Bill > HB1169

This bill, known as the Mississippi Whistleblower Reward Act, establishes a program to incentivize individuals to report the theft or misuse of government funds or property to the Mississippi Department of Audit (the "Department"). A "whistleblower" is defined as someone who provides "original information" (information not previously known to the Department and unlikely to be discovered otherwise) and "substantial evidence" (personal knowledge with supporting documentation) of such wrongdoing. If this information leads to the successful recovery of funds by the Department, the whistleblower will receive fifteen percent (15%) of the recovered amount, capped at $250,000. The bill also outlines how these rewards will be recovered, including from those liable for the misuse and from vendors whose services were necessary for the investigation. Importantly, the identity of the whistleblower will be kept confidential unless legally required for a fair trial or to present exculpatory evidence, and communications between the Department and the whistleblower are exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act, meaning they are not subject to public disclosure. The bill also amends existing law to ensure these communications are confidential under the Public Records Act and brings forward sections of existing law that define "improper governmental action" and provide protections against retaliation for whistleblowers, ensuring that employees who report wrongdoing are protected from adverse employment actions and have legal recourse if they are retaliated against.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1169.xml