MS HB1169

Creates the Mississippi Whistleblower Reward Act, entitling whistleblowers who provide original information and substantial evidence of theft or misuse of government funds to 15% of recovered funds, capped at $250,000

Defines eligible whistleblowers as individuals who provide original information leading to fund recovery, cooperate with the Department of Audit, did not participate in the fraud, and are not Audit Department employees or elected officials/supervisors of the defrauded department

Protects whistleblower identity as confidential and exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act, with disclosure only permitted when a judge determines it necessary for a fair trial, contains exculpatory evidence, or is constitutionally required

Allows the Department of Audit to recover the whistleblower reward and investigation costs from persons liable for the misused funds or from entities that knowingly received illegal expenditures

Applies only to whistleblower information submitted after the July 1, 2026 effective date and supplements existing protections against workplace retaliation under Sections 25-9-173 through 25-9-177