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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

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

County judges get capped salary supplements

Starting July 1, 2026, the Judicial System Operation Fund provides up to $51,830 a year for each county court judge, plus related fringe-benefit costs. The fund pays monthly, and counties request reimbursement each month from the Administrative Office of Courts. The county’s pay and the supplement together cannot exceed the salary limit set by law.

Judges get raises, lose salary reviews

Through Dec. 31, 2026, annual pay is $181,491 for the Supreme Court chief justice, $176,737 for each presiding justice, and $173,800 for each associate justice. Court of Appeals pay is $169,349 for the chief judge and $168,467 for each associate judge; chancery and circuit judges earn $158,000. Starting Jan. 1, 2027, those salaries rise to $194,171, $190,614, and $187,625 for Supreme Court justices; $182,624 and $179,871 for Court of Appeals judges; and $171,063 for chancery and circuit judges. The State General Fund pays at least $115,390 for the Supreme Court chief justice, $113,190 per presiding justice, $112,530 per associate justice, $108,130 for the Court of Appeals chief judge, $105,050 per associate judge, and $104,170 per chancery or circuit judge; the Judicial System Operation Fund covers the rest through annual appropriations. Starting July 1, 2026, the law ends the four-year State Personnel Board review method for covered judge salaries and the county court judge supplement.

Set pay for prosecutors and assistants

Full-time district attorneys earn $150,100 a year from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. Starting Jan. 1, 2028, their pay is 95% of the authorized salary for circuit and chancery judges. Full-time legal assistants have a $15,000 minimum salary and a maximum tied to the district attorney’s pay: up to 80% for those licensed for five years or less, 85% for more than five but fewer than 15 years, and 90% for 15 years or more.

Judges lose expense allowance retirement credit

Starting July 1, 2026, the listed salaries for Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges are the only compensation reported to the Public Employees’ Retirement System for retirement purposes. Judges who were in office on Dec. 31, 2003, can no longer report an expense allowance under the removed exception. The change may lower the retirement compensation credited to those judges; the law does not state the amount.

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 • Other: 1

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 • Other: 6

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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