HB902 • 2026

Defense Research and Development Program; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF LOANS AVAILABLE FOR SEED AND EARLY STAGE CAPITAL TO SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED MISSISSIPPI BUSINESSES WITH HIGH GROWTH POTENTIAL THAT ARE ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT, THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD, AND/OR A MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND/OR JUNIOR COLLEGE; TO CREATE THE "DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on application requirements beyond mentioning that an application must be submitted.

Defense Research and Development Program Act

This bill creates a program to provide loans for small and medium-sized Mississippi businesses that are working with the military or educational institutions on research and development projects.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Defense Research and Development Program under the direction of the Mississippi Military Department.
Makes loans available to eligible Mississippi businesses for seed and early-stage capital needs.
Establishes a special fund in the State Treasury called the 'Defense Research and Development Program Fund' to hold money for the program.
Allows the Mississippi Military Department to create rules for running the program.

Who It Names or Affects

Small and medium-sized businesses in Mississippi that are working on research and development with the military or educational institutions.
The Mississippi Military Department, which will manage the program.

Terms To Know

Seed capital: Money used to start a new business or project.
Early stage capital: Funding for a young company that is growing and needs money to continue developing its products or services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
It does not specify how much funding will be available for loans.
Details about loan amounts, interest rates, and repayment terms are not provided.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-21 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/21 (H) DR - TSDPCS: MA To AP
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Military Affairs;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Defense Research and Development Program; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 902 *HR43/R752* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
26/HR43/R752
PAGE 1 (BS\KP)

To: Military Affairs;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hall

HOUSE BILL NO. 902

AN ACT TO CREATE THE DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 1
FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF LOANS 2
AVAILABLE FOR SEED AND EARLY STAGE CAPITAL TO SMALL AND MEDIUM 3
SIZED MISSISSIPPI BUSINESSES WITH HIGH GROWTH POTENTIAL THAT ARE 4
ENGAGED IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES WITH THE 5
MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT, THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD, 6
AND/OR A MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE, COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND/OR 7
JUNIOR COLLEGE; TO CREATE THE "DEFENSE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 8
PROGRAM FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; AND FOR 9
RELATED PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. (1) (a) There is established under the 12
direction of Mississippi Military Department a program to be known 13
as the Defense Research and Development Program for the purpose of 14
making assistance in the form of loans available for seed and 15
early stage capital to small and medium sized Mississippi 16
businesses with high growth potential that are engaged in research 17
and development activities with the Mississippi Military 18
Department, the Mississippi National Guard, and/or a Mississippi 19
university, college, community college and/or junior college. 20
(b) Any business desiring to participate in the program 21
must submit an application to the Mississippi Military Department. 22
H. B. No. 902 *HR43/R752* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R752
PAGE 2 (BS\KP)
ST: Defense Research and Development Program;
create.
The application must contain a description of the purposes for 23
which the assistance is requested, the amount of assistance 24
requested and any other information requested by the department. 25
(2) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund, 26
to be designated as the "Defense Research and Development Program 27
Fund", which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made 28
available by the Legislature. The fund shall be maintained by the 29
State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart 30
from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining 31
in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the 32
State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings 33
on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund. Monies 34
in the fund shall be disbursed, upon appropriation by the 35
Legislature, in the discretion of the Mississippi Military 36
Department, to provide funds for the purposes described in this 37
section. 38
(3) The Mississippi Military Department shall have all 39
powers necessary to implement and administer the program 40
established under this section, and the department shall 41
promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the 42
Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for the 43
implementation of this section. 44
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 45
and after July 1, 2026. 46