House Bill 654

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 43-33-723, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY AS FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED IN CONNECTION WITH HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND ELIGIBLE LOANS UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI HOME CORPORATION ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 43-33-723, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

43-33-723. No person shall be discriminated against because of race, religious principles, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry or handicap by the corporation, any qualified sponsor, any lender, or any agent or employee thereof in connection with any housing development or eligible loan. No person shall be discriminated against because of age, nor shall any family be discriminated against because of children, in admission to, or continuance of occupancy in, any housing project receiving assistance under this act except for any housing project constructed under a program restricting occupancy to persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older and any directors of their immediate households or their occupant surviving spouses.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.