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SB2820 • 2026

Misappropriation of funds; criminalize failure to pay utility services in accordance with lease.

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LEASE TO PAY UTILITY SERVICES FROM KNOWINGLY FAILING TO PAY OR USING AN AGENT OR EMPLOYEE TO USE ANY DECEPTION TO NOT PAY THE AMOUNT OWED TO THE UTILITY SERVICE; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime Energy Housing
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Mumford
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included an exemption that is not supported by the official source material.

Making it a crime to not pay for utilities when you should

This bill makes it illegal for someone who receives money under a lease or rental agreement to pay utility bills to knowingly fail to pay those bills or use deception to avoid paying them, and sets criminal penalties based on the amount owed.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it against the law for people with leases or rental agreements that include paying for utilities to not pay their utility bills on time.
  • Sets fines and jail time based on how much money was owed for utilities.
  • Requires anyone found guilty of this crime to give back any money they took from others because of their actions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People with leases or rental agreements that include paying for utilities
  • Utility companies providing services like water, electricity, gas, heat, and sewer

Terms To Know

Juridical person
A legal entity such as a company or organization that can enter into contracts and be held responsible for actions.
Utility services
Services like water, electricity, gas, heat, and sewer provided by companies to homes and businesses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • It only applies if someone receives money specifically for paying utility bills under a lease or rental agreement.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

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

Official Summary Text

Misappropriation of funds; criminalize failure to pay utility services in accordance with lease.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2820 *SS26/R1022* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R1022
PAGE 1 (ens\tb)

To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Mumford

SENATE BILL NO. 2820

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED PAYMENT IN 1
ACCORDANCE WITH A LEASE TO PAY UTILITY SERVICES FROM KNOWINGLY 2
FAILING TO PAY OR USING AN AGENT OR EMPLOYEE TO USE ANY DECEPTION 3
TO NOT PAY THE AMOUNT OWED TO THE UTILITY SERVICE; TO PROVIDE 4
CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. (1) No person who has received money or payment 7
in accordance with a lease contract or rental agreement to pay 8
utility services shall knowingly: 9
(a) Fail to apply the money or payment as necessary to 10
satisfy the amount owed for the utility services within sixty (60) 11
days of the person's receipt of the bill for utility services. 12
(b) Use or cause an agent or employee to use any 13
deception, false pretense, or false promise in the failure to 14
apply the money or payment as necessary to satisfy the amount owed 15
for the utility services. 16
(2) (a) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a 17
value of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or more, the 18
offender, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 19
S. B. No. 2820 *SS26/R1022* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1022
PAGE 2 (ens\tb)

twenty (20) years, fined not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars 20
($50,000.00), or both. 21
(b) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a 22
value of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or more, but less than 23
a value of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), the 24
offender, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 25
ten (10) years, fined not more than Ten Thousand Dollars 26
($10,000.00), or both. 27
(c) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a 28
value of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or more, but less than a 29
value of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), the offender, upon 30
conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years, 31
fined not more than Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00), or both. 32
(d) (i) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to 33
less than a value of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), the 34
offender, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned for not more than 35
six (6) months in the county jail, fined not more than One 36
Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or both. 37
(ii) If the offender convicted under subparagraph 38
(i) of this paragraph has been convicted two (2) or more times 39
previously, upon any subsequent conviction, the offender shall be 40
imprisoned for not more than two (2) years, fined not more than 41
Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or both. 42
(e) In addition to the penalties provided in paragraphs 43
(a) through (d) of this subsection, a person convicted under the 44
S. B. No. 2820 *SS26/R1022* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1022
PAGE 3 (ens\tb)

provisions of this section shall be ordered to make full 45
restitution to the victim and any other person who has suffered a 46
financial loss as a result of the offense pursuant to Chapter 37, 47
Title 99, Mississippi Code of 1972. 48
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply if the 49
person who has received money or payment for utility services is 50
unable to pay the bill for utility services because either: 51
(a) The tenant or lessee has failed to timely pay 52
sufficient funds to satisfy the specific amount owed in the bill 53
for utility services. 54
(b) The reason for the delay in receipt of either the 55
bill or payment for utility services is due to an administrative, 56
clerical, or technical error or omission on behalf of the company 57
providing utility services. 58
(4) For purposes of this section: 59
(a) "Person" means a natural or juridical person, 60
including, but not limited to, a sole proprietorship, corporation, 61
company, limited liability company, partnership, limited liability 62
partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, or 63
any other individual or entity. "Person" shall also include any 64
representative, director, trustee, agent, or officer of a 65
juridical person who is authorized and responsible for making 66
payments for utility services. 67
S. B. No. 2820 *SS26/R1022* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R1022
PAGE 4 (ens\tb)
ST: Misappropriation of funds; criminalize
failure to pay utility services in accordance
with lease.
(b) "Utility services" means any water, electricity, 68
gas, heat, or sewer services, whether privately, municipally, 69
cooperatively, or investor-owned. 70
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 71
and after its passage. 72