SB2458 • 2026

Child Protection Services; require provision of adequate and habitable office space for local offices of.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-26-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF EACH COUNTY IN WHICH A LOCAL OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES IS LOCATED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND HABITABLE OFFICE SPACE FOR SUCH LOCAL OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children Housing

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Simmons (12th)
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Law
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Child Protection Services Office Space Requirements

This law requires county boards of supervisors to provide suitable office space for local Child Protection Services offices.

What This Bill Does

Requires each county board of supervisors to give a local Child Protection Services office adequate and habitable office space.
Allows the Department of Child Protection Services to enter into leases with counties where local offices are located, maximizing federal funding availability.
Specifies that the department will pay its share of rent based on fair market value for the provided building.
States that other operational costs like utilities and internet should be shared between the state and county.

Who It Names or Affects

County boards of supervisors in Mississippi
Local Child Protection Services offices throughout Mississippi

Terms To Know

adequate and habitable office space: Office space that is suitable for use, safe, and meets basic requirements.
local Child Protection Services offices: Offices within counties that handle child welfare services except those managed by the Department of Human Services.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if a county cannot provide adequate office space.
It is unclear how costs will be determined and shared between the state and county for maintenance and repairs.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/13 Approved by Governor
2026-03-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/09 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/09 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/05 (H) Returned For Enrolling
2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/05 (H) Immediate Release
2026-03-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/05 (H) Passed
2026-02-24 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/24 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (H) Referred To Youth and Family Affairs
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (S) Transmitted To House
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (S) Passed
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (S) Referred To Public Health and Welfare

Official Summary Text

Child Protection Services; require provision of adequate and habitable office space for local offices of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2458 *SS26/R594* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R594
PAGE 1 (baf\kr)

To: Public Health and
Welfare
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)

SENATE BILL NO. 2458

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-26-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF EACH COUNTY IN WHICH A 2
LOCAL OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES IS 3
LOCATED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND HABITABLE OFFICE SPACE FOR SUCH 4
LOCAL OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 43-26-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
43-26-11. (1) There shall be created local offices of the 9
Department of Child Protection Services in those locations 10
throughout the state as determined by the commissioner. It shall 11
be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county in which a 12
local office is located to provide adequate and habitable office 13
space for the local offices. 14
The local office of the Department of Child Protection 15
Services shall administer all forms of child welfare services with 16
the exception of those administered by the Department of Human 17
Services. The local offices shall comply with such regulations 18
and submit such reports as may be established or required by the 19
S. B. No. 2458 *SS26/R594* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R594
PAGE 2 (baf\kr)
ST: Child Protection Services; require
provision of adequate and habitable office space
for local offices of.
commissioner. Subject to the approval of the commissioner, the 20
local offices may cooperate with other departments, agencies and 21
institutions, state and local, when so requested, in performing 22
services in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. 23
(2) The Department of Child Protection Services may enter 24
into a lease with each county board of supervisors in each county 25
where a local office is located to allow the department to 26
maximize the availability of federal funds. Fair market value for 27
the county-furnished building will be established and the 28
department shall pay the federal share for the rent to the county. 29
All other expenses related to the operation of the local office 30
shall be split between the department, providing the federal 31
share, and the county, being responsible for the remainder or the 32
state share. This includes, but is not limited to, electricity, 33
water, gas, internet, and janitorial services and supplies. All 34
maintenance and repairs of the local office shall be the 35
responsibility of the county due to the prohibition of federal 36
funds for improvements of real property. 37
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after July 1, 2026. 39