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MississippiHB 17522026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Judges' salaries; increase and delete provision setting at level recommended by State Personnel Board.

Sponsored By: John Read (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Appropriations AJudiciary BJudiciary, Division AAppropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher pay for state judges

The law raises pay for Mississippi judges. Supreme Court pay from Jan 1, 2023–Dec 31, 2026: Chief $181,491, Presiding $176,737, Associate $173,800. From Jan 1, 2027: Chief $194,171, Presiding $190,614, Associate $187,625. Court of Appeals pay from Jan 1, 2023–Dec 31, 2026: Chief $169,349, Associate $168,467. From Jan 1, 2027: Chief $182,624, Associate $179,871. Chancery and circuit judges earn $158,000 through 2026, and $171,063 starting Jan 1, 2027.

Pay schedule for district attorneys

Full-time district attorneys earn $150,100 in 2026–2027. Starting Jan 1, 2028, each DA’s salary equals 95% of a circuit or chancery judge’s salary.

State supplement for county judges

Each county court judge gets a $51,830 yearly supplement, plus fringe benefits. The state pays counties monthly from the Judicial System Operation Fund. Counties must send monthly reimbursement requests. Every four years, the supplement is reviewed using State Personnel Board pay recommendations, if money is available.

State funds secure judge pay

The state pays judge salaries from the General Fund and the Judicial System Operation Fund. Minimum General Fund shares: Supreme Court—Chief $115,390, Presiding $113,190, Associate $112,530. Court of Appeals—Chief $108,130, Associate $105,050. Chancery and circuit—at least $104,170 each. The Judicial System Operation Fund covers the rest so pay reaches the law’s amounts. These funding rules apply starting July 1, 2026.

Pay bands for district attorney legal assistants

Full-time legal assistants in DA offices must make at least $15,000 a year. Pay is capped by experience: up to 80% of the DA’s salary if licensed 5 years or less, 85% if more than 5 but less than 15, and 90% if 15 or more years.

What counts for judge retirement

Only the fixed statutory salary counts toward Public Employees’ Retirement System reporting for Supreme Court, Appeals, chancery, and circuit judges. Judges who were in office on December 31, 2003 may still include their expense allowance for retirement reporting.

New court duties tied to pay

Judges take on added work, like school outreach, intervention courts, and e‑filing projects. The Chief Justice or the courts may assign other related duties. Supreme Court justices receive enough extra pay so total annual pay equals the statutory salary (from Jan 1, 2023). Chancery and circuit judges also receive enough pay to match the law’s salary levels (starting July 1, 2026).

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Read

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Angela Cockerham

    Independent • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 318 • No: 13

House vote • 3/31/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 115 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 43 • No: 8 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 51 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/5/2026

Passed

Yes: 109 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/9/2026legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/6/2026Senate

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/2/2026House

  4. Motion to Reconsider Tabled

    4/2/2026Senate

  5. Motion to Reconsider Entered

    3/31/2026Senate

  6. Conference Report Adopted

    3/31/2026Senate

  7. Conference Report Adopted

    3/31/2026House

  8. Conference Report Filed

    3/30/2026Senate

  9. Conference Report Filed

    3/30/2026House

  10. Conferees Named Wiggins,DeBar,McCaughn

    3/24/2026Senate

  11. Conferees Named Read,Mims,Cockerham

    3/19/2026House

  12. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/18/2026House

  13. Returned For Concurrence

    3/11/2026Senate

  14. Passed As Amended

    3/10/2026Senate

  15. Amended

    3/10/2026Senate

  16. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

    3/3/2026Senate

  17. DR - TSDPAA: AP To JA

    3/3/2026Senate

  18. DR - TSDPAA: JA To AP

    2/26/2026Senate

  19. Referred To Judiciary, Division A;Appropriations

    2/13/2026Senate

  20. Transmitted To Senate

    2/6/2026House

  21. Passed

    2/5/2026House

  22. Committee Substitute Adopted

    2/5/2026House

  23. Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

    2/3/2026House

  24. DR - TSDPCS: JB To AP

    2/3/2026House

  25. DR - TSDPCS: AP To JB

    2/3/2026House

Bill Text

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