HB887 • 2026

Water well contractors; exempt from continuing education if 65 or older or with at least 20 years experience.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 51-5-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO EXEMPT PERSONS 65 OR OLDER AND PERSONS WITH AT LEAST 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FROM THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSE RENEWAL AS A WATER WELL CONTRACTOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Water Well Contractors: Exemption from Continuing Education

This bill would allow water well contractors who are at least 65 years old or have at least 20 years of experience to be exempt from continuing education requirements for license renewal.

What This Bill Does

Changes the Mississippi Code to give the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality the power to exempt certain people from continuing education requirements.
Exempts water well contractors who are 65 or older from needing continuing education units for their license renewals.
Also exempts water well contractors with at least 20 years of experience in Mississippi from needing continuing education units for their license renewals.

Who It Names or Affects

Water well contractors aged 65 or older
Water well contractors with at least 20 years of experience

Terms To Know

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): Special classes or training that professionals must take to keep their licenses up-to-date.
Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality: The agency in charge of making rules and giving out licenses for water well contractors in Mississippi.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
It would have taken effect from July 1, 2026, if passed.

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 Public Utilities;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

Water well contractors; exempt from continuing education if 65 or older or with at least 20 years experience.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 887 *HR43/R694* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R694
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Public Utilities;
Accountability, Efficiency,
Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Horne (By Request)

HOUSE BILL NO. 887

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 51-5-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO 2
EXEMPT PERSONS 65 OR OLDER AND PERSONS WITH AT LEAST 20 YEARS OF 3
EXPERIENCE FROM THE CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSE 4
RENEWAL AS A WATER WELL CONTRACTOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 51-5-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
51-5-5. (1) In carrying out the provisions of this chapter, 9
the commission shall have, but shall not be limited to, the 10
following powers: 11
(a) Make reasonable rules and regulations for the 12
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. 13
(b) Prepare required forms and establish other 14
procedures to govern the submission of applications, reports, and 15
other information authorized to be sent the commission as required 16
by this chapter. 17
(c) Prepare and give reasonable oral and/or written 18
examinations for license applicants. 19
H. B. No. 887 *HR43/R694* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R694
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)
ST: Water well contractors; exempt from
continuing education if 65 or older or with at
least 20 years experience.
(d) Deposit all fees in a special fund for the 20
implementation of this chapter. 21
(e) Enter upon and be given access to any premises for 22
the purpose of inspecting water wells. 23
(f) Require and approve the completion of continuing 24
education units for license renewal applicants. The commission 25
shall provide exemptions from continuing education units for (i) 26
persons sixty-five (65) years of age or older and (ii) persons 27
with at least twenty (20) years of experience as a water well 28
contractor in the State of Mississippi. 29
(2) If the commission finds that compliance with all the 30
requirements of this chapter would result in undue hardship, an 31
exemption from any one or more of such requirements may be granted 32
by the commission to the extent necessary to ameliorate such undue 33
hardship and to the extent such exemption can be granted without 34
impairing the intent and purpose of this chapter. 35
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 36
and after July 1, 2026. 37