MAS Weekly Legislative Recap Newsletter

Week 3 - January 23, 2026

Regular Legislative Session

The Third week of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session has passed. The deadline for introduction of general bills and constitutional amendments has passed. The deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in own house is Tuesday, February 3^{rd }

Update on School Choice Measures

(Senate Bill 2002 & House Bill 2)

Senate Bill 2002 has been transferred to the House chamber, but it has not been assigned to a House committee.  



Upon the passage of House Bill 2, it has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

Annexation Measure Laid On The Table Subject to Call

(House Bill 4)

House Bill 4: This measure provides for an election on the question of municipal annexation in both municipality and the territory proposed to be annexed.



NOTE: This measure currently resides on the House Chamber Laid on The Table Calendar.

Infrastructure Public/Private Partnership

(House Bill 622)

House Bill 622: This measure allows for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, a political subdivision, or municipality of the state to form a public-private partnership for a highway, road, bridge or other asset improvement by which the department, political subdivision or municipality may negotiate for private funding assistance toward highway road bridge or other asset improvement in exchange for naming rights.



NOTE: This measure was double referred to Transportation and Appropriations A. This measure has passed out of House Transportation and will now head to House Appropriation Committee for consideration. 

Mississippi Health Information Exchange

(House Bill 534)

House Bill 534: This measure establishes the Mississippi Health Information Exchange for the purpose of establishing a statewide health information exchange that provides, at a minimum real-time bidirectional patient admission, discharge and transfer data, and securing the electronic sharing of health information between licensed hospitals and practitioners, payers, public health entities and others.

NOTE: Within this measure, as a condition for licensure in the State of Mississippi, hospitals and community mental health centers shall be required to connect to the exchange, transmit data, and participate in any bed availability program available through the exchange. This measure passed by a vote of 97 to 17.

NOTE: This measure is now transmitted to the Senate Chamber.

Measure Introduced Impacting Fire Truck Ratings &

the Selling of a Fire Truck

(House Bill 1170)

House Bill 1170: This measure allows the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and regulation requiring the Rating Bureau to consider all sources of water, including alternative water supplies such as ponds, lakes, and rivers for the purpose of grading fire departments. This measure also proposes creating a response distance from the fire station to no less than seven and a half road miles(7 ½). This measure gives the Insurance Commissioner to power to set the standards by which a fire truck can be sold and it must be shopped within the State of Mississippi before it can be considered to be sold outside the state. This measure mandates that the Insurance Commissioner adopt rules and regulation as may be necessary to prohibit insurers from adjusting any rate above the base rates developed by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau.

NOTE: This measure has passed out of the House Insurance Committee and will head to the House Floor for consideration.

Measures Introduce Aligned With MAS’s Policy Agenda

Senate Bill 2661:  This measure authorizes counties to participate in a group purchasing program.

NOTE: This measure is referred to Senate County Affairs Committee.

No Action Currently Taken on This Measure

House Bill 1525: This measure authorizes counties to participate in a group purchasing program.

NOTE: This measure is referred to House County Affairs Committee. 

No Action Currently Taken on This Measure

House Bill 1691: This measure revises the method regarding counties and municipalities use to calculate costs for payments of housing municipal prisoners in county jails. 
NOTE: This measure is double referred to House County Affairs and House Appropriations A Committee.  

No Action Currently Taken On This Measure  

House Bill 997: This measure authorizes an additional round for counties and municipalities for the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program.

NOTE: This measure is double referred to Insurance and Appropriations A Committee. No Action Currently Taken on This Measure

House Bill 1526: This measure prohibits mandatory fire apparatus retirement based solely on the age when the condition, testing and maintenance criteria are satisfied. NOTE: This measure has been single referred to Insurance Committee.

No Action Currently Taken on This Measure