Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1480: Safeguarding Election Candidates using Resonable Expenditures (SECURE) Act; create.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO CREATE THE SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES (SECURE) ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS BY CANDIDATES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR SECURITY-RELATED EXPENSES; TO DEFINE "SECURITY EXPENSES" AND OTHER TERMS; TO ESTABLISH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE SPENT FOR SECURITY EXPENSES DURING A CAMPAIGN CYCLE; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CERTAIN EXPENDITURES; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN REPORTS TO BE MADE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ENFORCE THE SECURE ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-821, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 23-15-807 AND 23-15-809, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to create the safeguarding election candidates using reasonable expenditures (secure) act for the purpose of authorizing the use of campaign funds by candidates and elected officials for security-related expenses; to define "security expenses" and other terms; to establish the maximum amount that may be spent for security expenses during a campaign cycle; to prohibit the use of campaign funds for certain expenditures; to require certain reports to be made to the secretary of state; to require the secretary of state to adopt rules and regulations to enforce the secure act…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO CREATE THE SAFEGUARDING ELECTION CANDIDATES USING REASONABLE EXPENDITURES (SECURE) ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS BY CANDIDATES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR SECURITY-RELATED EXPENSES; TO DEFINE "SECURITY EXPENSES" AND OTHER TERMS; TO ESTABLISH THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT MAY BE SPENT FOR SECURITY EXPENSES DURING A CAMPAIGN CYCLE; TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR CERTAIN EXPENDITURES; TO REQUIRE CERTAIN REPORTS TO BE MADE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ENFORCE THE SECURE ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-821, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 23-15-807 AND 23-15-809, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE 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 "Safeguarding Election Candidates Using Reasonable Expenditures (SECURE) Act." SECTION 2. The purpose of this act is to authorize the use of campaign funds by candidates and elected officials for security related expenses, including home and office security systems and ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from public service or candidacy. *HR43/R1947* H. B. No. 1480 ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 26/HR43/R1947 PAGE 1 (RKM\KP) SECTION 3. As used …