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MississippiHB 11422026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Bench warrant notices; revise the process.

Sponsored By: Jansen T. Owen (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary BJudiciary, Division B

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Task force on bench warrants

The law creates the Mississippi Service of Bench Warrants Task Force to study how bench warrants are issued, served, and noticed, including electronic service and proof of transmission. Appointments are due within 30 days after July 1, 2026. The co‑chairs must call the first meeting by October 1, 2026. The task force must file its report and proposed laws by December 1, 2026, then it dissolves. The Administrative Office of Courts and Mississippi Electronic Courts attend meetings and provide support. Members include legislative chairs and vice chairs, one circuit judge, a circuit clerk designee, and a bail agent designee.

County prosecutor pay caps and fee

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law sets maximum salaries for county prosecuting attorneys by county population. Caps by size: over 200,000 people: $28,500; >100,000–200,000: $26,500; >50,000–100,000: $21,700; >35,000–50,000: $20,400; >25,000–35,000: $19,300; >15,000–25,000: $17,700; >10,000–15,000: $16,100; >6,000–10,000: $14,500; 6,000 or fewer: $12,900. Counties may add up to 10% extra and many county‑specific pay and office‑expense rules remain, but must fit these caps. Pay cannot be cut during the elected term, and it cannot be less than the justice court judge in that county. Many counties keep monthly office and secretarial allowances (often $1,000–$1,500), and boards may provide office space and reasonable expenses. In any conviction the county attorney is required to prosecute, a $3 cost is charged to the convicted defendant and paid to the county treasury.

Five-member school boards in some districts

The law sets five‑member trustee boards with district maps and staggered elections for certain municipal school districts. For the district where I‑20 and MS‑15 intersect, it codifies the 2024 apportionment, three‑week publication, candidate filing by 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2024, and November 2024 elections; if no one qualified, an appointment filled the seat for the limited term. For the district where U.S. 11 and MS‑26 intersect, the county board must apportion within 45 days after July 1, 2026, publish for three weeks, set candidate filing by 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2026, and hold November 2026 elections on the stated staggered schedule; after January 1, 2028, vacancies are filled within 60 days by the remaining members. For the district crossed by the Escatawpa River at I‑10 and MS‑63, it keeps the five‑seat board and the 2017–2018 election schedule, with appointments if no one qualified and vacancies filled within 60 days.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jansen T. Owen

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 439 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 118 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 98 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 52 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2026

Passed

Yes: 119 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/9/2026legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/6/2026Senate

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/6/2026House

  4. Unanimous Consent Granted

    4/1/2026Senate

  5. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2026Senate

  6. Conference Report Adopted

    4/1/2026House

  7. Unanimous Consent Granted

    4/1/2026House

  8. Reconsidered

    4/1/2026House

  9. Motion to Reconsider Entered (Horan, Owen)

    3/31/2026House

  10. Conference Report Adopted

    3/31/2026House

  11. Conference Report Filed

    3/30/2026House

  12. Conference Report Filed

    3/30/2026Senate

  13. Conferees Named Fillingane,Sparks,Simmons (12th)

    3/23/2026Senate

  14. Conferees Named Horan,Owen,Newman

    3/23/2026House

  15. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/16/2026House

  16. Returned For Concurrence

    3/9/2026Senate

  17. Passed As Amended

    3/5/2026Senate

  18. Amended

    3/5/2026Senate

  19. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/25/2026Senate

  20. Referred To Judiciary, Division B

    2/17/2026Senate

  21. Transmitted To Senate

    2/6/2026House

  22. Passed

    2/5/2026House

  23. Committee Substitute Adopted

    2/5/2026House

  24. Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

    1/28/2026House

  25. Referred To Judiciary B

    1/19/2026House

Bill Text

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