HB1640 • 2026

DHS; require to employ commercial wage verification services to get information for eligibility determination for benefits.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-12-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO EMPLOY AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL WAGE VERIFICATION SERVICES REGULATED UNDER THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING CURRENT EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION AND ONGOING MONITORING FOR CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Labor

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Deweese
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Dead
Effective date: Passage

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Department of Human Services Must Use Wage Verification

This bill requires the Mississippi Department of Human Services to use automated commercial wage verification services regulated under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for eligibility determination and ongoing monitoring of public benefit programs.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Human Services to use automated wage verification services.
These services must follow rules set by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The goal is to get accurate current employment and income information.
This information will be used for deciding who gets public benefits like SNAP and TANF.
It also helps keep track of people's eligibility over time.

Who It Names or Affects

Mississippi Department of Human Services
People applying for or receiving public benefits in Mississippi

Terms To Know

Fair Credit Reporting Act: A federal law that sets rules for companies that collect and share information about people's credit history.
SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income families buy food.
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a program that gives money to help poor families with basic needs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the cost or funding source for the wage verification services.
It is unclear what procedures are in place if there are errors in the wage information collected by these services.

Bill History

2026-03-30 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/30 (H) Died In Conference
2026-03-24 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/24 (S) Conferees Named Thompson,Sparks,Williams
2026-03-23 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/23 (H) Conferees Named Ford (54th),Porter,Mansell
2026-03-18 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/18 (H) Decline to Concur/Invite Conf
2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/11 (S) Returned For Concurrence
2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/10 (S) Passed As Amended
2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/10 (S) Amended
2026-02-27 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/27 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/17 (S) Referred To Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Passed As Amended
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Amended
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (H) Read the Third Time
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

DHS; require to employ commercial wage verification services to get information for eligibility determination for benefits.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1640 *HR26/R2113PH* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R2113PH
PAGE 1 (RF\KW)
ST: DHS; require to employ commercial wage
verification services to get information for
eligibility determination for benefits.
To: Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Deweese

HOUSE BILL NO. 1640
(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-12-18, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO EMPLOY 2
AUTOMATED COMMERCIAL WAGE VERIFICATION SERVICES REGULATED UNDER 3
THE FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING CURRENT 4
EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME INFORMATION FOR ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION 5
AND ONGOING MONITORING FOR CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC 6
BENEFIT PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 9
43-12-18, Mississippi Code of 1972: 10
43-12-18. The Department of Human Services shall employ 11
automated commercial wage verification services regulated under 12
the Fair Credit Reporting Act for the purpose of acquiring current 13
employment and income information for eligibility determination 14
and ongoing monitoring for continued eligibility for public 15
benefit programs, including SNAP and TANF benefits. 16
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 17
and after its passage. 18