Bill > HB208

This bill creates the Mississippi Whistleblower Reward Act, which establishes a program to incentivize and protect individuals who report theft or misuse of government funds. The bill defines a "whistleblower" as a person who provides original and substantial evidence of government fraud, has not participated in the fraud, is not a government audit employee, and is not an official related to the investigated department. When a whistleblower's information leads to a successful recovery of funds, they are eligible to receive 15% of the recovered funds, up to a maximum of $250,000. If multiple whistleblowers are involved, the reward will be split equally. The bill ensures the whistleblower's identity remains confidential, with limited exceptions such as court-ordered disclosure for a fair trial or constitutional requirements. Additionally, the bill amends existing public records law to exempt communications between the Department of Audit and whistleblowers from public disclosure. The act will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies only to whistleblower information submitted after that date. The primary goal is to encourage reporting of government financial misconduct while protecting those who come forward with evidence.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0208.xml