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MississippiSB 28352025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Mississippi Emergency Communications Act; create.

Sponsored By: Scott DeLano (Republican)

Signed by Governor

TechnologyAccountability, Efficiency, Transparency

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.

State authority coordinates next-generation 911

Effective July 1, 2025, the law creates the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority within the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Its director and advisory board coordinate an interconnected 911 network supporting voice, data, video, and other media. The advisory board's first meeting is due by August 1, 2025. State plan requirements are due March 1, 2026, and minimum district plan standards are due September 30, 2026. The authority has a three-year exemption from state purchasing timelines and requirements while setting up its plans and functions.

Competitive grants fund local 911 upgrades

The law creates a competitive grant program and a separate NG911 CMRS Grant Fund for local 911 upgrades. Grants cover equipment, software, capital improvements, and other costs tied to approved district plans consistent with the state plan. Awards go into district implementation funds, and payments require legislative appropriation. Applications are scored on completeness, homes and businesses served, area served, efficiency, and consolidation of 911 answering centers. Existing mobile-service board accounts-payable revenues transfer on July 1, 2025; interest stays in the fund, and unused money does not lapse.

911 collectors can recover limited costs

The authority and Department of Revenue manage and audit emergency communications charges supporting state and local 911 services. Providers may keep up to 0.5% of monthly collections, but no more than their actual collection and processing costs. Prepaid wireless sellers may keep 2%, while the department may keep up to 0.5% for direct collection and payment costs. Beginning with 2026 assessments, monthly remittances are due by the 30th business day of the following month. The department distributes receipts, after allowed deductions, by the 15th of the month following receipt.

Provider reports receive new confidentiality protections

The submitting provider, the authority, and the Department of Revenue may review information submitted under the law. Subpoenas or releases to others require express permission from both the department and the submitting provider. Published totals cannot reveal, or allow identification of, an individual provider's subscriber counts or revenue. The former mobile-service board's proprietary-information confidentiality section is repealed December 31, 2025.

Wireless emergency misuse brings criminal penalties

Knowingly misusing wireless emergency telephone service or evading emergency communications charges can bring criminal penalties. A misdemeanor carries up to a $500 fine, 30 days in jail, or both. If the improperly obtained charge or service exceeds $100 in value, the conduct may be prosecuted as a felony. The felony penalty is up to a $5,000 fine, three years in prison, or both.

Private system users may pay costs

Emergency communications districts may charge qualified nonpublic users for the costs of joining and connecting to their systems. The law sets no rate or formula for those charges. This authority does not establish a general household charge.

Providers gain shields from damage claims

Service providers and prepaid wireless sellers are protected from damages connected with accessing or trying to access emergency services. Providers also receive protection when helping law enforcement in good faith and believing their help is lawful. These protections limit damage claims against covered providers and sellers.

Phone billing protections and payment priorities

Providers must list passed-through emergency charges separately; all-inclusive monthly prices must include the charge. Collected charges are not provider revenue and cannot increase the base for other taxes, fees, or surcharges. Partial payments cover the provider's or seller's balance first, leaving the emergency charge until afterward. Consumers remain liable for the charge, but providers do not have to sue to collect it. Only this emergency charge and the separate public safety telecommunicator training charge may be assessed for emergency communications services.

New $2 phone charges with limits

Beginning January 1, 2026, consumers owe $2 monthly per home or business phone line, internet-phone account, or mobile connection. Prepaid wireless purchases carry a $2 charge per retail transaction, not per month. Exchange and internet-phone charges have a 200-line limit per location and cannot exceed activated simultaneous outbound voice channels. Broadband itself is not another voice channel; mobile infrastructure lines are exempt, and shared multistate voice capacity is charged only for Mississippi's share. Previous assessments continue through December 31, 2025, when the old mobile collection, registration, and prepaid-charge provisions are repealed.

Local 911 partnerships and service rules

County boards may create shared emergency communications districts serving the participating counties. After state plan adoption, districts must buy or lease new plan-related equipment from the state technology department's approved list. Items unavailable on that list, or available for less elsewhere, may be purchased under the Public Purchasing Law. Beginning July 1, 2027, the law repeals the separate statutory requirement to provide enhanced 911 service. That repeal does not itself establish that 911 service ends.

Local 911 money carries planning requirements

Districts must set aside at least 30% of trust fund receipts for next-generation 911 until their plans receive approval. They cannot spend that money without written plan approval, and expenses must appear in the approved plan. Remaining money supports 911 answering centers, capital improvements, district operations, and land mobile radio service. District plans must consider regional service and consolidation; missing the December 31, 2030 adoption deadline blocks grant and implementation-fund spending. The authority may approve, deny, or return plans for changes and withhold trust payments to address adverse financial or program findings.

911 revenue funds state and districts

The authority may direct up to 7% of charges remitted to the Department of Revenue into the State NG911 Fund. That money pays authority operating costs and costs of carrying out or maintaining the state 911 plan. Remaining charge revenue goes to the Emergency Communications Public Safety Trust Fund. District distributions use ZIP+4 areas for wired, internet-based, and wireless services; prepaid revenue follows each district's share of state population. The advisory board maintains the formula, including amendment and appeal procedures, and the director must approve it before use.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Scott DeLano

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 329 • No: 3

House vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 115 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 47 • No: 2

House vote • 3/10/2025

Passed As Amended

Yes: 119 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/12/2025

Passed

Yes: 48 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/10/2025legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025House

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/7/2025Senate

  4. Motion to Reconsider Tabled

    4/2/2025House

  5. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2025Senate

  6. Motion to Reconsider Entered (Ford (73rd), Faulkner)

    4/1/2025House

  7. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2025House

  8. Conference Report Filed

    3/31/2025House

  9. Conference Report Filed

    3/31/2025Senate

  10. Recommitted For Further Conf

    3/31/2025House

  11. Recommitted For Further Conf

    3/29/2025Senate

  12. Conference Report Filed

    3/28/2025Senate

  13. Conference Report Filed

    3/28/2025House

  14. Conferees Named Ford (73rd),Mansell,Ford (54th)

    3/25/2025House

  15. Conferees Named DeLano,Blackmon,Williams

    3/20/2025Senate

  16. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/12/2025Senate

  17. Returned For Concurrence

    3/11/2025House

  18. Passed As Amended

    3/10/2025House

  19. Amended

    3/10/2025House

  20. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

    3/4/2025House

  21. DR - TSDPAA: AC To TE

    3/4/2025House

  22. DR - TSDPAA: TE To AC

    2/26/2025House

  23. Referred To Technology;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

    2/17/2025House

  24. Transmitted To House

    2/13/2025Senate

  25. Passed

    2/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

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