MS House Floor - 12 February, 2026; 10:00 AM [Source] Translate

The meeting began with a prayer by Reverend Lewis Dixon, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Representative Holloway introduced Reverend Dixon, noting his 27 years of service and recent church construction. A quorum was confirmed, and the house dispensed with the reading of the journal. There were no select committee reports, but calendar reports were presented. Representative Morgan's request to skip reading introductions was approved. Guests recognized included the Hazlehurst Middle School Lady Basketball Team for their undefeated season and the Mississippi Society of Radiologic Technologists, who were hosting students from various colleges. The house discussed and voted on several bills. House Bill 965 was tabled, and items one, three, and four were passed unanimously. House Bill 517, related to the Mississippi Charter Schools Act, and House Bill 644, concerning the Administrative Procedures Act, both passed. House Bill 1015, replacing an inactive member of the Title Five Advisory Council, and House Bill 1314, which raised financial thresholds for contractors, also passed. House Bill 1468, aimed at excluding certain personal information from public records, passed after an amendment. House Bill 1529, with a reverse repealer, passed as well. House Bill 1640 authorized the use of automatic commercial wage verification services by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, passing after an amendment. House Bill 1754 was discussed, but details were not included. The first bill passed with a vote of 115 in favor and 2 against. House Bill 1754, allowing the Information Technology Services to manage cybersecurity, passed with 121 in favor. House Bill 1218, extending the My Kids software system's authorization, passed unanimously with 128 votes. Introductions included fifth graders from Oakdale Elementary and local officials. House Bill 1225, addressing non-consensual towing, passed with 121 in favor. House Bill 1525, allowing counties to participate in a group purchasing program, passed with 121 votes. House Bill 1646, increasing transfer limits into the Disaster Trust Fund, passed unanimously. House Bill 1645, allowing MEMA to develop a state-run disaster program, passed with 121 votes. Introductions included students from Delta Health Alliance and recognitions of award-winning athletes. House Bill 1625, regulating virtual currency kiosks, passed with 117 votes. House Bill 342, designating highway segments in Itawamba County as memorial highways, passed with 121 votes. House Bill 1660, aligning state laws with federal bridge safety inspection laws, passed with 112 votes. House Bill 1402, designating a segment of US Highway 49 as the Colonel Don L. Berry Memorial Highway, passed with 121 votes. House Bill 1361, establishing a game check program for harvest reporting, passed with 62 votes in favor and 44 against. The meeting included discussions on immigration enforcement, with concerns raised about local law enforcement's cooperation with federal agencies. The bill aimed to prevent local policies that restrict cooperation, with penalties for non-compliance. Legislators debated the implications for local autonomy and potential voter intimidation. Further discussions included a bill on detainment and cooperation with federal immigration authorities, emphasizing the need to protect state employees from legal repercussions. An amendment to clarify that state agencies should not assist in unlawful actions was proposed but faced opposition. The meeting also covered tax sale purchasers, with a bill passed to streamline the process for obtaining property titles. Other bills included certification for veterinary technicians, increased fees for restaurant inspections, and an amendment allowing animal chiropractors to work without direct supervision. Several bills were passed, including appropriations for a task force, Megan's Law addressing maternal mortality, and penalties for false reports of child abuse. House Bill 605 aimed to establish a state-sponsored health care exchange and passed with 115 votes. The meeting concluded with the introduction of House Bill 1393, establishing a fund for economic development areas, which passed with 118 votes. House Bill 1744, requiring health departments to develop a comprehensive health plan, also passed with 120 votes. The meeting ended with additional introductions and announcements before adjourning until the following day.