Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1476: "Freedom of Speech Protection Act"; create.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTION ACT"; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR THE ACT; TO LIST THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT THE ACT DOES AND DOES NOT APPLY TO; TO PROVIDE TIMELINES FOR RESPONDING TO ANY CAUSE OF ACTION; TO AUTHORIZE THE MOVING PARTY TO APPEAL; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 95-1-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR CIVIL ACTIONS FOR DEFAMATION OF PUBLICATION, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create the "freedom of speech protection act"; to provide definitions for the act; to list the governmental entities that the act does and does not apply to; to provide timelines for responding to any cause of action; to authorize the moving party to appeal; to bring forward section 95-1-5, mississippi code of 1972, which provides for civil actions for defamation of publication, for purposes of amendment; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE THE "FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTION ACT"; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR THE ACT; TO LIST THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT THE ACT DOES AND DOES NOT APPLY TO; TO PROVIDE TIMELINES FOR RESPONDING TO ANY CAUSE OF ACTION; TO AUTHORIZE THE MOVING PARTY TO APPEAL; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 95-1-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR CIVIL ACTIONS FOR DEFAMATION OF PUBLICATION, FOR PURPOSES OF AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Freedom of Speech Protection Act". SECTION 2. (1) For purposes of this act, the following words shall have the meanings described herein: (a) "Goods or services" does not mean the creation, dissemination, exhibition, or advertisement or similar promotion of a dramatic, literary, musical, political, journalistic, or artistic work. (b) "Governmental unit" means a public corporation or government or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality. *HR43/R2294* H. B. No. 1476 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R2294 PAGE 1 (GT\KP) (c) "Person" means an individual, estate, trust, partnership, business or nonprofit entity, governmental unit, or other legal entity. (2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), this act applies to any cause of action asserted in a civil action against a person based on the person's: …
Sponsors
- Hurst, Celeste (R, 75) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Judiciary A
Subjects: Freedom of Speech Protection Act"
Common questions
- What is HB1476?
- HB1476 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): "Freedom of Speech Protection Act"; create.
- What does HB1476 do?
- In its own words: An act to create the "freedom of speech protection act"; to provide definitions for the act; to list the governmental entities that the act does and does not apply to; to provide timelines for responding to any cause of action; to authorize the moving party to appeal; to bring forward section 95-1-5, mississippi code of 1972, which provides for civil actions for defamation of publication, for purposes of amendment; and for related purposes.
- What is the status of HB1476?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1476?
- Hurst, Celeste (R, 75).
- Where is the official record for HB1476?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1476.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.