In the fifth week of the 2025 Mississippi legislative session, the Senate met the Feb. 4 deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the Senate and began floor debates and resolutions.
Senators passed several measures aimed at improving the lives of Mississippians.
Key legislation included:
• Senate Bill 2151: Requires school districts to adopt policies limiting or prohibiting student cell phone use in classrooms.
• Senate Bill 2162: Mandates schools to update their Cardiac Emergency Response Plans to include airway clearance devices.
• Senate Bill 2043: Allows the state to seize delinquent child support payments from gambling winnings of $1,200 or more, granting the Gaming Commission access to Human Services data for enforcement.
• Senate Bill 2197: Elevates impersonating a law enforcement officer from a misdemeanor to a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
• Senate Bill 2208: Amends the Mississippi Terroristic Threats Law, imposing a minimum five-year prison sentence for threats against airports.
• Senate Bill 2308: Increases penalties for illegal dumping.
• Senate Bill 2833: Grants the Legislative PEER Committee authority to use the judiciary to enforce subpoenas.
• Senate Bill 2368: Aligns state Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Standards with federal guidelines.
• Senate Bill 2434: Authorizes local governments to partner with military branches on infrastructure projects at bases.
• Senate Bill 2276: Extends hunting seasons ending on Fridays to include the following Sunday.
• Senate Bill 2518: Permits the Institutions of Higher Learning to enter public-private lease agreements for public colleges and universities.
• Senate Bill 2266: Requires the Department of Revenue to publish lists of agricultural items eligible for tax exemptions or reduced rates for commercial farming permit holders.
• Senate Bill 2052: Allows car tags for fully disabled veterans to be specifically labeled.
• Senate Bill 2874: Mandates health professionals to administer and insurers to cover depression screenings for birth mothers.
• Senate Bill 2210: Revises dates for fireworks sales and reduces firework law violations to misdemeanors.
• Senate Bill 2582: Establishes a Sales Tax Diversion Study Committee.
The Senate faces upcoming deadlines: Feb. 13 for floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the Senate, and Feb. 14 for reconsideration and other actions.
