HB1120 • 2026

MDOC; require to pay unpaid balance for certain utility services provided to Walnut Grove Correctional Facility.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO PAY THE UNPAID BALANCE DUE TO THE TOWN OF WALNUT GROVE FOR CERTAIN UTILITY SERVICES RENDERED TO THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PROVIDE IF THE UNPAID BALANCE IS NOT PAID BY A CERTAIN PERIOD, THEN THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SHALL BE WITHHELD UNTIL PAYMENT IS RECEIVED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Energy

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Rushing
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and its exact status remains uncertain.

Mississippi Department of Corrections Must Pay Utility Bills

This bill requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections to pay an unpaid balance for utility services provided to Walnut Grove Correctional Facility, and it threatens to withhold the Commissioner's salary if payment is not made on time.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections to pay $569,212.02 to the Town of Walnut Grove for unpaid utility bills from January 2017 through February 2024.
Sets a deadline of one year after the bill passes for the payment to be made.
States that if the payment is not made by the deadline, the Commissioner's salary will be withheld until the debt is paid.

Who It Names or Affects

The Mississippi Department of Corrections
The Town of Walnut Grove
The Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections

Terms To Know

Commissioner: The head official in charge of a department or agency, such as the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Utility services: Services like electricity and gas that are provided to buildings and facilities.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear if this bill will pass into law since it did not move forward in the session.
The exact date when the payment must be made depends on when the bill becomes effective.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-02-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/17 (S) Referred To Corrections;Appropriations
2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/05 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-04 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/04 (H) Passed
2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/28 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Corrections

Official Summary Text

MDOC; require to pay unpaid balance for certain utility services provided to Walnut Grove Correctional Facility.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1120 *HR43/R1611* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
26/HR43/R1611
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: Corrections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Rushing

HOUSE BILL NO. 1120

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 1
TO PAY THE UNPAID BALANCE DUE TO THE TOWN OF WALNUT GROVE FOR 2
CERTAIN UTILITY SERVICES RENDERED TO THE WALNUT GROVE CORRECTIONAL 3
FACILITY; TO PROVIDE IF THE UNPAID BALANCE IS NOT PAID BY A 4
CERTAIN PERIOD, THEN THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE 5
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SHALL BE WITHHELD UNTIL PAYMENT IS 6
RECEIVED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Department of Corrections 9
shall pay the Town of Walnut Grove the unpaid balance of Five 10
Hundred Sixty-nine Thousand Two Hundred Twelve Dollars and Two 11
Cents ($569,212.02) for utility services received from January 12
2017 through February 2024 from Walnut Grove Natural Gas, which is 13
the town's municipally owned-utility as authorized under Section 14
21-27-11, et. seq. Such unpaid balance accrued due to nonpayment 15
by the department for the utility services rendered, as prescribed 16
under this section, to the Walnut Grove Correctional Facility, 17
which is a state-owned facility. 18
(2) The unpaid balance that is owed to the Town of Walnut 19
Grove, as set out in subsection (1) of this act, shall be paid 20
H. B. No. 1120 *HR43/R1611* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1611
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)
ST: MDOC; require to pay unpaid balance for
certain utility services provided to Walnut
Grove Correctional Facility.
within 365 calendar days of the effective date of this act. If 21
such payment is not received by the town, as prescribed in this 22
subsection, then the salary of the Commissioner of the Mississippi 23
Department of Corrections shall be withheld until such payment is 24
made. 25
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 26
and after its passage. 27