Establishes the crime of "fraudulent utility conversion" when landlords fail to pay utility bills, leading to service interruptions for tenants.
Mississippi HB1404 creates the crime of "fraudulent utility conversion," which occurs when a landlord receives utility payments from a tenant but fails to pay the utility provider, resulting in service interruptions. The bill outlines penalties for this crime, including fines and imprisonment, depending on the value of the unpaid utilities. It also mandates that landlords must pay utility bills as per the lease agreement and allows tenants to terminate the lease if utilities are interrupted due to unpaid bills. The act takes effect from July 1, 2026.
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