House of Representatives weekly summary
Key Points
- Committee Deadline Met: The Mississippi House concluded a pivotal week by meeting the February 3 deadline for reporting general bills, clearing the path for floor action.
- Major Legislative Moves: Lawmakers passed a robust slate of bills targeting teacher pay raises, mobile sports wagering, and medical cannabis expansion.
- Regulatory Reform: Significant shifts in healthcare and state agency oversight were approved, including the “CLEAR Act” to increase government transparency.
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi House of Representatives intensified its legislative pace this week, clearing a massive slate of policy proposals as the 2026 Regular Session reached a critical procedural milestone.
With the February 3 committee deadline now in the rearview mirror, lawmakers spent the fifth week of the session debating everything from the “CLEAR Act” to a significant $5,000 pay raise for the state’s educators. The chamber now faces a looming February 12 deadline for original floor action on remaining measures.
Education and Workforce Investments
Leading the week’s high-profile actions was House Bill 1126, an ambitious education package that increases the teacher salary scale by $5,000. The bill does more than just boost base pay; it integrates performance-based incentives and provides additional supplements for mentor teachers and nationally certified staff, including nurses and speech-language pathologists.
In a move to modernize the state’s labor laws, the House also passed the Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act (HB 1072). This legislation allows hiring parties to contribute to benefit accounts for independent contractors—such as health or retirement funds—without altering their status as contractors, offering a tax-advantaged solution for the state’s growing “gig economy.”
Healthcare and Medical Cannabis
The House signaled a continued interest in deregulating the state’s healthcare landscape. House Bill 430 passed the floor, effectively removing end-stage renal disease facilities from the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) requirements. Supporters argue the move will allow life-saving dialysis centers to expand more rapidly.
Medical cannabis also saw a significant expansion through two key bills:
- HB 895: Simplifies the administrative process for patients by extending card validity periods and removing mandatory six-month follow-up visits.
- HB 1034 (“Ryan’s Law”): Provides compassionate access for terminally ill patients in hospitals and hospices, ensuring they can use prescribed cannabis in a safe, secure environment.
Digital Frontiers and Public Safety
Mississippi moved closer to joining neighboring states in the digital gaming market with the passage of the Mississippi Mobile Sports Wagering Act (HB 1581). The bill legalizes online sports pools while establishing strict geofencing and age verification rules. Notably, it includes a provision allowing the Gaming Commission to work with the Department of Human Services to garnish winnings for unpaid child support.
Public safety was also a priority as lawmakers passed House Bill 1294, which strengthens penalties for child grooming and sexual battery, particularly when electronic devices are used or when the offender is in a position of trust. Additionally, House Bill 1404 was advanced to protect renters, creating a new crime for “fraudulent utility conversion” when landlords pocket utility payments rather than paying the providers.
Accountability and Election Integrity
To increase transparency, the House passed the CLEAR Act (HB 925), empowering the PEER Committee to review state agency rules and conduct deep-dive assessments of Medicaid programs.
On the election front, House Bill 571 was approved to prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to state or local ballot measures. Lawmakers also moved to streamline the voting process with House Bill 788, which allows affidavit ballots to double as voter registration or precinct transfer requests, effectively reducing administrative hurdles for eligible voters.
Community and Commendations
While the floor was busy with policy, the gallery was filled with the next generation of Mississippians. Groups ranging from the Petal Mayor’s Youth Council to Girl Scout Troop 4775 visited the Capitol to witness the legislative process firsthand.
The House also paused to celebrate local excellence, passing House Resolution 25 to commend the Gulfport High School football team for their MHSAA Class 7A State Championship victory.
With the next deadline just days away, the House is expected to maintain this high-velocity schedule to ensure general bills are reconsidered and passed by the February 13 cutoff.
