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SB2362 • 2026

Consumer protection; revise private cause of action.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-24-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UNDER THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SUFFERING LOSS; TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PLAINTIFF FIRST RESOLVE A DISPUTE IN AN INFORMAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE A PLAINTIFF TO NOTIFY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF AN ACTION WITHIN FOURTEEN CALENDAR DAYS OF FILING; TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO JOIN THE SUIT; TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR A PRIVATE ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION; TO AUTHORIZE INJUNCTION RELIEF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Thompson
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so its provisions are no longer relevant.

Consumer Protection Act; Change Private Lawsuit Rules

This act changes the rules for private lawsuits under consumer protection laws in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the need for a plaintiff to resolve disputes through an informal program before filing a lawsuit.
  • Requires plaintiffs to notify the Attorney General within fourteen calendar days of filing a lawsuit.
  • Allows the Attorney General to join the lawsuit if they choose.
  • Sets where private lawsuits can be filed based on the location of the plaintiff or defendant.
  • Permits courts to issue injunctions to stop violations of consumer protection laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who buy goods or services for personal use and suffer losses due to unfair business practices.
  • Businesses that sell goods or services and are sued under the new rules.
  • The Attorney General's office, which may join lawsuits as a party.

Terms To Know

informal dispute settlement program
A process where disputes between consumers and businesses can be resolved without going to court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during its session.
  • It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, but since it didn't pass, this date is no longer relevant.
  • The exact impact on consumer protection and business practices remains uncertain.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/10 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/10 (S) Recommitted to Committee

  3. 2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/29 (S) Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

  4. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Official Summary Text

Consumer protection; revise private cause of action.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2362 *SS36/R488CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R488CS
PAGE 1

To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Thompson

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 2362

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-24-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE PRIVATE CAUSE OF ACTION UNDER THE CONSUMER 2
PROTECTION LAWS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SUFFERING LOSS; TO REMOVE THE 3
REQUIREMENT THAT A PLAINTIFF FIRST RESOLVE A DISPUTE IN AN 4
INFORMAL DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE A PLAINTIFF TO 5
NOTIFY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF AN ACTION WITHIN FOURTEEN CALENDAR 6
DAYS OF FILING; TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO JOIN THE 7
SUIT; TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR A PRIVATE ACTION BROUGHT UNDER THIS 8
SECTION; TO AUTHORIZE INJUNCTION RELIEF; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. Section 75-24-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 11
amended as follows: 12
75-24-15. (1) In addition to all other statutory and common 13
law rights, remedies and defenses, any person who purchases or 14
leases goods or services primarily for personal, family or 15
household purposes and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of 16
money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or 17
employment by the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer of a 18
method, act or practice prohibited by Section 75-24-5 may bring an 19
action at law in the court having jurisdiction in the county in 20
which the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer resides, or has 21
S. B. No. 2362 *SS36/R488CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R488CS
PAGE 2

his principal place of business or, where the act or practice 22
prohibited by Section 75-24-5 allegedly occurred, to recover such 23
loss of money or damages for the loss of such property, or may 24
assert, by way of setoff or counterclaim, the fact of such loss in 25
a proceeding against him for the recovery of the purchase price or 26
rental, or any portion thereof, of the goods or services. 27
(2) (a) In any private action brought under this chapter, 28
the plaintiff * * * may elect to resolve any claim through an 29
informal dispute settlement program approved by the Attorney 30
General or by filing a civil action. 31
(b) (i) If a plaintiff chooses to file a civil action, 32
the plaintiff shall notify the Attorney General of the action 33
within fourteen (14) calendar days of filing. The Attorney 34
General may join the suit for any purpose provided in this 35
chapter. 36
(ii) The action shall be brought in the chancery, 37
county or circuit court of the county in which the plaintiff 38
resides, the plaintiff's principal place of business is located, 39
or, with consent of the parties, may be brought in the chancery, 40
county or circuit court of the county in which the State Capitol 41
is located. The said courts are authorized to issue temporary or 42
permanent injunctions to restrain and prevent violations of this 43
chapter, and such injunctions shall be issued with a bond. 44
(3) In any action or counterclaim under this section of this 45
chapter, a prevailing defendant may recover in addition to any 46
S. B. No. 2362 *SS36/R488CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R488CS
PAGE 3
ST: Consumer protection; revise private cause
of action.
other relief that may be provided in this section costs and a 47
reasonable attorney's fee, if in the opinion of the court, said 48
action or counterclaim was frivolous or filed for the purpose of 49
harassment or delay. 50
(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit any 51
class action or suit, but every private action must be maintained 52
in the name of and for the sole use and benefit of the individual 53
person. 54
(5) In any claim under this section filed on behalf of a 55
veteran that charges the veteran a fee for the service shall 56
include a form signed by the veteran acknowledging that "THE STATE 57
OF MISSISSIPPI THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI STATE VETERANS AFFAIRS 58
BOARD OFFERS THE SAME OR SIMILAR SERVICE FREE OF CHARGE." The 59
veteran must sign this form stating that he/she has read and 60
understands it. The statement signed by the veteran shall be of a 61
BOLD font at least one hundred twenty percent (120%) larger than 62
the font of the claim document filed on behalf of the veteran. 63
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 64
and after July 1, 2026, and shall stand repealed by June 30, 2026. 65