Mississippi House Bill HB1113

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Home Business Prosperity Act; create.

Impact

This legislation would have a significant impact on local regulations concerning home-based businesses. While it allows local governments to impose reasonable regulations to ensure public health and safety, it restricts them from outright prohibiting no-impact home businesses. The intent is to encourage economic development by enabling residents to engage in entrepreneurial activities without the burden of excessive local zoning laws, thereby supporting both individual livelihoods and local economies.

Summary

House Bill 1113, known as the 'Home-Based Prosperity Act', seeks to provide a framework for legal home-based businesses in Mississippi. The bill defines home-based work as any occupation conducted by a resident within their home that is incidental and secondary to residential use. The legislation aims to prohibit local governments from entirely banning 'no-impact home-based businesses', which are characterized by limited on-site employees, lack of substantial traffic generation, and invisibility from the street. These definitions aim to create a legal pathway for residents to operate businesses without excessive oversight.

Contention

The bill likely faces contention revolving around local governance and community standards. Critics may argue that the local government should maintain authority over land use and zoning to better address neighborhood concerns, while supporters counter that the bill supports economic opportunity for residents. Key issues will revolve around defining what constitutes a no-impact home-based business and determining the balance between local regulation and individual rights to engage in commerce from residential properties.