MS SB2719

Municipalities and counties may impose operating hours matching restaurant hours, restrict noisemaking devices during specific times, restrict operations in residential zones, and prevent blocking of ingress/egress or public sidewalks.

Municipalities and counties are prohibited from restricting duration of operation on private property, requiring special permits, banning operation on public property, imposing distance requirements from existing restaurants, restricting parking space use, or requiring fingerprinting.

Department of Health shall adopt statewide health and safety licensing standards with three categories of mobile food vendors, require annual licenses with reciprocity across counties, mandate food handler certifications for employees, and require random inspections at no cost.

State agencies and municipalities may not require mobile food vendors to maintain insurance naming the state or municipality as additional insured unless the vendor is attending a state or municipality-sponsored event.

Municipalities and taxing jurisdictions may levy privilege taxes or fees on mobile food vendors if applied uniformly to transactions within their boundaries and administered consistently with restaurant taxation.