MS HB1097

Prohibits municipalities, townships, cities, counties, and political subdivisions from enacting ordinances or covenants that limit or prohibit beekeeping operations, provided beekeepers comply with Section 69-25-101

Requires all honeybees shipped or moved into Mississippi to be accompanied by an inspection certificate from the State Entomologist, State Apiary Inspector, or corresponding official certifying freedom from contagious diseases and parasites

Inspection certificates must be based on actual inspection of bees within 60 days preceding shipment, with exceptions for live bees in wire cages without honeycomb

Allows the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to issue permits for bee shipments from jurisdictions without official apiary inspectors upon presentation of suitable evidence of disease-free status

Effective July 1, 2014