Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1380: Homestead exemption; revise provisions regarding surviving spouses and applications.
Status: Signed into law, March 25, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-33-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A DECEASED SPOUSE QUALIFIED FOR INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DUE TO AGE OR DISABILITY STATUS, BUT THE SURVIVING SPOUSE'S AGE OR DISABILITY STATUS IS UNKNOWN AND THE SURVIVING SPOUSE HAS NOT FILED A NEW APPLICATION FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE WILL BE ROLLED TO THE PRIMARY APPLICANT POSITION ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLICATION AND THE LEVEL OF EXEMPTION WILL BE CHANGED TO THE LOWEST TIER OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION; TO PROVIDE THAT WHERE AN APPLICANT FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION HAS FILED A TIMELY APPLICATION, BUT HAS FAILED TO MAKE KNOWN HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION, THEN AN AMENDED APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION MAY BE FILED AND CONSIDERED FOR ACTION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 27-33-31, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that if a deceased spouse qualified for increased homestead exemption due to age or disability status, but the surviving spouse's age or disability status is unknown and the surviving spouse has not filed a new application for homestead exemption, the surviving spouse will be rolled to the primary applicant position on the homestead exemption application and the level of exemption will be changed to the lowest tier of homestead exemption…
From the enrolled text, March 18, 2026:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-33-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A DECEASED SPOUSE QUALIFIED FOR INCREASED HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION DUE TO AGE OR DISABILITY STATUS, BUT THE SURVIVING SPOUSE'S AGE OR DISABILITY STATUS IS UNKNOWN AND THE SURVIVING SPOUSE HAS NOT FILED A NEW APPLICATION FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE WILL BE ROLLED TO THE PRIMARY APPLICANT POSITION ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION APPLICATION AND THE LEVEL OF EXEMPTION WILL BE CHANGED TO THE LOWEST TIER OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION; TO PROVIDE THAT WHERE AN APPLICANT FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION HAS FILED A TIMELY APPLICATION, BUT HAS FAILED TO MAKE KNOWN HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION, THEN AN AMENDED APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION MAY BE FILED AND CONSIDERED FOR ACTION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 27-33-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 27-33-31. (1) It shall be the duty of every person, who is eligible for and desires the homestead exemption provided for in this article, to comply with the following provisions: (a) He shall make written application to the county tax assessor on the prescribed form, on or before the first day of April. Applications not on file on or before …