MS HB4

Establishes a permissive (optional) preference that private employers may adopt in hiring and promotion decisions for honorably discharged veterans, including those who received upgraded discharges under honorable conditions.

Extends employment preference eligibility to spouses of service-members with permanent service-connected total disabilities who cannot work, and spouses of service-members missing in action or forcibly detained by foreign governments.

Covers unremarried widows or widowers of veterans who died from service-connected disabilities and unremarried widows or widowers of armed forces members who died in combat-related line of duty.

Provides that veteran employment preferences under this act do not violate state or local equal employment opportunity laws.

Takes effect July 1, 2019.