Mississippi lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 2545, a significant piece of legislation aimed at stimulating job growth in economically distressed areas. Proposed on January 23, 2025, the bill seeks to provide tax incentives for businesses that create new full-time jobs in designated Tier One areas, which are identified by the Department of Revenue as needing economic support.

The bill outlines a job tax credit of 2.5% of the payroll for new employees, applicable for five years, starting from the second year after the minimum job creation threshold is met. To qualify, businesses must add at least 20 new full-time positions. This initiative is particularly crucial for regions recovering from economic downturns or natural disasters, as it allows for a potential two-year extension of the credit if a business is unable to maintain its workforce due to disaster-related