MS SB2479

Combines the Mississippi Grain Warehouse Law and Grain Dealers Law into a single "Mississippi Grain Handler Law of 2022" with one unified license for grain handlers who store, buy, or sell grain

Requires a federal or state grain handler license for operations handling over 50,000 bushels annually; operations handling over 500,000 bushels must obtain a federal license under the United States Warehouse Act

Increases application fees from $150 to $500 and annual license fees from $100 to $250; raises minimum surety bond requirements from $15,000 to $25,000 with a maximum cap of $125,000

Mandates annual independent audits submitted directly to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, upgrading from the previous discretionary audit requirement

Increases maximum felony fines for willful violations from $20,000 to $50,000, while reducing misdemeanor fines for unintentional violations from $5,000 to $1,000; effective July 1, 2022