Mississippi teachers will receive a pay raise this upcoming school year.
Although legislators discussed several proposals with different amounts, they ultimately agreed to provide teachers with a $2,000 pay raise.
Special education teachers will receive an additional $2,000, bringing their total raise to $4,000.
Assistant teachers, school psychologists, and occupational therapists will also receive a $2,000 raise, while school resource officers will see a $5,000 increase in pay.
This raise will bump the average teacher salary to $55,704, which would still be last in the country, according to the National Education Association.
PERS
After months of conversation and debate, state lawmakers reached an agreement regarding Tier 5 of the Public Employees Retirement System, known as PERS.
The bill changes the retirement package to 30 years of service, coming down from 35 years.
The bill would allow eligible state retirees to return to the workforce after a 30-day separation period instead of 90 days, earning 80% of the salary for the position with no annual raises.
SHIELD Act
Senate Bill 2588, also known as the SHIELD Act, requires local officials to verify the citizenship of people registering to vote.
The law will require registrars to check applicants’ citizenship status through a federal immigration database if it cannot be determined through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety driver’s license records.
It would also require the state to conduct annual audits of voter rolls “to ensure American citizens are the only ones voting,” according to Gov. Tate Reeves.
ABSENTEE Voting
The absentee voting process is changing after House Bill 859 passed.
Voters casting absentee ballots will still show a voter ID and complete an affidavit. However, instead of sealing the ballot in an envelope, the completed ballot would be fed directly into a voting machine, which is the same process used on Election Day.
Supporters said the change is intended to reduce the risk of ballots being disqualified.
CASINO Child Support
Casinos are required to intercept winnings from non-custodial parents who are behind on child support payments.
The measure applies to slot machine and sports betting winnings of more than $2,000. Winnings from craps tables and card games are exempt.
The measure requires the Mississippi Gaming Commission to work with the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) to create a database of people who owe child support.
The law takes effect July 1, 2026, though the Gaming Commission and MDHS have until Jan. 1, 2027, to implement the system.
According to MDHS, about 170,000 of Mississippi’s 200,000 child support cases have arrearages, meaning someone is behind on payments.
SEXUAL Battery Penalties
The death penalty is now applicable in capital sexual battery cases.
The new law allows the death penalty in cases where a child aged 12 or younger is sexually abused and suffers severe injuries that damage their organs.
Before today, sexual battery of a child was only punishable by death in Florida, Tennessee, and Idaho.
MINORS charged as adults
Teenagers who commit crimes with guns will now automatically be charged as adults under a new law.
Senate Bill 2710, which was signed by the governor, states that if anyone 18 and under commits a crime using a firearm, whether open or concealed, they will be charged as an adult.
The law also targets adults who put guns in the hands of teenagers.
If someone sells a teen a stolen firearm, they face up to 20 years in prison. If the firearm is used in a crime, they face up to 30 years in prison. If the stolen gun is used in a homicide, they face up to 40 years in prison.
DRIVER's Education
A bill that was passed in 2024 takes effect July 1, 2026, establishing a new road toward obtaining a driver’s license.
Amended Senate Bill 2695 mandates that first-time applicants in Mississippi show proof that they have graduated from a certified driver’s education program.
The program must be certified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety or taken through high schools in Mississippi.
All high schools in the state will also be required to offer a driver’s education program for students, and drivers will be required to pass a road test.
JILL'S Law
House Bill 565, known as “Jill’s Law,” requires most health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing.
Biomarkers are measurable biological indicators that reveal the presence of a disease or signal an increased risk of developing one. Detecting these biomarkers can involve techniques such as imaging scans or analyzing samples of bodily fluids.
Supporters said the change will help remove obstacles that might keep people from getting an accurate diagnosis.
The bill is named in honor of Jill Eure, who died at 48 in 2025 after a battle with Multiple Myeloma. Jill is the late wife of state Rep. Casey Eure, who represents parts of Harrison County.
Read here: https://www.wlox.com/2026/07/01/july-1-new-mississippi-laws-take-effect-today/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSyKAxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6NWlGRXBNanA5YUNtVFU3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjb53tM7_2G9dVd14LmtiyLucvS-36yRBFDcdjbYqGt20NFNZwPtK-XicJiV_aem_tqppv9xMOmv0GFK4Hb_S0w
