Mississippi Legislative Weekly Summary
MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Key Points
- The Mississippi House passed several major bills during the sixth week of the 2026 Regular Session, addressing mental health, public safety, and infrastructure.
- Legislators advanced House Bill 424 to authorize assisted outpatient treatment for serious mental illness and House Bill 1645 to establish a state-managed disaster assistance program.
- New regulations were proposed for online minor protections, Sunday alcohol sales, and joint custody presumptions.
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi House of Representatives concluded its sixth week of the 2026 Regular Session by passing a diverse slate of public safety, healthcare, and infrastructure measures.
Key actions included House Bill 424, which creates community-based treatment alternatives for residents with serious mental illness. Lawmakers also passed House Bill 1645, establishing the State-Managed Disaster Act of 2026 to streamline emergency recovery efforts through MEMA.
Public safety remained a priority. House Bill 525 mandates a five-year minimum sentence for certain sexual battery offenses, while House Bill 538 expands prohibitions on sanctuary policies, requiring 100 percent cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The House also moved to modernize commerce and family law. Measures passed include authorizing Sunday alcohol sales in specific wet areas and establishing a rebuttable presumption for joint child custody. Additionally, House Bill 520 requires the state to withhold gaming winnings from individuals with outstanding child support arrears.
As floor deadlines approach, these bills now move to the Senate for further consideration.
This item will be updated.
