BROOKHAVEN — A wave of new bills were introduced in the Mississippi House Friday. Of the 330 introduced bills, a few stuck out with different ideas. 

House Bill 295 introduced by Rep. Jerry R. Turner would establish a tax credit for taxpayers who serve as volunteer firefighters. The bill would require a 3/5ths majority to pass. If the revenue bill passes this session and is signed into law it will be effective January 1, 2026. 

House Bill 86 would require all Emergency Communications Districts to implement a Text-to-911 system by January 1, 2027 if passed. Rep. Daryl Porter is the author of the bill. Lincoln County’s E911 center already accepts text messages. 

House Bill 167 would require local school boards to develop and schools to implement a bell-to-bell cellphone prohibition. Rep. Omeria Scott is the author of the bill. She wrote in the bill “The local school board of each public school district shall develop, and each public elementary and secondary school shall implement age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate policies relating to student cell phone possession and use on school property during the academic school day from bell-to-bell.”

Lincoln County Rep. Becky Currie authored 13 of the 330 bills. Generally speaking, a majority of her bills deal with healthcare and education. Lincoln County Rep. Vince Mangold authored three bills. 

Senators did not convene Friday but are set to return to Jackson Monday morning at 4:00 p.m. 

Check back for more stories throughout the 2025 Legislative Session.