An Act To Amend Section 31-7-13, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Regulate Decision Procedures For Prequalified Construction; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 99-19-71, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Expunction Of Criminal Record By Reducing The Waiting Period For Eligibility; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 93-5-24, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Joint Custody May Be Awarded In Any Type Of Divorce; To Require The Court To Make A Finding On The Record And Order A Parenting Time Schedule That Favors Both Parents Equally Subject To The Best Interests Of The Child, If The Court Awards Either Parent Paramount Physical Custody Over The Other Parent; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Establish The Mississippi Bullion Depository; To Define Certain Terms Relating To The Depository; To Provide That Such Depository Is Established To Serve As The Custodian, Guardian, And Administrator Of Certain Bullion And Specie That May Be Transferred To Or Otherwise Acquired By The State Of Mississippi Or An Agency, Department, Institution, Instrumentality, Or Political Subdivision Of The State Of Mississippi; To Require That The Depository Be Administered As A Division Of The Office Of The State Treasurer And Under The Direction And Supervision Of A Bullion Depository Administrator; To Provide The Duties Of The Bullion Depository Administrator; To Authorize The Depository To Receive A Deposit Of Bullion Or Specie From Or On Behalf Of A Person Acting In The Person's Own Right, As Trustee, Or In Another Fiduciary Capacity, In Accordance With Any Rules Or Regulations Adopted By The State Treasurer; To Require That The Depository Record The Amount Of Precious Metals A Person Deposits, Regardless Of Form, In Units Of Troy Ounces Pure, And The Record Must Also Specify The Type And Quantity Of Each Precious Metal Deposited; To Authorize The State Treasurer To Restrict The Forms In Which Deposits Of Precious Metals May Be Made To Those Forms That Conveniently Lend Themselves To Measurement And Accounting In Units Of Troy Ounces And Standardized Fractions Of Troy Ounces; To Require The Depository To Deliver Any Precious Metal Held By Or On Behalf Of The Depository In Bullion, Specie, Or A Combination Thereof, On The Order Of A Depository Account Holder In A Quantity Of That Precious Metal As Is Available In Such Account Holder's Account; To Authorize A Depository Account Holder To Transfer Any Portion Of The Balance Of The Holder's Depository Account By Check, Draft, Or Digital Electronic Instruction To Another Depository Account Holder Or To A Person Who At The Time The Transfer Is Initiated Is Not A Depository Account Holder; To Require A Depositor To Contract With The Depository To Be Able To Establish A Depository Account; To Provide Certain Requirements For Such Contract Between A Depository And Depositor; To Provide That A Cause Of Action For Denial Of Deposit Liability On A Depository Account Contract Without A Maturity Date Does Not Accrue Until The Depository Has Denied Liability And Given Notice Of The Denial To The Depository Account Holder; To Provide That A Depository Account May Be Transferred On The Books Of The Depository Only On Presentation To The Depository Of Evidence Of Transfer Satisfactory To The Depository And An Application For The Transfer Submitted By The Person To Whom The Depository Account Is To Be Transferred; To Prohibit The Depository From Paying On A Depository Account Any Interest, An Amount In The Nature Of Interest, Or A Fee Or Other Payment For The Use Or Forbearance Of Use Of Money, Bullion, Specie, Or Precious Metals Deposited To A Depository Account; To Provide That The Depository Has A Lien On Each Depository Account Owned By A Depository Account Holder To Secure Any Fees, Charges, Or Other Obligations Owed Or That May Become Owed To The Depository In Connection With Any Of Such Account Holder's Depository Accounts As Provided By The Terms Of The Account Holder's Applicable Depository Account Contract; To Authorize The Depository, Without Notice To Or Consent Of The Depository Account Holder, To Transfer On The Depository's Books The Balance Of Such Account Holder's Depository Account To Pay Or Satisfy The Obligation Upon Default In The Payment Or In The Satisfaction Of Such Account Holder's Obligation, As Determined By Reference To The Exchange Rates Applicable At The Time Of The Transfer; To Authorize Certain Individuals And Entities To Invest Money In A Depository Account By Purchasing Precious Metals And Depositing Such Precious Metals With The Depository Or A Depository Agent; To Provide That Unless A Term Of The Depository Account Provides Otherwise, A Person On Whose Signature Precious Metals May Be Withdrawn From A Depository Account That Is Jointly Held In The Names Of Two Or More Persons May, By A Signed Pledge, Pledge And Transfer To The Depository Or To A Third Party All Or Part Of The Account; To Authorize The Depository Or A Depository Agent To Accept A Depository Account In The Name Of A Fiduciary, Including An Administrator, Executor, Custodian, Guardian, Or Trustee, For A Named Beneficiary; To Require The Depository To Recognize The Authority Of A Power Of Attorney Authorized In Writing By A Depository Account Holder To Manage Or Withdraw Precious Metals From The Depository Account Holder's Depository Account Until The Depository Receives Written Or Actual Notice Of The Revocation Of That Authority; To Require The Depository To Enter Into Transactions And Relationships With Bullion Banks, Depositories, Dealers, Central Banks, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Financial Institutions, International Nongovernmental Organizations, And Other Persons, Located Inside Or Outside Of Mississippi Or Inside Or Outside Of The United States, As The State Treasurer Determines To Be Prudent And Suitable To Facilitate The Operations Of The Depository; To Provide Certain Prohibitions For The Bullion Depository; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish The References By Which The Official Exchange Rate For Pricing Precious Metals Transactions In Terms Of United States Dollars Or Other Currency Must Be Established At The Time Of A Depository Transaction; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish Procedures And Facilities Through Which The Rates Are Made Discoverable At All Reasonable Times By System Participants, Both On A Real-time Basis And Retrospectively; To Require The State Treasurer To Establish Procedures And Requirements For The Depository And Depository Agents Designed To Minimize The Burden To System Participants Of Accounting For And Reporting Taxable Gains And Losses Arising Out Of Depository Transactions As Denominated In United States Dollars Or Another Currency; To Require The State Treasurer To Submit To The Governor And To The Legislature A Report On The Status, Condition, Operations, And Prospects For The Depository And Depository Participation Not Later Than September 30 Of Each Year; To Require That The Depository Use Private, Independently Managed Firms And Institutions Licensed As Depository Agents As Intermediaries To Conduct Retail Transactions In Bullion And Specie On Behalf Of The Depository With Current And Prospective Depository Account Holders; To Provide That The State Treasurer Shall Require A Depository Agent To Maintain Suitable Systems And Processes For Electronic Information Sharing And Communication With The State Treasurer And The Depository To Ensure That All Transactions Effected On Behalf Of The Depository Are Reported To And Integrated Into The Depository's Records Not Later Than 11:59:59 P.m. On The Date Of Each Transaction; To Require A Depository Agent To Submit Monthly, Quarterly, And Annual Reports Of All Depository Transactions No Later Than The 15th Day Of The Month Following The Expiration Of The Period With Respect To Which Report Is Submitted; To Provide That A Person May Not Engage In The Business Of Rendering Depository Agent Services Or Advertise, Solicit, Or Hold Itself Out As A Person That Engages In The Business Of Such Services Unless The Person Is Licensed, And Has Received The Requisite Certifications Or Is Excluded From Licensing Requirements Under The Mississippi Money Transmitters Act; To Provide That A Person Engages In The Business Of Depository Agent Services If The Person Renders A Depository Agent Service, Regardless Of Whether Compensation Is Sought Or Received For The Service, Directly Or Indirectly Or If The Service Is Incidental To Any Other Business In Which The Person Is Primarily Engaged; To Provide That A Person Solicits, Advertises, Or Holds The Person Out As A Person That Engages In The Business Of Depository Agent Services If The Person Represents That The Person Will Conduct Depository Agent Services; To Authorize A Depository Agent License Holder To Engage In Depository Agent Services Business At One Or More Locations In Mississippi Owned Directly Or Indirectly By The License Holder Under A Single License; To Require An Applicant For A Depository Agent License To Submit An Application In Accordance With The Mississippi Money Transmitters Act And To Provide Certain Requirements For Such Application; To Require The Department Of Banking And Consumer Finance To Investigate Such Applicant And Act On The Application In Accordance With The Mississippi Money Transmitters Act; To Authorize The Commissioner Of Banking And Consumer Finance To Issue A Temporary Depository Agent License To A Person That Is Engaging In Depository Agent Services, But Has Not Obtained A License Under This Act Under Certain Circumstances; To Provide That A Depository Agent License Holder Is Liable For The Delivery To Or For The Account Of The Depository Or Each Depositor, As Applicable, Of All Bullion, Specie, And Money Payable Or Deliverable In Connection With The Transactions In Which The License Holder Engages On Behalf Of The Depository; To Require A Depository Agent License Holder To Hold In Trust All Cash, Bullion, Specie, And Other Assets Received In The Ordinary Course Of Its Business Until The Time The Delivery Obligation Is Discharged; To Require That A Depository Agent License Holder's Name And Mailing Address Or Telephone Number Must Be Provided To The Purchaser In Connection With Each Depository Agent Services Transaction Conducted By The Depository Agent License Holder; To Bring Forward Sections 75-15-3, 75-15-5, 75-15-7, 75-15-9, 75-15-11, 75-15-12, 75-15-19, 75-15-23, 75-15-25 And 75-15-29, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Relate To The Mississippi Money Transmitters Act, For Purposes Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 31–7–14, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Extend The Repeal Date On Use Of Energy Efficient Equipment Or Service Contracts; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 73-11-65, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize Funeral Director Assistants To Perform All Of The Activities That A Funeral Director May Perform Except For Making Funeral Arrangements; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 47-5-931, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize The Department Of Corrections To Enter Into A Contract With The Boards Of Supervisors Of Forrest County And Wayne County, Mississippi, For The Housing Of State Inmates In Its Correctional Facility; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Require The State Board Of Education To Incorporate Financial Literacy Components Within The Existing Curriculum To Be Taught In Grades 6-8 On Or Before The 2026-2027 School Year; To Require Successful Passage Of The Stand-alone One-half Carnegie Unit Personal Finance Course Or A Full Carnegie Unit Course Where At Least One-half Of The Course Standards Concern Financial Literacy As A Graduation Requirement; To Establish The "financial Literacy Trust Fund" As A Special Fund In The State Treasury That Shall Provide Financial Literacy Education And Be Administered By The State Board Of Education; To Require The Board To Develop Rules And Regulations For The Administration Of The Fund; To Amend Section 37-7-301, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform, And To Set Certain Topics That Shall Be Required For The Financial Literacy Program; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 37-11-85, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Cardiac Emergency Response Plans To Include The Use Of Airway Clearance Devices In Public Schools And Charter Schools For Instances In Which An Individual's Airway Is Blocked Due To Choking; To Amend Section 37-11-87, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Integrate Certain Policies Related To Choking Emergencies; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 41-29-113, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise Schedule I Of The Uniform Controlled Substances To Include Any Product Derived From The Hemp Plant Designed For Human Ingestion And/or Consumption That Is Not Approved By The United States Food And Drug Administration; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Bring Forward Section 43-13-115, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provides The Persons Who Are Eligible For Medicaid, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendment; To Bring Forward Section 43-13-117, Mississippi Code Of 1972, Which Provides The Services And Managed Care Provisions In The Medicaid Program, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Bring Forward Sections 29-7-3, 49-15-3, 49-15-5, 49-15-7, 49-15-9, 49-15-15, 49-15-16, 49-15-17, 49-15-18, 49-15-23, 49-15-27, 49-15-29, 49-15-30, 49-15-31, 49-15-34, 49-15-35, 49-15-36, 49-15-37, 49-15-38, 49-15-40, 49-15-41, 49-15-42, 49-15-43, 49-15-44, 49-15-45, 49-15-46, 49-15-47, 49-15-315 And 51-11-105, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Sections 37-181-5, 37-181-7, 37-181-9, 37-181-11, 37-181-15 And 37-181-19, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove Overly Restrictive Language Which Required The Parent Or Guardian Of An Eligible Student Receiving Esa Funds To Certify To The State Department Of Education That The Student Has Been Accepted Into An Eligible School Qualified To Provide Services For The Participating Student's Disability Or Special Education Needs, Or Provide Services Addressing A Participating Student's Iep; To Remove The Requirement That An Eligible School That Fails To Comply With The Certification Requirements Of Its Ability To Provide Services For The Participating Student's Disability Or Special Education Needs, Or Provide Services Addressing A Participating Student's Iep Shall Be Ineligible To Participate In The Esa Program The Following Year; To Remove The Waitlist Requirement For Students Eligible To Receive An Educational Scholarship Account Under The "equal Opportunity For Students With Special Needs Act"; To Provide That, Subject To Appropriation, Each Student's Esa Shall Be Funded At The Student Base Amount As Determined Under The "mississippi Student Funding Formula"; To Restructure The Frequency By Which Reimbursement Payments Shall Be Made To Service Providers And Parents From Quarterly To Monthly; To Authorize The Department To Enter Into A Contractual Agreement With A Third-party Vendor To Administer The Esa Program; To Create The "mississippi Foster Child Education Scholarship Account Program Act" For The Purpose Of Establishing Education Scholarship Accounts (fesas) For Foster Parents, Guardians Or Responsible Agency Officials Of The Department Of Child Protection Services For Foster Children; To Prescribe The Criteria For Determining Eligibility For Participation In The Program And Receipt Of Program Funds; To Provide For The Funding Of Each Student's Fesa; To Stipulate The Obligations Of Foster Parents, Legal Guardians, Responsible Cps Officials, Students And Schools To Become And Remain Eligible For Participation; To Prescribe The Duties Of The Department Of Education Regarding The Administration Of The Funds; To Require Peer To Prepare A Biennial Report On The Sufficiency Of Funding For Fesas And Student Performance And Assessment Evaluation Beginning In 2027 And Every Two Years Thereafter; To Provide For The Administrative, Financial And Academic Accountability Standards To Be Adhered To By Participating Schools; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Create The Transparency And Accountability Of Patient Premiums Invested In Dental Care Act; To Define "medical Loss Ratio" As The Minimum Percentage Of All Premium Funds Collected By A Dental Insurance Plan Each Year That Must Be Spent On Actual Patient Care Rather Than Administrative And Overhead Costs; To Define "administrative And Overhead Costs"; To Provide That A Health Care Service Plan That Issues, Sells, Renews Or Offers A Specialized Health Care Service Plan Contract Covering Dental Services Shall File A Dental Loss Ratio With The Department Of Insurance That Is Organized By Market And Product Type And Contains The Information Established In The Provisions Of This Act; To Provide The Timeline For Submitting Information For Data Verification Of The Health Care Service Plan's Representations In The Medical Loss Ratio Annual Report; To Provide That The Medical Loss Ratio For Dental Insurance Plans Shall Be 83%; To Provide The Method For Calculating The Total Amount Of An Annual Rebate Required; To Provide The Time That A Carrier Offering Dental Benefit Plans Has To File Group Product Base Rates And Any Changes; To Authorize The Department Of Insurance To Disapprove Any Base Rate Changes That Are Excessive, Inadequate Or Unreasonable In Relation To Benefits Charged; To Provide When The Commissioner Of Insurance May Presumptively Disapprove As Excessive A Dental Benefit Plan Carrier's Rate; To Provide The Hearing Process For When A Proposed Rate Change Has Been Presumptively Disapproved; To Authorize The Department Of Insurance To Promulgate Rules And Regulations; To Provide The Applicability Of The Act; And For Related Purposes.

An Act To Amend Section 23-15-213, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise The Staggered Terms Of Election Commissioners In Districts Two And Four; To Provide That Those Election Commissioners From Districts Two And Four Elected In The 2027 Election Shall Be Elected For A Three-year Term; To Provide That Those Election Commissioners From Districts Two And Four Elected In The 2030 Election Shall Serve A Four-year Term And Every Four Years Thereafter; And For Related Purposes.