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MississippiHB 19302026 Regular SessionHouse

Appropriation; State Public Defender, Office of.

Sponsored By: Sam C. Mims, V (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Appropriations DAppropriations AAppropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More legal help for parents and youth

The law provides $572,500 for trained, certified lawyers to represent parents or guardians without money for a lawyer in abuse, neglect, and parental-rights cases. It also funds an experienced Youth Defender and a legal assistant for training, support, and appeals. Another $150,000 supports Family Defenders in Youth Court, with allocation set by the State Treasurer. To use that money, the State Public Defender’s office must report on staff, counties served, and case numbers and outcomes. Reports covering July through December 2026 are due January 15, 2027; reports covering January through June 2027 are due July 15, 2027.

More funding for public defenders

The law provides $4,678,350 from the State General Fund and $728,677 in special funds for the State Public Defender’s office in FY2027. The special funds must be collected by or available to the office. The law authorizes 25 permanent positions and no time-limited positions. It also provides $446,521 for three full-time assistant public defenders. The funding covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

More rural public defense funding

The law provides $578,677 for a rural public-defense pilot, with allocations set by the State Treasurer. These funds cannot replace county-paid public defenders appointed by a circuit judge. The law also reauthorizes up to $200,000 for a Rural Legal Defense Pilot Program and up to $36,000 for the Hinds County Public Defender’s Office. Those last two amounts cannot exceed the funds left unspent on June 30, 2026, and keep their original purposes. The funding is available in FY2027, from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Blind suppliers get bid preference

The State Public Defender’s office must prefer Mississippi Industries for the Blind when competing bids match in price, quality, and service. A similar preference applies to purchases made without competitive bids. The law does not set a spending amount for this preference.

Limits on replacing defender salary funds

If federal or other special funds for salaries authorized by the law are withdrawn, the State Public Defender’s office cannot use State General Funds to replace them. This rule applies from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sam C. Mims, V

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Manly Barton

    Republican • House

  • Angela Cockerham

    Independent • House

  • John G. Faulkner

    Democratic • House

  • Jay McKnight

    Republican • House

  • John Read

    Republican • House

  • Randy Rushing

    Republican • House

  • Percy W. Watson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 334 • No: 0

House vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 116 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 46 • No: 0 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

Passed

Yes: 121 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/6/2026legislature

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/1/2026Senate

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

    4/1/2026House

  4. Conference Report Adopted

    3/29/2026Senate

  5. Conference Report Adopted

    3/29/2026House

  6. Conference Report Filed

    3/27/2026Senate

  7. Conference Report Filed

    3/27/2026House

  8. Conferees Named Hopson,Wiggins,Turner-Ford

    3/19/2026Senate

  9. Conferees Named Mims,Hood,Cockerham

    3/19/2026House

  10. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

    3/18/2026House

  11. Returned For Concurrence

    3/13/2026Senate

  12. Passed As Amended

    3/12/2026Senate

  13. Amended

    3/12/2026Senate

  14. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

    3/12/2026Senate

  15. Referred To Appropriations

    2/27/2026Senate

  16. Transmitted To Senate

    2/20/2026House

  17. Passed

    2/19/2026House

  18. Title Suff Do Pass

    2/18/2026House

  19. DR - TSDP: AP To A3

    2/18/2026House

  20. DR - TSDP: A3 To AP

    2/17/2026House

  21. Referred To Appropriations D;Appropriations A

    2/16/2026House

Bill Text

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