New laws, plainly
What Passed
The new laws that matter most to Jackson, explained so a seventh grader could follow them: what each does, why it happened, what it costs, and what changes for you.
11 laws explained so far, with more on the way. Each entry is built from the bill's summary and history, the Legislature's cost estimate when the Wire can find one, and news reports; the reporting note at the end of each entry says what was and was not read.
In effect now
SB 2588 · In effect since July 1, 2026
New law requires citizenship checks of Mississippi voters against a federal database
When you register, and once a year after that, the state checks your name against a federal immigration database and can make you prove you are a citizen.
SB 2710 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Teens who carry a gun during a violent crime now go straight to adult court
A teenager who has a gun during a violent crime is charged as an adult, and adults who put stolen guns in kids’ hands face long prison terms.
HB 1662 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Divorcing parents now start at a 50-50 custody split
In new custody cases, judges begin by presuming both parents get equal time and an equal say, and a parent who wants more must prove why.
SB 2369 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Win $2,000 at a casino while owing child support, and the state takes what you owe
Casinos must check big winners against a state list of parents behind on child support and send the money they owe to the state before paying them.
HB 565 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Health plans must now pay for biomarker tests that guide cancer and Alzheimer’s care
State-regulated health plans, Medicaid and the state employee plan must cover biomarker testing for cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases when solid medical evidence supports it.
HB 4073 · In effect since July 1, 2026
New state workers can retire after 30 years again, and retirees can come back sooner
The law softens last year’s pension cuts for new hires, lets retirees return to state jobs after 30 days at 80% pay, and creates a state-run retirement account.
SB 2103 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Teachers get a $2,000 raise, and schools get a new attendance law
Every public school teacher’s minimum salary rises by $2,000 this school year, special education teachers get $4,000, and the same law rewrites the rules on absences.
HB 859 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Vote absentee in person, and your ballot now goes straight into the counting machine
In-person absentee voters now feed their ballot into a scanner instead of sealing it in an envelope, so it is counted at 7 p.m. on election night.
SB 2114 · In effect since July 1, 2026
Mississippi makes illegal entry a state crime and orders county jails to work with ICE
Entering Mississippi illegally is now a state crime with at least six months in prison, and county jails had to seek ICE agreements by Oct. 1.
SB 2917 · In effect since April 13, 2026
The state is putting $100 million into a new cancer center in Jackson
A budget-transfer law sets aside $100 million for UMMC’s planned cancer center on State Street, plus $253 million for lawmakers’ local projects and $150 million for highways.
HB 3 · In effect since February 4, 2026
Hospitals can now spend twice as much before asking the state’s permission
Hospitals and other providers can spend twice as much on improvements before needing a state permit, and UMMC’s own exemption is limited to the Jackson area.
How this section is made
The Wire reads the bill's summary and history, the Legislature's cost estimate when it can find one, the votes, and the reporting around it, then writes the result in plain words. We say what the law does, who wanted it and who fought it, what it costs and who pays, and what changes for an ordinary household. Where the Wire adds its own reading, the sentence begins “The Wire's read:” Spot an error? Write to capitolmain42@gmail.com.