 5 COLA Account. Beginning July 1, 2026 and on every July1 thereafter through and including July 1, 2035, the State Treasurer, in conjunction with the State Fiscal Officer shall transfer the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) from the State General Fund to the PERS Tier 5 COLA Account.

This Measure Has Died.

Senate Bill 2004: Senate Bill 2004 establishes a new act address the funding needs of the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Beginning July 1, 2026, this proposed measure mandates a transfer of $500 million from the State Capit0l Expense Fund over to the PERS system. Beginning July 1, 2027 and on very July 1^st thereafter through July 1^st of 2036, the state will mandate a transfer of $50 million from the State Capitol Expense Fund to the PERS system.

This Measure Has Died.

*Copyright. All rights reserved.

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

The House and Senate will reconvene Monday.