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MississippiHB 19312026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Appropriation; Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and trial judges services.

Sponsored By: Mims

Signed by Governor

Appropriations DAppropriations AAppropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

17 provisions identified: 13 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Higher pay for Mississippi judges

Starting July 1, 2026, judges get higher annual pay. Pay is: Chief Justice $194,171; Presiding Justices $190,614; Associate Justices $187,625. The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals gets $182,624; Associate Judges get $179,871. Chancery and Circuit Judges each get $171,063. The law provides $1,159,361 to fund these raises.

Court technology upgrades statewide

The law upgrades court technology. Up to $2.46 million may go to the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund. $8.75 million replaces the Youth Courts record system and cleans data, with disbursement set by the State Treasurer. $280,000 updates the Mississippi Electronic Courts system.

More support for drug and specialty courts

The law funds intervention courts for FY 2027. Adult felony Drug Courts get $6 million in reimbursements. Payments scale by participant counts, from $160,000 (1–99) up to $635,000 (425–449). Youth Drug Courts and Family Courts get $2.25 million. Three pilot Mental Health Treatment Courts each get $250,000 in the 4th, 6th, and 7th Circuits. The AOC must report on all intervention courts by December 1, 2026, and opioid‑funded Drug Courts must file a detailed report by August 1, 2027. Recipients of opioid‑settlement funds must swear they have no banned contingent‑compensation contracts or they will not receive funds.

County judge salary supplements limited

Starting July 1, 2026, if the Judicial System Operation Fund lacks enough money, counties are not required to pay county judge salary supplements. In that case, county court judge pay stays at the earlier base level (before the Section 9-9-11 change).

Blind Industries get tie-bid preference

Starting July 1, 2026, if two or more bids tie on price, quality, and service, the state chooses Mississippi Industries for the Blind. The same preference applies when buying without competitive bids.

Bar admissions funding and staffing rules

The law provides $383,426 for the Board of Bar Admissions in FY 2027. Interest earned on the Board’s fund stays in that fund. It authorizes three permanent positions to support bar admissions work.

Civil legal aid and access funding

The law funds civil legal access programs for FY 2027. It provides $200,000 for the Access to Justice Commission. It allows up to $200,000 for the Civil Legal Assistance Program and requires annual audits and a report of unused funds to lawmakers.

Court of Appeals funding and jobs

The law funds the Court of Appeals for FY 2027. It provides $7,062,759 from the General Fund and $176,362 from a special fund. It authorizes 54 permanent positions and no time-limited jobs.

Funding for CCID court operations

For FY 2027, the law provides $1,047,121 to run the CCID inferior court. Funding starts July 1, 2026.

Funding for trial and special judges

The law funds trial and special judge operations for FY 2027. It provides $40,011,007 from the General Fund and $24,495,094 from special funds. It authorizes 123 permanent positions. It also sets aside $15,600,000 for judge support staff, with a cap of $130,000 per judge per year.

Supreme Court funding and staffing

The law funds Supreme Court operations for FY 2027. It provides $6,684,374 from the General Fund and $1,427,641 from special funds. It authorizes 60 permanent positions, with no time-limited jobs. This funding runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Youth courts and CASA get support

Starting July 1, 2026, $2 million funds Youth Court intake staff. The law also provides $500,000 for CASA secretarial and support services. These funds support child and youth cases for FY 2027.

Opioid funds for felony drug courts

Beginning July 1, 2026, the state provides $2 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to adult felony Drug Courts in the 23 circuit courts. The money only reimburses treatment costs for the program. It cannot pay Administrative Office of Courts administrative costs. This funding covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Continuing legal education funding and staff

The law provides $332,997 from the CLE Fund for lawyer training in FY 2027. Interest earned on the CLE Fund stays in the Fund. It authorizes three permanent positions to run CLE programs.

Higher Supreme Court service fees

Starting July 1, 2026, the Supreme Court must charge the maximum allowed by law for services set in statute. For other services, fees must match the cost to provide them. All fee money goes into a special Court fund.

Stricter limits on using court funds

Starting July 1, 2026, these funds cannot pay attorneys’ fees or pay relatives within the third degree. If an official makes a banned payment, they must repay triple the amount. The law also says these funds are not required to pay rent for public Law Library space.

AOC funding, staff, and controls

The law funds the Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) for FY 2027: $17,790,761 from the General Fund and $24,210,294 from special funds. It caps AOC personal services at $5,068,977 (General Funds) and $2,501,659 (Special Funds), with 97 permanent positions. Vacancy funds must be used to fill positions, not for raises or title changes. The AOC Director can move money between accounts but must give written notice to top lawmakers and the Budget Office by the 15th of the prior month. The Supreme Court must keep records at FY 2026 detail and submit its FY 2028 budget in the same format.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mims

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

  • Manly Barton

    Republican • House

  • Angela Cockerham

    Independent • House

  • John G. Faulkner

    Democratic • House

  • Joey Hood

    Republican • 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: 338 • No: 1

House vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 115 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/29/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 50 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Passed As Amended

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

Passed

Yes: 122 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor

    4/8/2026legislature

  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,Sparks

    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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