Mississippi Association of Supervisors Legislative Priority Bills Officially Drop in Both the House and Senate Chamber 

Rural Fire Truck Funding

House Bill 503: This measure makes an appropriation to the Rural Fire Truck Fund for the purpose of providing funds for an additional round of the fire trucks for counties and municipalities under the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program for fiscal year 2025.

NOTE: Line 13 of this measure appropriates $4 million to the program. This measure currently resides in the House Appropriations A Committee. No action has been taken on this measure.

Limited/Exclusive College Foundation Ad Valorem Exemption

House Bill 1235 & Senate Bill 2697: This measure provides that the ad valorem tax exemption for property belonging to university, college, community college and junior college foundation applies to property that is used exclusively and directly for educational ad outreach purposes and not leased or otherwise used to generate revenue.

This measure currently resides in the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate County Affairs Committee. NOTE: No action has been taken on either measure.

Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Repealer Deletion

House Bill 1259 & Senate Bill 2700: This measure provides for conditions under which state offenders may sere sentences in county jails. This measure currently resides in the House Corrections Committee and the Senate Corrections and Government Structure Committee. NOTE: No action has been taken on either measure.

Public Purchasing Law

House Bill 1321 & Senate Bill 2699: This measure revises the public purchasing law to provide that purchases of less than ten thousand dollars may be made without advertising or otherwise requesting competitive bids. In addition, this measure provides that no requisition to purchase, purchase order or receiving report shall be required for the purchase of any item or services with an acquisition cost of not more than five thousand dollars.

This measure currently resides in the House Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency Committee and the Senate County Affairs Committee. Note: No action has been taken on this measure.

Broadband Exemption

House Bill 1091 & Senate Bill 2701: Broadband equipment speed: increase to FCC requirement regarding ad valorem tax exemption. This measure currently resides in the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Technology and Finance Committee. No action has been taken on either measure.

Public Notices

House Bill 1348 & Senate Bill 2712: Local governments; provide option to publish notices on their websites in addition to newspapers. This measure currently resides in the House Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency Committee and the Senate County Affairs and Municipalities Committee. No action has been taken on either measure.

House Chamber Passes Measure Providing Counties the Discretion to Maintain in Courtrooms and Courthouses an Electronic Version of Law Books.

House Bill 1149

On Wednesday, February 21^st, The Mississippi House of Representatives passed House Bill 1149 by a vote of 118 to 0. This measure provides that “in lieu” printed law books being maintained in the courtrooms of courthouses, such book may be solely maintained in an electronic format.

NOTE: This measure is now transmitted to the Senate for consideration.

Senate Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency (AET) Committee Passes Discretionary Sheriff Supplement Measure

Senate Bill 2311

On Wednesday, February 21^st, the Senate AET Committee passed out Senate Bill 2311 with a committee substitute. The committee substitute altered the bill with a cap of an additional $25k for sheriffs’ salaries. The county board of supervisors will have the discretion to provide the salary supplement or not. This measure now resides on the Senate Floor Calendar. 

House Chamber Passes Indigent Council Pay Increase

House Bill 1089  

On Tuesday, February 20^th, the House chamber passed House Bill 1089 by a vote of 111 to 1. This measure increases the current fees set in statue for indigent council. This measure will now head to the Senate for consideration. Please contact your local Senate delegation and inform them of how this measure could impact you county budget. This measure amend Mississippi Code 99-15-17.

Comprehensive Mental Health Measure Introduced

House Bill 1640:

House Bill 1640: This measure revises the procedures for screenings, evaluations and commitments for those with issues of mental health. This measure is referred to the House Public Health and Human Services Committee. No action is taken on this measure. 

Statewide Youth Court Measure Introduced

Senate Bill 2774

Senate Bill 2774: This measure establishes a Statewide Uniform Youth Court System. This measure currently resides in the Senate Judiciary A Committee. No action has been taken on this measure.



Secretary of State Reimbursement to Local Governments.

House Bill 1220

House Bill 1220: This measure authorizes the Secretary of State to reimburse local governments for tree removal and cleanup costs associated with tax forfeited properties. This measure is double referred to House Municipalities Committee and House Appropriation A Committee.

NOTE: This measure has passed the House Municipalities Committee and will now head to the House Appropriations A Committee for consideration.

Legislation that Could Cost Counties Money

 if Passed As Is

House Bill 1089: (Indigent Counsel) Action Taken on This Bill

House Bill 1640: (Mental Health) No Action Taken on This Bill

Senate Bill 2774: (Statewide Youth Court) No Action Taken on This Bill

House Bill 1339: Fee increases for publishing summons, orders, citations and legal notices. No Action Taken on This Bill

Bills in bolded, underlined blue contain a hyperlink to the legislative website with further bill information.

Upcoming Deadline:

The Eighth week of the 2024 Regular Legislative Session is now complete. 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 March 5^th.    

*Copyright. All Rights Reserved

Authors, Steve Gray and Derrick Surrette

Link to legislative deadline dates:

HOUSE & SENATE will reconvene on Monday at 4pm.