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HB675 • 2026

First responders; authorize follow-up drug testing.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 45-6-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE A RIGHT TO FOLLOW-UP TESTING FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE AND TO PROVIDE FOR TERMS OF SUSPENSION PENDING THE RECEIPT OF RESULTS FROM THE FOLLOW-UP TEST; TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Labor
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Arnold, Blackwell, Burch, Carpenter, Crosby, Lott
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore has no effective date.

Law Enforcement Officers; Follow-Up Drug Testing

This bill allows law enforcement officers who test positive for illegal drug use to have a follow-up hair follicle test before facing suspension or termination.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a right for law enforcement officers to undergo a second, more scientifically reliable test if they initially test positive for drugs based on a urinalysis.
  • Requires employers to provide two business days for the officer to contest the initial test results and an additional five days to take the follow-up hair follicle test.
  • States that if the hair follicle test is negative, it will be considered a false positive from the urinalysis, and the officer can return to their job without pay loss or termination.
  • Amends existing law enforcement regulations to include provisions for follow-up testing and consequences of not complying with these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement officers in Mississippi who test positive for illegal drug use
  • Employers of law enforcement officers

Terms To Know

Hair follicle test
A type of drug testing that uses a hair sample to detect the presence of drugs over a longer period than urine tests.
False positive
An incorrect result from a drug test indicating the presence of illegal substances when none are actually present.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It only applies to full- or part-time law enforcement officers in Mississippi.
  • Details about funding for follow-up tests and reimbursement policies are limited.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-14 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/14 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

First responders; authorize follow-up drug testing.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 675 *HR43/R1610* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1610
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Arnold, Blackwell,
Burch, Carpenter, Crosby, Lott

HOUSE BILL NO. 675

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 45-6-16, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO CREATE A RIGHT TO FOLLOW-UP TESTING FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT 2
OFFICER WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR ILLEGAL DRUG USE AND TO PROVIDE FOR 3
TERMS OF SUSPENSION PENDING THE RECEIPT OF RESULTS FROM THE 4
FOLLOW-UP TEST; TO AMEND SECTION 45-6-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 5
1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 8
45-6-16, Mississippi Code of 1972: 9
45-6-16. (1) Any full- or part-time law enforcement officer 10
who is accused of drug use in violation of the employer's policies 11
or state law based upon the results of a urinalysis must be 12
afforded the opportunity to undergo a subsequent more 13
scientifically reliable test before the officer is terminated or 14
is suspended without pay. 15
(2) If a full- or part-time law enforcement officer is 16
required as a condition of employment to submit to a urine test 17
for drug use and the result of the test is positive, the officer 18
may be relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave with 19
pay. The officer is allowed two (2) business days following 20
H. B. No. 675 *HR43/R1610* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1610
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)

official written notice of the results to contest the test 21
results. If the officer does not contest the test results within 22
the two-day period, the employer may initiate disciplinary action. 23
If the officer contests the test results within the two-day 24
period, the officer is allowed an additional five (5) days to 25
appear at a certified laboratory and voluntarily submit to the 26
taking of a hair sample for the purpose of a hair follicle test 27
for drug analysis. The hair follicle test is initially at the 28
expense of the officer; however, if the test result is negative, 29
the officer shall be reimbursed the cost of the test by the 30
employer. If the test result is positive, the officer shall bear 31
the cost of the test. If the hair follicle test result is 32
negative for the drug or drugs specified in the urinalysis report 33
and thereby does not support the findings of the urinalysis, then 34
the urinalysis results shall be declared a false positive, and the 35
officer shall be immediately placed back into his or her previous 36
position of employment. 37
SECTION 2. Section 45-6-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 38
amended as follows: 39
45-6-17. (1) Any full- or part-time law enforcement officer 40
who does not comply with the provisions of this chapter, or whose 41
certificate has been suspended or revoked under provisions of this 42
chapter, shall not be authorized to exercise the powers of law 43
enforcement officers generally, and particularly shall not be 44
authorized to exercise the power of arrest. 45
H. B. No. 675 *HR43/R1610* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1610
PAGE 3 (GT\KP)
ST: First responders; authorize follow-up drug
testing.
(2) Any state agency or political subdivision that employs a 46
person as a full- or part-time law enforcement officer who does 47
not meet the requirements of this chapter, or who employs a person 48
whose certificate has been suspended or revoked under provisions 49
of this chapter, is prohibited from paying the salary of such 50
person, or providing any public monies for the equipment or 51
support of the law enforcement activities of such person, except 52
as provided in Section 45-6-16, and any person violating this 53
subsection shall be personally liable for making such payment. 54
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 55
and after July 1, 2026. 56