Senate Bill 2578

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 25-61-11.3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXEMPT TEXT MESSAGES FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, UNLESS THE MESSAGES ARE RELATED TO THE BUSINESS OF THE PUBLIC BODY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 25-61-11.3, Mississippi Code of 1972:

25-61-11.3. Text or short message service (SMS) on personal phones or devices are exempt from the public record policy as provided in Section 25-61-2, unless the messages are about public business and either have been prepared by a member of the public body, prepared for a member of the public body, used by a member of the public body, received by a member of the public body, possessed by a member of the public body or controlled by a member of the public body.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.