Mississippi HB1305: Municipally owned energy distribution system; expand oversight.

What the bill says

An act to amend section 77-3-5, mississippi code of 1972, to stipulate that certain municipally owned or operated public utilities shall undergo annual audits conducted by third-party firms; to provide for severability of this act; to stipulate that this act shall not apply to any actions or proceedings pending on the effective date of this act; and for related purposes.

From the enrolled text, April 2, 2026:

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO STIPULATE THAT CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY OWNED OR OPERATED PUBLIC UTILITIES SHALL UNDERGO ANNUAL AUDITS CONDUCTED BY THIRD-PARTY FIRMS; TO PROVIDE FOR SEVERABILITY OF THIS ACT; TO STIPULATE THAT THIS ACT SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS PENDING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 77-3-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 77-3-5. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject only to the limitations imposed in this chapter and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Public Service Commission shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over the intrastate business and property of public utilities and, for purposes of clarification of the existing scope of said exclusive original jurisdiction, such exclusive original jurisdiction extends, but is not limited to: the establishment of retail rates; challenges, including customer complaints, to the amount of a retail rate or customer bill or whether such rate is just and reasonable; and challenges to the validity or accuracy of rates *HR43/R2037SG* H. B. No. 1305 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R2037SG PAGE 1 (MCL\KP) charged by a public utility, or to the accuracy or reliability of information submitted to the Public Service Commission …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Powell, Brent (R, 59) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. April 8, 2026: Approved by Governor
2. April 2, 2026: Enrolled Bill Signed
3. March 31, 2026: Conference Report Adopted
4. March 30, 2026: Conference Report Filed
5. March 17, 2026: Conferees Named Carter,Williams,McMahan
6. March 12, 2026: Conferees Named Powell,McKnight,Rushing
7. March 12, 2026: Decline to Concur/Invite Conf
8. March 11, 2026: Returned For Concurrence
9. March 10, 2026: Passed As Amended
10. March 10, 2026: Amended

Votes

• Conference Report Adopted (March 31, 2026): 50 yea, 2 nay, passed
• Conference Report Adopted (March 31, 2026): 110 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Passed As Amended (March 10, 2026): 38 yea, 11 nay, passed
• Passed As Amended (February 10, 2026): 112 yea, 3 nay, passed

Common questions

What is HB1305?

HB1305 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Municipally owned energy distribution system; expand oversight.

What does HB1305 do?

In its own words: An act to amend section 77-3-5, mississippi code of 1972, to stipulate that certain municipally owned or operated public utilities shall undergo annual audits conducted by third-party firms; to provide for severability of this act; to stipulate that this act shall not apply to any actions or proceedings pending on the effective date of this act; and for related purposes.

What is the status of HB1305?

Signed into law as of April 8, 2026. Latest action: Approved by Governor (April 8, 2026).

Who sponsored HB1305?

Powell, Brent (R, 59).

Where is the official record for HB1305?

On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1305.xml