Mississippi

An Act To Create New Section 75-99-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Establish A Short Title For The Mississippians' Right To Name, Likeness And Voice Act; To Create New Section 75-99-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define Terms; To Create New Section 75-99-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Every Individual Has A Property Right In Their Own Name, Likeness And Voice; To Create New Section 75-99-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide Certain Liability For Persons Or Entities Who Infringe On An Individual's Rights Under This Act; To Create New Section 75-99-9, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide A First Amendment Defense To Civil Actions Brought Under This Act; To Create New Section 75-99-11, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide Liability For The Commercial Use Of An Individual's Name, Voice Or Likeness; To Create New Section 75-99-13, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To State The Relationship Of The Act To Other Laws; To Provide That The Act Is Severable; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Create The Mississippi Study Committee On Alternative Student Assessment Models To Examine And Develop Recommendations Regarding Alternative Methods For Measuring Student Educational Outcomes In Mississippi Public Schools In Lieu Of Statewide Standardized Testing; To Provide For The Composition, Organization And Responsibilities Of The Committee; To Direct The Committee To Meet At Least Four Times, Ensuring Sufficient Time To Deliberate And Finalize Its Recommendations; To Provide That The Committee Shall Report Its Findings And Recommendations To The Legislature No Later Than December 1, 2026; To Direct The State Department Of Education To Provide Necessary Staff And Administrative Support To The Committee; To Allow For Additional Support From The Joint Legislative Committee On Performance Evaluation And Expenditure Review (peer), Upon Request And Subject To Available Resources; To Provide For Compensation According To Law For Legislative Members And Travel Expense Reimbursement For Non-legislative Members; To Provide For The Dissolution Of The Committee On January 1, 2027, Or Upon The Submission Of Its Final Report, Whichever Is Later; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Sections 37-12-5, 37-12-7, 37-12-11, 37-13-6, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That A Framed Copy Of The Ten Commandments Shall Be On Display In Every Classroom; To Set The Size Requirements For The Ten Commandments And The U.s. Flag That Must Be Displayed In Every Classroom; To Prohibit Staff And Faculty Of School Districts From Discrimination And Reprisal Based On Religious Views And Beliefs; To Provide That There Shall Be A Nondenominal Prayer Said At The Start Of Each School Day In Each Public And Charter School In The State; To Provide That Any Student Or Faculty Member Not Wishing To Take Part In The Daily Prayer Or Pledge Of Allegiance Shall Not Be Required To Participate; To Require That This Act Apply Beginning In The 2026-2027 School Year; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Establish A Youth Employment Grant Program To Be Administered By The Department Of Employment Security For The Purpose Of Assisting Municipalities With The Costs Of Providing Employment For Youth; To Provide That In Order For A Municipality To Be Eligible For A Grant Under The Provisions Of This Act, The Municipality Must Present To The Department Of Employment Security A Plan For Employing Youth In The Municipality And Must Agree To Provide Matching Funds Equal To Twenty Percent Of The Amount Of The Grant; To Create In The State Treasury A Special Fund To Be Known As The Youth Employment Grant Program Fund; To Provide That The Fund Will Consist Of Monies Appropriated By The Legislature For Funding The Program, And Any Other Monies That The Legislature May Designate For Deposit Into The Fund; To Provide That Monies In The Fund May Be Expended Upon Legislative Appropriation For Making Grants To Municipalities For The Purposes Specified In This Act; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 9-12-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The Appointment Of One Additional Attorney To Serve As A Prosecuting Attorney For Any Cause Of Action Within The Jurisdiction Of The Capitol Complex Improvement District Inferior Court; To Authorize The Appointment Of A Full-time Criminal Investigator Within The Jurisdiction Of The Capitol Complex Improvement District Inferior Court; To Amend Section 25-32-4, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The Appointment Of Two Additional Full-time Assistant Public Defenders Who Shall Perform Duties In Capitol Complex Improvement District Inferior Court; To Authorize Support Staff For The Additional Full-time Assistant Public Defenders; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 37-13-137, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require School Districts That Have An Identified Student Percentage Of 25% Or More Of Enrolled Students Receiving Free Lunch, As Determined By Prior Year Enrollment, To Apply To The United States Department Of Agriculture Food And Nutrition Service (fns) For Participation In The Community Eligibility Programs, Which Would Make The National School Lunch Program And School Breakfast Program Free To All Students Enrolled At A Particular School Or In The Entire District Regardless Of Reported Income; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Require School Districts To Test Natural Gas Piping Systems In Their Facilities; To Create The Duty To Pressure Test; To Prescribe Requirements For The Test; To Require Written Notice Of The Test To Suppliers; To Provide For Discontinuance Of Service In Certain Circumstances; To Require Schools To Report Gas Leakage To School Boards; To Allow For The Promulgation Of Rules; To Provide For The Enforcement Of This Act; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Sections 99-19-81 And 99-19-83, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Exclude Nonviolent Offenders From Habitual Offender Penalties; To Repeal Section 41-29-147, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provides The Penalties For Second Or Subsequent Drug Offenses; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 41-29-113, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove Marijuana From The List Of Schedule I Controlled Substances; To Amend Section 41-29-139, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform The Penalty For Possession Of Controlled Substances Other Than Marijuana; To Amend Section 41-29-105, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform Definitions For The Uniform Controlled Substances Act; To Amend Section 41-29-136, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform And To Extend The Repealer; To Amend Sections 33-13-520, 41-29-147, 41-29-149.1 And 41-29-150, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Authorize A Judge To Conduct Video Conference Proceedings Under Certain Conditions; To List The Conditions; To Require Notice To All Parties Within A Certain Time Period; To Specify Certain Proceedings That Require Agreement By All Parties Before A Video Proceeding Can Occur; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Prohibit The Knowing And Willful Transport Into The State Of An Unauthorized Alien; To Provide That Such Crime Shall Be A Felony And Prescribe Penalties For Such; To Provide That The Forgery Of Government Documents For Unauthorized Aliens Shall Be A Crime; To Provide Penalties For Violation Of Such; To Amend Section 45-1-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Clarify The Department Of Public Safety's Duties To Assist Local Law Enforcement In Efforts To Enforce State And Federal Laws Regarding Unauthorized Aliens; To Amend Section 71-1-49, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Clarify The Prohibition Against Unauthorized Aliens Serving As Labor Representatives; To Amend Section 71-11-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Clarify The State's Position Against Providing State Public Benefits To Unauthorized Aliens; To Amend Section 71-11-3, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Increase Penalties For Violations Of E-verification For Employment; To Amend Section 83-17-407, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize Rejection Of A License From Another State If The Holder Of Such Is An Unauthorized Alien; To Amend Section 41-9-67, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Statistical Information Regarding The Number Of Unauthorized Aliens Served By Hospitals Is A Public Record; To Bring Forward Sections 97-3-54.1 And 97-3-54.2, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provide For Human Trafficking, For Purposes Of Amendment; To Bring Forward Sections 63-1-19 And 63-1-47, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Regulate Driver's Licenses, For Purposes Of Amendment; To Bring Forward Sections 57-1-371 And 57-1-373, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Prohibit Certain Loans And Benefits To Employers Found Guilty Of Hiring Illegal Immigrants, For Purposes Of Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Sections 25-11-103, 25-11-109, 25-11-111, 25-11-112, 25-11-114, 25-11-115, 25-11-117, 25-11-123 And 25-11-147, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Services Providers, Emergency Management Personnel, And Public Safety Telecommunicators Who Become Members Of The Public Employees' Retirement System On Or After March 1, 2026, Shall Be Entitled To Receive A Retirement Allowance After 25 Years Of Service Regardless Of Age; To Establish A Cost-of-living Adjustment (cola) Tied To The Consumer Price Index For Urban Wage Earners And Clerical Workers(cpi-w) For Such First Responders; And For Related Purposes.

A Concurrent Resolution Proposing An Amendment To Section 253, Mississippi Constitution Of 1890, To Provide For The Automatic Restoration Of Suffrage To Any Person Disqualified By Reason Of A Nonviolent Crime, After A Period Of Five Years From The Completion Of Any Sentence, Probation And/or Payment Of Restitution; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Require A Comprehensive Course In Mississippi History To Be Taught To All Students In Grade 9 In Public Schools; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Provide That The Division Of Medicaid, In Establishing And Maintaining The Preferred Drug List, Shall Ensure That No Nonopioid Drug Approved By The United States Food And Drug Administration For The Treatment Or Management Of Pain Shall Be Disadvantaged Or Discouraged With Respect To Coverage Relative To Any Opioid Or Narcotic Drug For The Treatment Or Management Of Pain On Such Preferred Drug List; To Require That Any Health Insurance Insurer Offering A Health Insurance Policy Or Health Benefit Plan Develop A Plan To Provide Adequate Coverage And Access To A Broad Spectrum Of Pain Management Services That Serve As Alternatives To The Prescribing Of Opioid Drugs; To Require Such An Insurer To File The Plan With The Department Of Insurance For Approval; To Provide That Such An Insurer Shall Annually Distribute Educational Materials To Providers Within Its Network And To Members About The Pain Management Access Plan And Shall Make Information About Its Plan Publicly Available On Its Website; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 99-19-51, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise The Officials Charged With Deciding The Options For The Death Penalty; To Amend Section 99-19-53, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform To The Preceding Section; To Bring Forward Section 99-19-55, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provides For The Time For Imposing The Death Penalty; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Require All Agencies, Departments, Institutions And Political Subdivisions Of The State That Provide Programs Or Services To Children In This State To Create, Annually, An Itemized List Of The Programs And Services Provided To Children; To Require That The List Contains A Description Of The Programs And Services, A Resource Mapping Of All Federal And State Funds Received, Costs Associated With The Programs And Services, The Number Of Children Served By The Programs And Services, And Any Performance Measures Used To Assess The Programs And Services; To Provide That The Itemized Lists Of Programs And Services Shall Be Provided To The John C. Stennis Institute Of Government At Mississippi State University Not Later Than September 1 Of Each Year; To Provide That The Stennis Institute Shall Compile The Information In Those Lists Into One Document, And Shall Make The Compiled Information Available To Certain Committees Of The Legislature By December 1 Of Each Year; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 23-17-17, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Requirement That A Petition For An Initiative Measure Be Printed On A Sheet Of Paper Not Less Than Eight And One-half Inches In Width And Not Less Than Fourteen Inches In Length; To Amend Section 23-17-19, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Secretary Of State To Provide The Form For The Petition For An Initiative Measure On The Secretary Of State's Website; To Amend Section 23-17-21, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Circuit Clerks Of The Various Counties To Submit The Petition, Along With The Signatures That Have Been Certified, To The Secretary Of State For Filing When The Person Proposing An Initiative Measure Has Secured Upon The Petition The Number Of Signatures Of Qualified Electors Equal To Or Exceeding The Minimum Number Of Signatures Required; To Bring Forward Section 23-17-23, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For Purpose Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 73-21-151, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Reference New Sections In The Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act; To Amend Section 73-21-153, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define New Terms And Revise The Definitions Of Existing Terms Under The Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act; To Amend Section 73-21-155, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define A Clean Claim And A Network Pharmacy, For The Purpose Of This Section; To Amend Section 73-21-156, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Pharmacy Benefit Managers To Provide A Reasonable Administrative Appeal Procedure To Allow Pharmacies To Challenge A Reimbursement For A Specific Drug Or Drugs As Being Below The Reimbursement Rate Required By The Preceding Provision; To Provide That If The Appeal Is Upheld, The Pharmacy Shall Make The Adjustment Effective For The Appeal And Shall Provide Notice On Its Website About The Appeal; To Amend Section 73-21-157, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require A Pharmacy Services Administrative Organization (psao) To Be Licensed With The Mississippi Board Of Pharmacy; To Create New Section 73-21-158, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Prohibit A Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Psao, Carrier Or Health Plan From Spread Pricing; To Create A New Section, That Prohibits Pharmacy Benefit Managers From Providing Financial Consideration To Pharmacy Benefit Manager Affiliates At A Higher Rate Than A Nonaffiliate; To Create New Section 73-21-162, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Prohibit Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Affiliates And Pharmacy Services Administrative Organizations (psaos) From Penalizing Or Retaliating Against A Pharmacist, Pharmacy Or Pharmacy Employee For Exercising Any Rights Under This Act, Initiating Any Judicial Or Regulatory Actions, Or Appearing Before Any Governmental Agency, Legislative Member Or Body Or Any Judicial Authority; To Amend Section 73-21-163, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The Board Of Pharmacy, For The Purposes Of Conducting Investigations, To Conduct Examinations Of A Pharmacy Benefit Manager Or Psao And To Issue Subpoenas To Obtain Documents Or Records That It Deems Relevant To The Investigation; To Create New Section 73-21-165, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Each Drug Manufacturer To Submit A Report To The Board Of Pharmacy That Includes The Current Wholesale Acquisition Cost; To Require Such Entities To Provide The Board Of Pharmacy With Various Drug Pricing Information Within A Certain Time; To Require Pharmacy Benefit Managers And Psaos To File A Report With The Board Of Pharmacy; To Require Each Health Insurer To Submit A Report To The Board Of Pharmacy That Includes Certain Drug Prescription Information; To Create New Section 73-21-167, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Board Of Pharmacy To Develop A Website To Publish Information Related To The Act; To Create New Section 73-21-169, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Pharmacy Benefit Managers And Psaos To Identify Ownership Affiliation Of Any Kind To The Board Of Pharmacy; To Create A New Section That Creates The Mississippi Independent Pharmacist Reimbursement Assistance Grant Program; To Define Terms Relevant To The Program; To Provide Eligibility Requirements And Guidelines For Grant Awards; To Provide That The Board Shall Establish An Application Process For The Grant Program, And That The Board Shall Have The Authority To Promulgate Rules And Regulations Necessary To Administering The Program; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 29, Chapter 102, Laws Of 2021, As Amended By Chapter 51, Laws Of 2022, To Revise The Purpose Of A Certain Project Funded From The Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriation To The Department Of Finance And Administration; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Require A Court Of Original Jurisdiction To Issue An Injunction Where A Plaintiff Demonstrates The Violation Of A Social Media Company's Community Standards Or Policies By A Defendant's Communications On The Social Media Company's Platform; To Authorize The Court Of Original Jurisdiction To Enjoin The Defendant, Any Social Media Company That Distributes, Hosts Or Disseminates The Defendant's Communication, Or Any Corporate Sponsor Of The Defendant; To Authorize The Court Of Original Jurisdiction To Consider The Filing Of Criminal Charges Related To The Communications To Be Enjoined As A Factor In Determining Whether The Defendant Has Violated A Social Media Company's Community Standards Or Policies; To Provide That A Criminal Conviction Related To The Communications That Are The Subject Of The Petition Shall Be Sufficient Evidence To Merit The Issuance Of A Permanent Injunction Under This Section; To Amend Section 97-45-15, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define The Term "harass"; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Authorize Local School Boards To Employ Licensed Social Workers And Licensed Psychologists To Provide Services To Students In The Public Schools; To Provide That A School District That Employs At Least One Social Worker Or Psychologist For Every One Thousand Students Enrolled In The Schools Of The District Is Eligible For Reimbursement For 50% Of The Cost Of The Salary Of Each Social Worker Or Psychologist From The State Department Of Education; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 31-5-51, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Increase From $25,000.00 To $75,000.00 The Threshold Amount For Public Works Contracts Under Which An Owner May Elect To Make A Lump-sum Payment At Completion Of The Contract Instead Of Requiring A Performance Bond Or Payment Bond; To Increase From $25,000.00 To $75,000.00 The Threshold Amount Under Which Any Person Entering Into A Formal Contract With A County, City Or Other Public Authority For The Construction, Alteration, Or Repair Of Any Public Building Or Public Work, Must Furnish Proof Of General Liability Insurance Coverage In An Amount Not Less Than $1,000,000.00 For Bodily Injury And Property Damage; To Provide That For Any Contract With The State Which Exceeds $5,000.00, Or With A County, City Or Other Public Authority Which Exceeds $75,000.00, For The Construction, Alteration Or Repair Of Any Public Building Or Public Work, If A Subcontractor Of The General Contractor For The Contract Does Not Have General Liability Insurance Coverage In The Required Minimum Amount, Then The General Contractor Shall Be Liable For Any Amount Under Such Minimum Amount Of Coverage For Which The Subcontractor Is Underinsured Or Not Insured; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 9-21-43, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Specify The Sources Of Funding For The Civil Legal Assistance Fund; To Bring Forward Sections 25-7-9 And 25-7-13, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; To Reenact Sections 27-19-56.99 And 27-19-56.135, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Were Repealed By Section 29, Chapter 432, Laws Of 2018, Which Specify Chancery And Circuit Court Fees And Fees For Certain Specialized Motor Vehicle License Tags; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Provide That The Department Of Agriculture And Commerce To Establish A Program Under Which Deer Processors May Receive Incentive Grants To Become Authorized Snap Retailers And Process Donated Deer Meat For Sale To Snap Recipients; To Provide That To Receive An Incentive Grant Under The Program, A Deer Processor Must Present A Plan For How The Processor Plans To Use The Grant To Upgrade The Deer Processing Facility And Equipment And Operate The Business To Be Able To Provide Processed Deer Meat To Snap Recipients; To Provide That The Maximum Amount Of A Grant That A Processor May Receive Through The Program Is Fifty Thousand Dollars; To Provide That The Program Shall Be Funded From Tanf Funds That Are Transferred To The Department For That Purpose; To Require The Department To Apply For A Federal Waiver If It Determines That A Waiver Is Necessary In Order For Deer Processors To Become Authorized Snap Retailers; To Amend Section 43-17-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Each Fiscal Year, Ten Million Dollars Of Unspent Tanf Funds Shall Be Transferred To The Department Of Agriculture And Commerce For The Program Established Under This Act; And For Related Purposes.