Mississippi Code

Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed herein, to wit:

(a) "Public body" means any executive or administrative board, commission, authority, council, department, agency, bureau or any other policymaking entity, or committee thereof, of the State of Mississippi, or any political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state, whether the entity be created by statute or executive order, which is supported wholly or in part by public funds or expends public funds, and any standing, interim or special committee of the Mississippi Legislature. The term "public body" includes the governing board of a charter school authorized by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board and the board of trustees of a community hospital as defined in Section 41-13-10. The term "public body" includes the Mississippi Lottery Corporation. There shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:
- (i) The judiciary, including all jury deliberations;
- (ii) Law enforcement officials;
- (iii) The military;
- (iv) The State Probation and Parole Board;
- (v) The Workers' Compensation Commission;
- (vi) Legislative subcommittees and legislative conference committees;
- (vii) The arbitration council established in Section 69-3-19;
- (viii) License revocation, suspension and disciplinary proceedings held by the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners; and
- (ix) Hearings and meetings of the Board of Tax Appeals and of the hearing officers and the board of review of the Department of Revenue as provided in Section 27-77-15.

(b) "Meeting" means an assemblage of members of a public body at which official acts may be taken upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power, including an assemblage through the use of video or teleconference devices that conforms to Section 25-41-5.

Laws, 1975, ch. 481, § 2; Laws, 1991, ch. 483, § 34; Laws, 2000, ch. 623, § 9; Laws, 2003, ch. 496, § 1; Laws, 2005, ch. 499, § 11; Laws, 2009, ch. 492, § 8, eff. 7/1/2010.

Brought forward by Laws, 2021, ch. 393, HB 1323,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2021.

Amended by Laws, 2018EX1, ch. 2, SB 2001,§ 50, eff. 9/1/2018.

Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 434, SB 2081, 1, eff. 1/1/2016 (retroactive).

Amended by Laws, 2015, ch. 484, SB 2407, 1, eff. 1/1/2016.

Amended by Laws, 2013, ch. 497, HB 369, 33, eff. 7/1/2013.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases, 1978–2020 · leading case: Kinney v. S. Mississippi Plan. & Dev. Dist., Inc., 202 So. 3d 187 (Miss. 2016).

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Kinney v. S. Mississippi Plan. & Dev. Dist., Inc., 202 So. 3d 187 (Miss. 2016). · cites it 8× “” Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (Rev. 2010). Under Mississippi’s Public Records laws, a “public body” is defined as “any other entity created by .”

Hinds Cty. Bd. of Sup'rs v. Common Cause, 551 So. 2d 107 (Miss. 1989). · cites it 4× “There is no question but that the Hinds County Board of Supervisors was and is a "public body" under the Act, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 , and required to hold its meetings public and open.”

Gannett River States Pub. Corp., Inc. v. City of Jackson, 866 So. 2d 462 (Miss. 2004). · cites it 4× “" Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (a)(i), (b) (emphasis added).”

Mayor of Vicksburg v. Vicksburg Printing & Publ'g Co., 434 So. 2d 1333 (Miss. 1983). · cites it 4× “In the definitions section of the law, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (a) (Supp.1982), the term “public body” is defined as follows: (i) any executive or administrative board, commission, authority, council, department, agency, bureau, or any other policy-making entity, or committee…”

BD. OF Trs. v. Miss. Publishers Corp., 478 So. 2d 269 (Miss. 1985). · cites it 2× “Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (b) The Board's position is that no "official" acts are undertaken during their informal meetings with the presidents and staff; however, it is undisputed in the record by the Board members testimony that these sessions are invaluable aids to…”

In Re 42 Pa. C. S. § 1703, 394 A.2d 444 (Pa. 1978). “, § 67-2341; Miss.Code Ann. § 25-41-3(a).”

Shipman v. North Panola Consol. Sch. Dist., 641 So. 2d 1106 (Miss. 1994). · cites it 7× “See, Miss.Code Ann. § 25-41-3(a). In addition, “meeting” is defined under this act as, “an assemblage of members of a public body at which official acts may be taken upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.”

Shipman v. North Panola Consol. Sch. Dist., 641 So. 2d 1106 (Miss. 1994). · cites it 7× “Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-13 . The NPCSD Board of Trustees is a public body for the purposes of the Open Meetings Act.”

Gannett River States Publ'g Co., Inc. v. City of Jackson, Mississippi (Miss. 2002). · cites it 4× “Gannett filed a complaint against the City of Jackson and the members of the Jackson City Council (City), averring that the Jackson City Council held an “unannounced closed meeting on October 5, 2000,” in violation of the Open Meetings Act, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (a). The…”

Mayor & City Council v. Com. Dispatch (Miss. 2017). · cites it 2× “The Final Order found that the subject gatherings had circumvented the Open Meetings Act (the Act), and by circumventing the Act, the Mayor and City Council had violated it, specifically citing Mississippi Code Section 25-41-1, Mississippi Code Section 25-41-3 and Mississippi…”

Hinds Cnty. Repub. Party v. Hinds Cnty., Mississippi (S.D. Miss. 2020). “§ 25-41-3(b). The statute continues, An agenda and materials that will be distributed to members of the public body and that have been made available to the staff of the public body in sufficient time for duplication and forwarding to the members of the public body shall be made…”

— Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3(a) — 5 cases

Gannett River States Pub. Corp., Inc. v. City of Jackson, 866 So. 2d 462 (Miss. 2004). “" Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (a)(i), (b) (emphasis added).”

In Re 42 Pa. C. S. § 1703, 394 A.2d 444 (Pa. 1978). “, § 67-2341; Miss.Code Ann. § 25-41-3(a).”

Mayor of Vicksburg v. Vicksburg Printing & Publ'g Co., 434 So. 2d 1333 (Miss. 1983). “In the definitions section of the law, Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3 (a) (Supp.1982), the term “public body” is defined as follows: (i) any executive or administrative board, commission, authority, council, department, agency, bureau, or any other policy-making entity, or committee…”

Shipman v. North Panola Consol. Sch. Dist., 641 So. 2d 1106 (Miss. 1994). “See, Miss.Code Ann. § 25-41-3(a). In addition, “meeting” is defined under this act as, “an assemblage of members of a public body at which official acts may be taken upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.”

Shipman v. North Panola Consol. Sch. Dist., 641 So. 2d 1106 (Miss. 1994). “Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-13 . The NPCSD Board of Trustees is a public body for the purposes of the Open Meetings Act.”

— Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-3(b) — 2 cases

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