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HB1259 • 2026

Radar; authorize certain municipalities to utilize for the enforcement of school zone speed limits.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO UTILIZE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Steverson
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not specify that municipalities must notify the state highway patrol of road issues.

Using Radar in School Zones

This bill allows certain towns to use radar devices to enforce speed limits around schools.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a law to allow municipal law enforcement officers in cities with at least 2,000 people to use radar for enforcing school zone speed limits.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Municipal law enforcement officers
  • Drivers near schools in certain cities

Terms To Know

school zones
Designated roadway segments approaching, adjacent to, and beyond school buildings or grounds, or along which school-related activities occur.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass, so it has no effect.
  • It only applies to certain cities based on population size.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To County Affairs;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

Radar; authorize certain municipalities to utilize for the enforcement of school zone speed limits.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 1259 *HR26/R2195* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R2195
PAGE 1 (OM\KW)

To: County Affairs;
Accountability, Efficiency,
Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Steverson

HOUSE BILL NO. 1259

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO UTILIZE RADAR 2
SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SCHOOL ZONE SPEED 3
LIMITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
63-3-519. It shall be unlawful for any person or peace 8
officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway 9
Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of 10
radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or 11
highway of this state. However, such equipment may be used: 12
(a) By municipal law enforcement officers within a 13
municipality having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more 14
according to the latest or a previous federal census upon the 15
public streets of the municipality, but in no case where the 16
latest federal census population for the municipality is less than 17
one thousand five hundred (1,500); 18
H. B. No. 1259 *HR26/R2195* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2195
PAGE 2 (OM\KW)

(b) By any college or university campus police force 19
within the confines of any campus wherein more than two thousand 20
(2,000) students are enrolled; 21
(c) By municipal law enforcement officers in any 22
municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand 23
(15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally 24
designated highways lying within the corporate limits * * *; 25
(d) By municipal law enforcement officers upon the 26
public streets of any incorporated municipality (i) where the 27
county seat is located in the municipality and (ii) where there is 28
a public community college located in the municipality * * *; and 29
(e) By municipal law enforcement officers within a 30
county that has towns having populations of less than one thousand 31
(1,000), according to the latest federal decennial census, and 32
where there is located a private Christian university. Such use 33
of radar speed equipment shall be upon federally designated 34
highways within the county where there are located school zones. 35
As used in this paragraph "school zones" mean designated 36
roadway segments approaching, adjacent to, and beyond school 37
buildings or grounds, or along which school related activities 38
occur. 39
The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be immediately 40
notified by municipal law enforcement of any road blockages or 41
emergencies occurring on any federally designated limited-access 42
highways lying within the corporate limits. 43
H. B. No. 1259 *HR26/R2195* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2195
PAGE 3 (OM\KW)
ST: Radar; authorize certain municipalities to
utilize for the enforcement of school zone speed
limits.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 44
and after July 1, 2026. 45