HB871 • 2026

Regulation of parking charges in certain areas on public streets in certain municipalities; provide.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-37-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES SHALL NOT CHARGE ANY INDIVIDUAL TO PARK ON A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC STREET THAT IS NEAR A COUNTY COURTHOUSE OR OTHER COUNTY BUILDING WHEN SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS REQUIRED TO APPEAR AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OR OTHER COUNTY BUILDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore will not take effect on July 1, 2026 as stated in the candidate explanation.

Free Parking Near County Buildings

This bill makes it free to park on public streets near county courthouses or other county buildings for people who need to go there for official business.

What This Bill Does

Makes parking free on municipal public streets near county courthouses and other county buildings for individuals required to appear at these locations by summons, subpoena, notice, or judicial mandate.

Who It Names or Affects

People who need to park near a county courthouse or other county buildings for official business.
Municipalities with populations over 145,000 people according to the 2020 federal census.

Terms To Know

summons: A legal document that orders someone to appear in court or before a judge.
subpoena: An official order to attend a court at a given time and place to give testimony on a matter related to the case.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not apply if there are existing rules that allow charging for parking.
It only applies to municipalities with populations over 145,000 people according to the 720 federal census.
This bill did not pass in its session.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Municipalities;County Affairs

Official Summary Text

Regulation of parking charges in certain areas on public streets in certain municipalities; provide.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 871 *HR26/R1141* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1141
PAGE 1 (OM\KW)

To: Municipalities; County
Affairs
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Brown

HOUSE BILL NO. 871

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-37-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES SHALL NOT CHARGE ANY 2
INDIVIDUAL TO PARK ON A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC STREET THAT IS NEAR A 3
COUNTY COURTHOUSE OR OTHER COUNTY BUILDING WHEN SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS 4
REQUIRED TO APPEAR AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE OR OTHER COUNTY 5
BUILDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 21-37-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
21-37-29. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, 10
the governing authorities of any municipality in this state are 11
hereby authorized and empowered to purchase, lease or otherwise 12
acquire, and to install and maintain parking meters for the 13
regulation of the parking of vehicles on the municipal streets. 14
When such parking meters are installed and operated by any 15
municipality, the governing authorities thereof shall have the 16
power to prescribe, by ordinance, reasonable rules and regulations 17
for the use and operation of same, and to provide and prescribe 18
penalties for the violation of such rules and regulations. Such 19
governing authorities may also fix, prescribe, and collect fees 20
H. B. No. 871 *HR26/R1141* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1141
PAGE 2 (OM\KW)
ST: Regulation of parking charges in certain
areas on public streets in certain
municipalities; provide.
for the use of the parking space adjacent to any such meters and 21
to require that such fee shall be paid by the deposit of the 22
appropriate coin or coins in such meters. 23
(2) With respect to a municipality having a population in 24
excess of 145,000 according to the 2020 federal decennial census, 25
no persons shall be charged to park on a municipal public street 26
at any point that is adjacent to the perimeter of any real 27
property upon which any county courthouse or other building 28
housing any aspect of county government that provides services to 29
the general public is now or hereafter located for such time as 30
such persons are required to appear at the courthouse or other 31
public building by summons, subpoena, notice or other judicial 32
mandate, and/or for such time as is reasonably necessary to 33
utilize the public services provided at the courthouse or other 34
county building. 35
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 36
and after July 1, 2026. 37