Sharia law; prohibit and revise enhanced penalties to include acts of terroristic threats.

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To: Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Shanks

HOUSE BILL NO. 966

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI SUPREMACY CLAUSE ENFORCEMENT 1
ACT; TO PROHIBIT THE APPLICATION OF SHARIA LAW IN MISSISSIPPI 2
COURTS; TO PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND LEGISLATIVE INTENT; TO 3
CREATE NEW SECTION 11-63-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE 4
THAT CONTRACTS THAT PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION OF FOREIGN LAWS, 5
INCLUDING SHARIA LAWS, ARE VOID; TO AMEND SECTION 11-63-1, 6
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE OR 7
COURT ORDER THAT SEEKS TO ENFORCE FOREIGN LAWS SHALL BE VOID; TO 8
AMEND SECTION 11-7-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE 9
DEFINITION OF "FOREIGN" COURT ORDER; TO AMEND SECTION 93-9-30, 10
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE EXCLUSION OF FOREIGN LAW 11
FROM FULL FAITH AND CREDIT FOR ISSUES OF PATERNITY; TO AMEND 12
SECTIONS 11-61-1, 11-62-5, 11-62-7 AND 11-62-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE 13
OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING SECTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 14
89-8-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT A LANDLORD FROM 15
ADOPTING LEASE TERMS THAT APPLY FOREIGN LAWS; TO AMEND SECTION 16
87-7-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM TO THE PRECEDING 17
SECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 18
REVISE THE ENHANCED PENALTY REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE ACT COMMITTED 19
AS A RESULT OF TERRORISTIC THREAT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 20
11-62-17, 11-62-9 AND 11-62-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH 21
PROVIDES FOR FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; TO 22
AMEND SECTION 11-62-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR CODEBOOK 23
UPDATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 26
"Mississippi United States Supremacy Clause Enforcement Act". 27
SECTION 2. (1) The Legislature finds the following: 28
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(a) The Constitution of the United States is and must 29
remain the supreme law of the land, and no foreign law or foreign 30
legal system may be permitted to undermine it; 31
(b) Attempts to apply foreign law, including religious 32
or international codes, in American courts risk eroding 33
constitutional protections, particularly in matters of family law, 34
contract law, and civil rights; 35
(c) Safeguarding constitutional rights is especially 36
urgent in cases involving women, children, and vulnerable 37
populations who may face coercion or unequal treatment under 38
foreign legal systems; 39
(d) While individuals are free to practice their 40
religion and observe personal codes voluntarily, United States 41
courts must never enforce or give effect to laws that conflict 42
with fundamental liberties guaranteed by the Constitution; 43
(e) This act is necessary to reaffirm and protect the 44
rights of all citizens by ensuring that only American laws govern 45
American courts, and Mississippi laws govern Mississippi courts; 46
(f) The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution requires 47
state and federal courts to apply United States law above any 48
foreign law; 49
(g) In certain judicial and arbitration cases, parties 50
have sought to apply foreign law contrary to United States and 51
Mississippi constitutional guarantees; and 52
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(h) Clear and uniform rules are needed to prevent 53
erosion of constitutional protections in this state. 54
(2) Legislative intent. It is the intent of the Mississippi 55
Legislature to: 56
(a) Prohibit the enforcement of any foreign law that 57
infringes on constitutional rights; 58
(b) Affirm that Mississippi courts must rely solely on 59
state and federal law; and 60
(c) Provide certainty and clarity in the application of 61
constitutional protections nationwide. 62
SECTION 3. The following shall be codified as Section 63
11-63-3, Mississippi Code of 1972: 64
11-63-3. (1) (a) A contract provision involving the 65
marriage relationship which provides that a foreign law is to 66
govern a dispute arising under the contract is void to the extent 67
that the application of the foreign law to the dispute would 68
violate a fundamental right guaranteed by the United States 69
Constitution or the constitution of this state. 70
(b) A contract provision involving the marriage 71
relationship providing that the forum to resolve a dispute arising 72
under the contract is located outside the states and territories 73
of the United States is void if the foreign law that would be 74
applied to the dispute in that forum would, as applied, violate a 75
fundamental right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or 76
the constitution of this state. 77
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(2) (a) A ruling or decision of a court, arbitrator, or 78
administrative adjudicator in a suit affecting the parent-child 79
relationship may not be based on a foreign law if the application 80
of that law would violate a fundamental right guaranteed by the 81
United States Constitution or the constitution or a statute of 82
this state. 83
(b) A contract provision involving the parent-child 84
relationship providing that a foreign law is to govern a dispute 85
arising under the contract is void to the extent that the 86
application of the foreign law to the dispute would violate a 87
fundamental right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or 88
the constitution of this state. 89
(c) A contract provision involving the parent-child 90
relationship providing that the forum to resolve a dispute arising 91
under the contract is located outside the states and territories 92
of the United States is void if the foreign law that would be 93
applied to the dispute in that forum would, as applied, violate a 94
fundamental right guaranteed by the United States Constitution or 95
the constitution of this state. 96
(3) (a) No court shall enforce a judgment, decree, or 97
arbitration decision if it relies, in whole or in part, on any 98
foreign law that violates state or federal law or the Mississippi 99
Constitution. 100
(b) No court shall apply or enforce foreign law if 101
inconsistent in matters involving marriage, divorce, child 102
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custody, adoption, or inheritance that violates state or federal 103
law or the Mississippi Constitution. 104
SECTION 4. Section 11-63-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 105
amended as follows: 106
11-63-1. (1) In this section, "foreign law" means any law, 107
rule, legal code or legal system other than the constitution, laws 108
and ratified treaties of the United States and the territories of 109
the United States, the constitution and laws of another state of 110
the United States, Native American tribal law, the Mississippi 111
Constitution of 1890, and the laws of this state. 112
(2) (a) A court, arbitrator, administrative agency or other 113
adjudicative, mediation or enforcement authority shall not enforce 114
a foreign law * * * that violates the Mississippi Constitution, 115
any laws of this state, the United States Constitution or the 116
Mississippi Constitution of 1890. 117
(b) Any order by a court, arbitrator, administrative 118
agency or other adjudicative, mediation or enforcement authority 119
that seeks to enforce any foreign law in violation of paragraph 120
(a) of the subsection (2) shall be void. 121
SECTION 5. Section 11-7-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 122
amended as follows: 123
11-7-301. In Sections 11-7-301 through 11-7-309 "foreign 124
judgment" means any judgment, decree or order of a court of the 125
United States * * *. The term "foreign judgment" shall not mean 126
or include any judgment, decree or order from any jurisdiction 127
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outside of the United States or its territories, or any judgement 128
from another state or territory of the United States that applies 129
law from a jurisdiction outside of the United States or its 130
territories. 131
SECTION 6. Section 93-9-30, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 132
amended as follows: 133
93-9-30. In any proceeding in Mississippi, either before a 134
court or administrative tribunal, wherein the question of 135
paternity may arise, and a determination or adjudication of 136
paternity has been made through either a voluntary acknowledgement 137
procedure, an administrative determination or a judicial order in 138
another state or jurisdiction of the United States, then upon 139
certification of that determination or adjudication by competent 140
administrative or judicial authority of such state or 141
jurisdiction, the court or administrative tribunal in Mississippi 142
shall give full faith and credit to that * * * determination or 143
adjudication, and it shall be conclusive proof of its substance; 144
however, such full faith and credit shall not be given to any 145
foreign law as provided in Section 11-61-1. 146
SECTION 7. Section 11-61-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 147
amended as follows: 148
11-61-1. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited 149
as the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act. 150
(2) The Mississippi Legislature finds the following: 151
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(a) The framers of the Constitution, recognizing free 152
exercise of religion as an unalienable right, secured its 153
protection in the First Amendment to the Constitution; 154
(b) Laws "neutral" toward religion may burden religious 155
exercise as surely as laws intended to interfere with religious 156
exercise; 157
(c) Government should not substantially burden 158
religious exercise without compelling justification; 159
(d) In Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 160
(1990), the United States Supreme Court virtually eliminated the 161
requirement that the government justify burdens on religious 162
exercise imposed by laws neutral toward religion; and 163
(e) The compelling interest test as set forth in prior 164
federal court rulings is a workable test for striking sensible 165
balances between religious liberty and competing prior 166
governmental interests. 167
(3) The purposes of this section are as follows: 168
(a) To restore the compelling interest test as set 169
forth in Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398 (1963), and Wisconsin v. 170
Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), and to guarantee its application in 171
all cases where free exercise of religion is substantially 172
burdened; and 173
(b) To provide a claim or defense to persons whose 174
religious exercise is substantially burdened by government. 175
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(4) As used in this section, the following words shall have 176
the following meanings: 177
(a) "Government" means any branch, department, agency, 178
instrumentality or political subdivision of the State of 179
Mississippi and any official or other person acting under color of 180
law of the State of Mississippi. 181
(b) "Demonstrates" means to meet the burdens of going 182
forward with the evidence and of persuasion. 183
(c) "Exercise of religion" means the exercise of 184
religion under the First Amendment to the Constitution. 185
(5) (a) Government shall not substantially burden a 186
person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a 187
rule of general applicability, except as provided in paragraph (b) 188
of this subsection. 189
(b) Government may substantially burden a person's 190
exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of 191
the burden to the person: 192
(i) Is in furtherance of a compelling governmental 193
interest; and 194
(ii) Is the least restrictive means of furthering 195
that compelling governmental interest. 196
(6) A person whose religious exercise has been burdened in 197
violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or 198
defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief 199
against the government, as defined by subsection (4) of this 200
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section. Standing to assert a claim or defense under this section 201
shall be the same as the general rules of standing under Article 202
III of the United States Constitution. 203
(7) (a) This section applies to all state laws, rules, 204
regulations and any municipal or county ordinances, rules or 205
regulations and the implementation of those laws, whether 206
statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after July 207
1, 2014. 208
(b) Any such law, rule, regulation or ordinances 209
adopted after July 1, 2014, shall be subject to this section 210
unless such law explicitly excludes such application by reference 211
to this section. 212
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize 213
any * * * religious practice that conflicts with state law, the 214
Mississippi Constitution or the United States Constitution. 215
(9) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect, 216
interpret, or in any way address that portion of the First 217
Amendment prohibiting laws respecting the establishment of 218
religion. Granting government funding, benefits, or exemptions, 219
to the extent permissible under the Establishment Clause, shall 220
not constitute a violation of this section. As used in this 221
subsection, the term "granting," used with respect to government 222
funding, benefits, or exemptions, does not include the denial of 223
government funding, benefits, or exemptions. 224
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(10) Nothing in this section shall create any rights by an 225
employee against an employer if the employer is not the 226
government. 227
SECTION 8. Section 11-62-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 228
amended as follows: 229
11-62-5. (1) The state government shall not take any 230
discriminatory action against a religious organization wholly or 231
partially on the basis that such organization: 232
(a) Solemnizes or declines to solemnize any marriage, 233
or provides or declines to provide services, accommodations, 234
facilities, goods or privileges for a purpose related to the 235
solemnization, formation, celebration or recognition of any 236
marriage, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely 237
held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 238
11-62-3; 239
(b) Makes any employment-related decision including, 240
but not limited to, the decision whether or not to hire, terminate 241
or discipline an individual whose conduct or religious beliefs are 242
inconsistent with those of the religious organization, based upon 243
or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief 244
or moral conviction described in Section 11-62-3; or 245
* * * 246
(2) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 247
action against a religious organization that advertises, provides 248
or facilitates adoption or foster care, wholly or partially on the 249
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basis that such organization has provided or declined to provide 250
any adoption or foster care service, or related service, based 251
upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious 252
belief or moral conviction described in Section 11-62-3. 253
(3) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 254
action against a person who the state grants custody of a foster 255
or adoptive child, or who seeks from the state custody of a foster 256
or adoptive child, wholly or partially on the basis that the 257
person guides, instructs or raises a child, or intends to guide, 258
instruct, or raise a child based upon or in a manner consistent 259
with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction 260
described in Section 11-62-3, unless such belief violates the 261
provisions of this act. 262
(4) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 263
action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the 264
person declines to participate in the provision of treatments, 265
counseling, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender 266
identity transitioning or declines to participate in the provision 267
of psychological, counseling, or fertility services based upon a 268
sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in 269
Section 11-62-3. This subsection (4) shall not be construed to 270
allow any person to deny visitation, recognition of a designated 271
representative for health care decision-making, or emergency 272
medical treatment necessary to cure an illness or injury as 273
required by law. 274
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(5) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 275
action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the 276
person has provided or declined to provide the following services, 277
accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose 278
related to the solemnization, formation, celebration, or 279
recognition of any marriage, based upon or in a manner consistent 280
with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction 281
described in Section 11-62-3: 282
(a) Photography, poetry, videography, disc-jockey 283
services, wedding planning, printing, publishing or similar 284
marriage-related goods or services; or 285
(b) Floral arrangements, dress making, cake or pastry 286
artistry, assembly-hall or other wedding-venue rentals, limousine 287
or other car-service rentals, jewelry sales and services, or 288
similar marriage-related services, accommodations, facilities or 289
goods. 290
(6) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 291
action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the 292
person establishes sex-specific standards or policies concerning 293
employee or student dress or grooming, or concerning access to 294
restrooms, spas, baths, showers, dressing rooms, locker rooms, or 295
other intimate facilities or settings, based upon or in a manner 296
consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 297
conviction described in Section 11-62-3. 298
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(7) The state government shall not take any discriminatory 299
action against a state employee wholly or partially on the basis 300
that such employee lawfully speaks or engages in expressive 301
conduct based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held 302
religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 11-62-3, 303
so long as: 304
(a) If the employee's speech or expressive conduct 305
occurs in the workplace, that speech or expressive conduct is 306
consistent with the time, place, manner and frequency of any other 307
expression of a religious, political, or moral belief or 308
conviction allowed; or 309
(b) If the employee's speech or expressive conduct 310
occurs outside the workplace, that speech or expressive conduct is 311
in the employee's personal capacity and outside the course of 312
performing work duties. 313
(8) (a) Any person employed or acting on behalf of the 314
state government who has authority to authorize or license 315
marriages, including, but not limited to, clerks, * * * registrar 316
of deeds or their deputies, may seek recusal from authorizing or 317
licensing lawful marriages based upon or in a manner consistent 318
with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction 319
described in Section 11-62-3. Any person making such recusal 320
shall provide prior written notice to the State Registrar of Vital 321
Records who shall keep a record of such recusal, and the state 322
government shall not take any discriminatory action against that 323
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person wholly or partially on the basis of such recusal. The 324
person who is recusing himself or herself shall take all necessary 325
steps to ensure that the authorization and licensing of any 326
legally valid marriage is not impeded or delayed as a result of 327
any recusal. 328
(b) Any person employed or acting on behalf of the 329
state government who has authority to perform or solemnize 330
marriages, including, but not limited to, judges, magistrates, 331
justices of the peace or their deputies, may seek recusal from 332
performing or solemnizing lawful marriages based upon or in a 333
manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 334
conviction described in Section 11-62-3. Any person making such 335
recusal shall provide prior written notice to the Administrative 336
Office of Courts, and the state government shall not take any 337
discriminatory action against that person wholly or partially on 338
the basis of such recusal. The Administrative Office of Courts 339
shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the performance or 340
solemnization of any legally valid marriage is not impeded or 341
delayed as a result of any recusal. 342
SECTION 9. Section 11-62-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 343
amended as follows: 344
11-62-7. (1) As used in this chapter, discriminatory action 345
includes any action taken by the state government to: 346
(a) Alter in any way the tax treatment of, or cause any 347
tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, delay, 348
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revoke, or otherwise make unavailable an exemption from taxation 349
of any person referred to in Section 11-62-5; 350
(b) Disallow, deny or otherwise make unavailable a 351
deduction for state tax purposes of any charitable contribution 352
made to or by such person; 353
(c) Withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially 354
alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or 355
deny any state grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative 356
agreement, guarantee, loan, scholarship, or other similar benefit 357
from or to such person; 358
(d) Withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially 359
alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or 360
deny any entitlement or benefit under a state benefit program from 361
or to such person; 362
(e) Impose, levy or assess a monetary fine, fee, 363
penalty or injunction; 364
(f) Withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially 365
alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or 366
deny any license, certification, accreditation, * * *, diploma, 367
grade, recognition, or other similar benefit, position, or status 368
from or to any person; or 369
(g) Refuse to hire or promote, force to resign, fire, 370
demote, sanction, discipline, materially alter the terms or 371
conditions of employment, or retaliate or take other adverse 372
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employment action against a person employed or commissioned by the 373
state government. 374
(2) The state government shall consider accredited, licensed 375
or certified any person that would otherwise be accredited, 376
licensed or certified, respectively, for any purposes under state 377
law but for a determination against such person wholly or 378
partially on the basis that the person believes, speaks or acts in 379
accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral 380
conviction described in Section 11-62-3. 381
SECTION 10. Section 11-62-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 382
amended as follows: 383
11-62-15. (1) This chapter shall be construed in favor 384
of * * * protection of the free exercise of religious beliefs and 385
moral convictions, to the * * * extent * * * authorized by the 386
state and federal constitutions. 387
(2) The protection of free exercise of religious beliefs and 388
moral convictions afforded by this chapter are in addition to the 389
protections provided under federal law, state law, and the state 390
and federal constitutions. Nothing in this chapter shall be 391
construed to preempt or repeal any state or local law that is 392
equally or more protective of free exercise of religious beliefs 393
or moral convictions. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed 394
to narrow the meaning or application of any state or local law 395
protecting free exercise of religious beliefs or moral 396
convictions. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to 397
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prevent the state government from providing, either directly or 398
through an individual or entity not seeking protection under this 399
chapter, any benefit or service authorized under state law. 400
(3) * * * This chapter shall not be construed to authorize 401
the application of foreign law that violates state or federal law 402
or the Mississippi or United States Constitution. 403
SECTION 11. Section 89-8-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 404
amended as follows: 405
89-8-11. (1) A landlord may, from time to time, adopt 406
written rules or regulations, however described, concerning the 407
tenant's use and occupancy of the premises. They are enforceable 408
against the tenant only if: 409
(a) Their purpose is to promote the convenience, safety 410
or welfare of the tenants in the premises, preserve the landlord's 411
property from abuse, or make a fair distribution of services and 412
facilities provided for the tenants generally; 413
(b) They are reasonably related to the purpose for 414
which they are adopted; 415
(c) They apply to all tenants in the premises in a fair 416
manner; 417
(d) They are sufficiently explicit in their 418
prohibition, direction or limitation of the tenant's conduct to 419
fairly inform what must or must not be done to comply; 420
(e) They are not for the purpose of evading the 421
obligations of the landlord * * *; or 422
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(f) They are not foreign laws that conflict with state 423
or federal law or violate rights provided by the Mississippi 424
Constitution or the United States Constitution. 425
(2) A rule or regulation adopted or amended after the tenant 426
enters into the rental agreement is enforceable against the tenant 427
if reasonable notice of its adoption or amendment is given to the 428
tenant and it does not work a substantial modification of the 429
rental agreement. 430
(3) If the dwelling unit is an apartment in a horizontal 431
property regime, the tenant shall comply with the bylaws of the 432
association of the apartment owners; and if the dwelling unit is 433
an apartment in a cooperative housing corporation, the tenant 434
shall comply with the bylaws of the corporation. 435
(4) Unless otherwise agreed, the tenant shall occupy the 436
dwelling unit only as a dwelling unit. 437
SECTION 12. Section 87-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 438
amended as follows: 439
87-7-9. (1) A provision in any contract, subcontract, or 440
purchase order for the improvement of real property in this state, 441
or to provide materials therefor, is void and against public 442
policy if it makes the contract, subcontract, or purchase order 443
subject to the laws of another state, another country or provides 444
that the exclusive forum for any litigation, arbitration, or other 445
dispute resolution process be located in another state. 446
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(2) The provisions of this section apply only to contracts, 447
agreements and purchase orders: 448
(a) Entered into on or after July 1, 2018; 449
(b) Only if at least one (1) of the parties is a 450
Mississippi resident; and 451
(c) Only if entered into between any two (2) or more of 452
the following persons and no others: the owner of the real 453
property improved or to be improved, a contractor, subcontractor, 454
materialman or design professional. As used in this section, 455
"contractor," "subcontractor," "materialman" and "design 456
professional" shall have the meanings ascribed in Section 457
85-7-401. 458
(3) For purposes of this section, "Mississippi resident" 459
means any natural person domiciled in Mississippi or any business 460
entity having a principal place of business in Mississippi. 461
SECTION 13. Section 99-19-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 462
amended as follows: 463
99-19-301. (1) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor 464
shall be subject to enhancement as provided in Sections 99-19-301 465
through 99-19-307 if the felony or misdemeanor was committed 466
because of the actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, 467
ethnicity, religion, national origin or gender of the victim or 468
the offender committed the act as a result of a terroristic threat 469
or the application of foreign law as defined by this act. 470
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(2) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor shall be 471
subject to enhancement as provided in Sections 99-19-301 through 472
99-19-307 if the felony or misdemeanor was committed with the 473
specific intent to target an individual or group because of actual 474
or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer, firefighter 475
or emergency medical technician. 476
(3) As used in Sections 99-19-301 through 99-19-307: 477
(a) "Law enforcement officer" means any law enforcement 478
officer, part-time law enforcement officer or law enforcement 479
trainee as defined in Section 45-6-3, as well as any reserve or 480
volunteer law enforcement officer and any federal law enforcement 481
officer or employee whose permanent duties include making arrests, 482
performing search and seizures, execution of criminal arrest 483
warrants, execution of civil seizure warrants, or the care, 484
custody, control or supervision of inmates. 485
(b) "Firefighter" means any firefighter regularly 486
employed by a fire department of any municipality, county, or fire 487
protection district of the State of Mississippi and includes a 488
volunteer firefighter. 489
(c) "Emergency medical technician" means a person 490
qualified under Sections 41-59-33 and 41-59-35. 491
SECTION 14. Section 11-62-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 492
brought forward as follows: 493
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11-62-17. As used in this chapter, the following words and 494
phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless 495
the context clearly indicates otherwise: 496
(1) "State benefit program" means any program administered 497
or funded by the state, or by any agent on behalf of the state, 498
providing cash, payments, grants, contracts, loans or in-kind 499
assistance. 500
(2) "State government" means: 501
(a) The State of Mississippi or a political subdivision 502
of the state; 503
(b) Any agency of the state or of a political 504
subdivision of the state, including a department, bureau, board, 505
commission, council, court or public institution of higher 506
education; 507
(c) Any person acting under color of state law; and 508
(d) Any private party or third party suing under or 509
enforcing a law, ordinance, rule or regulation of the state or 510
political subdivision of the state. 511
(3) "Person" means: 512
(a) A natural person, in his or her individual 513
capacity, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, or 514
in his or her capacity as a member, officer, owner, volunteer, 515
employee, manager, religious leader, clergy or minister of any 516
entity described in this section; 517
(b) A religious organization; 518
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(c) A sole proprietorship, or closely held company, 519
partnership, association, organization, firm, corporation, 520
cooperative, trust, society or other closely held entity operating 521
with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction 522
described in this chapter; or 523
(d) Cooperatives, ventures or enterprises comprised of 524
two (2) or more individuals or entities described in this 525
subsection. 526
(4) "Religious organization" means: 527
(a) A house of worship, including, but not limited to, 528
churches, synagogues, shrines, mosques and temples; 529
(b) A religious group, corporation, association, school 530
or educational institution, ministry, order, society or similar 531
entity, regardless of whether it is integrated or affiliated with 532
a church or other house of worship; and 533
(c) An officer, owner, employee, manager, religious 534
leader, clergy or minister of an entity or organization described 535
in this subsection (4). 536
(5) "Adoption or foster care" or "adoption or foster care 537
service" means social services provided to or on behalf of 538
children, including: 539
(a) Assisting abused or neglected children; 540
(b) Teaching children and parents occupational, 541
homemaking and other domestic skills; 542
(c) Promoting foster parenting; 543
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(d) Providing foster homes, residential care, group 544
homes or temporary group shelters for children; 545
(e) Recruiting foster parents; 546
(f) Placing children in foster homes; 547
(g) Licensing foster homes; 548
(h) Promoting adoption or recruiting adoptive parents; 549
(i) Assisting adoptions or supporting adoptive 550
families; 551
(j) Performing or assisting home studies; 552
(k) Assisting kinship guardianships or kinship 553
caregivers; 554
(l) Providing family preservation services; 555
(m) Providing family support services; and 556
(n) Providing temporary family reunification services. 557
SECTION 15. Section 11-62-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 558
brought forward as follows: 559
11-62-9. (1) A person may assert a violation of this 560
chapter as a claim against the state government in any judicial or 561
administrative proceeding or as defense in any judicial or 562
administrative proceeding without regard to whether the proceeding 563
is brought by or in the name of the state government, any private 564
person or any other party. 565
(2) An action under this chapter may be commenced, and 566
relief may be granted, in a court of the state without regard to 567
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whether the person commencing the action has sought or exhausted 568
available administrative remedies. 569
(3) Violations of this chapter which are properly governed 570
by Chapter 46, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be 571
brought in accordance with that chapter. 572
SECTION 16. Section 11-62-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 573
brought forward as follows: 574
11-62-11. An aggrieved person must first seek injunctive 575
relief to prevent or remedy a violation of this chapter or the 576
effects of a violation of this chapter. If injunctive relief is 577
granted by the court and the injunction is thereafter violated, 578
then and only then may the aggrieved party, subject to the 579
limitations of liability set forth in Section 11-46-15, seek the 580
following: 581
(a) Compensatory damages for pecuniary and nonpecuniary 582
losses; 583
(b) Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs; and 584
(c) Any other appropriate relief, except that only 585
declaratory relief and injunctive relief shall be available 586
against a private person not acting under color of state law upon 587
a successful assertion of a claim or defense under this chapter. 588
SECTION 17. Section 11-62-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 589
brought forward as follows: 590
11-62-13. A person must bring an action to assert a claim 591
under this chapter not later than two (2) years after the date 592
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ST: Sharia law; prohibit and revise enhanced
penalties to include acts of terroristic
threats.
that the person knew or should have known that a discriminatory 593
action was taken against that person. 594
SECTION 18. This act shall take effect and be in force from 595
and after July 1, 2026. 596