Capitol Comments – Mississippi State Legislature Week 10 Update

The Mississippi Legislature officially ended week 10 of the 2026 Regular Session, and things are moving quickly at the State Capitol. With only a few weeks remaining before the scheduled Sine Die adjournment on April 5, lawmakers are working through some of the most important deadlines of the session.

For the Mississippi Legislature, the coming week will be one of the busiest and most critical periods we have seen so far this year. Next week includes the highest number of deadlines in a single week so far this Session which means long days and a lot of action on the House and Senate floors.

Key deadlines include:

• Tuesday, March 17: Deadline for original floor action on appropriation and revenue bills originating in the other chamber
• Wednesday, March 18: Deadline for reconsideration and passage of appropriation and revenue bills originating in the other chamber
• Thursday, March 19: Deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider appropriation and revenue bills originating in the other chamber
• Friday, March 20: Deadline to concur or not concur on amendments from the other chamber to appropriation and revenue bills AND the deadline for introduction of local and private bills that are revenue bills

Several pieces of legislation important to Mississippi agriculture are still working their way through the legislative process. House Bill 4060 (authored by House of Representatives Agriculture Chairman Bill Pigott) – this bill focuses on clarifying technical language related to agricultural rates for lime and fencing materials. These materials are essential to livestock and crop operations, and clarifying the statute ensures farmers can clearly qualify for existing agricultural rates.

Senate Bill 2272 (authored by Senate Agriculture Chairman Neil Whaley) – this legislation would exempt certain agricultural and logging equipment and supplies from the current 1.5% state sales tax rate. Reducing the tax burden on essential agricultural inputs helps producers reinvest in their operations and remain competitive in an increasingly challenging farm economy. Both bills still need to continue moving through both the committee and chamber processes next week.

For those who enjoy following the process, here is a quick refresher on how legislation moves through the Capitol.

The basic steps include:

1. Bill Introduction
2. Committee Referral
3. Committee Consideration
4. Floor Debate and Vote
5. Process Repeats in the Other Chamber
6. Conference Committee if Differences Exist
7. Final Passage by Both Chambers
8. Sent to the Governor

A bill becomes law if it is:

• Signed by the Governor
• Not signed but allowed to become law
• Vetoed but overridden by the Legislature

The official last day of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, known as Sine Die, is currently scheduled for: Easter Sunday — April 5, 2026. However, as many Capitol veterans know, the Legislature often works right up to the deadline. Budget negotiations and conference reports typically dominate the final weeks. Only time will tell exactly when the final gavel falls this year.

Your Mississippi Farm Bureau Public Policy team remains engaged daily at the Capitol, working with legislators to ensure farmers and ranchers have a strong voice in state policy. We appreciate the support and engagement from Farm Bureau members across the state. Thank you for all you do for Mississippi agriculture.