Bill
Bill > HB1039
MS HB1039
MS HB1039State Inspector General; create office to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in executive state agencies.
summary
Introduced
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
In Committee
01/16/2026
01/16/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Create The Office Of Inspector General; To Define Certain Terms; To Require The Office Of Inspector General To Investigate And Pursue Charges With Respect To The Detection And Eradication Of Fraud, Waste And Abuse In The Executive Branch Of State Government; To Require The Governor, With The Advice And Consent Of The Senate, To Appoint A State Inspector General; To Require The State Personnel Board To Fix The Salary Of The Inspector General; To Establish Minimum Qualifications For The State Inspector General; To Prescribe The Powers And Duties Of The Office Of Inspector General; To Require Agencies Under Investigation To Cooperate With The Office Of Inspector General; To Prohibit An Agency From Taking Adverse Action Against An Employee For Disclosing Prohibited Activity To The Inspector General; To Authorize The Inspector General To Administer Oaths And Issue Subpoenas To Compel The Attendance Of Witnesses And The Production Of Items Constituting Evidence; To Authorize The Inspector General To Employ Peace Officers To Assist The Office In Carrying Out Its Duties And Conducting Criminal Investigations; To Amend Section 25-9-171, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Include The Office Of Inspector General In The Definition Of "state Investigative Body" As That Term Is Used In Statutes Granting Whistleblower Protection To Public Employees; To Rescind Executive Order No. 728, Dated April 5, 1993, Which Created The Position Of State Inspector General In The Office Of The Governor; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a new Office of Inspector General within the executive branch of Mississippi state government to investigate and address fraud, waste, and abuse, defining these terms as intentional deceit, wrongful use of state resources, and inefficient spending, respectively. The Governor will appoint a State Inspector General, with Senate confirmation, who must be a Certified Inspector General and will oversee the office's operations, including conducting investigations, receiving complaints, and recommending charges or further action to relevant authorities. The bill grants the Inspector General broad powers, such as administering oaths, issuing subpoenas to compel testimony and evidence, and employing peace officers for investigations, while also requiring agencies to cooperate fully and prohibiting retaliation against employees who report wrongdoing. Furthermore, it amends existing law to include the Office of Inspector General as a "state investigative body" for whistleblower protection purposes and rescinds a previous executive order that created a similar position within the Governor's office.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1039.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/HB/1000-1099/HB1039IN.htm |
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