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.
2 laws in Elections. Show everything
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.
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.
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.