Mississippi 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

HB 623 — Indigent counsel; increase compensation for.

Last action — Approved by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Tate Reeves (Republican) on March 18, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 72% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

14 added · 13 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 623 increase the compensation limits for attorneys representing indigent defendants, which means that legal representation for those who can't afford a lawyer will be better funded. Specifically, the maximum compensation for standard cases has been raised from $1,000 to $600, and for capital cases, it has increased from $10,000 to $6,000. This change matters because it ensures that court-appointed lawyers can receive fair payment for their work, potentially attracting better legal talent and improving the quality of defense for low-income individuals.

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623 AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-15-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR COUNSEL APPOINTED TO INDIGENTS;
623 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-15-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR COUNSEL APPOINTED TO INDIGENTS;
(1) The compensation for counsel for indigents appointed as provided in Section 99-15-15, shall be approved and allowed by the appropriate judge and in any one (1) case may not exceed * * * Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for representation in circuit court whether on appeal or originating in said court.
(1) The compensation for counsel for indigents appointed as provided in Section 99-15-15, shall be approved and allowed by the appropriate judge and in any one (1) case may not exceed * * * Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) for representation in circuit court whether on appeal or originating in said court.
Provided, however, if said case is not appealed to or does not originate in a court of record, the maximum compensation shall not exceed * * * One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for any one (1) case, the amount of such compensation to be approved by a judge of the chancery court, county court or circuit court in the county where the case arises.
Provided, however, if said case is not appealed to or does not originate in a court of record, the maximum compensation shall not exceed * * * Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) for any one (1) case, the amount of such compensation to be approved by a judge of the chancery court, county court or circuit court in the county where the case arises.
623 *HR31/R1746* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 25/HR31/R1746 PAGE 1 (GT\JAB) exceed * * * Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per case.
623 *HR31/R1746SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2 25/HR31/R1746SG PAGE 1 (GT\JAB) exceed * * * Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) per case.
If the case is appealed to the state supreme court by counsel appointed by the judge, the allowable fee for services on appeal shall not exceed * * * Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per case.
If the case is appealed to the State Supreme Court by counsel appointed by the judge, the allowable fee for services on appeal shall not exceed * * * Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) per case.
623 *HR31/R1746* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 25/HR31/R1746 ST:
623 *HR31/R1746SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 25/HR31/R1746SG ST:
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor

  2. Enrolled Bill Signed

  3. Enrolled Bill Signed

  4. Concurred in Amend From Senate

  5. Returned For Concurrence

  6. Passed As Amended

  7. Amended

  8. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

  9. Referred To Appropriations

  10. Transmitted To Senate

  11. Passed

  12. Title Suff Do Pass

  13. Referred To Judiciary B

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 174 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (174)

174 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 174 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Concurrence in Amendment From Senate

Passed 111 Yea · 0 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 74003
Democrat 32005
Independent 2000
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 111008
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (119)
Member Party Vote
Lancaster — Yea
Paden — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Bo Brown Democrat Yea
Bob Evans Democrat Yea
Bradford Blackmon Democrat Yea
Bryant W. Clark Democrat Not Voting
Carl Mickens Democrat Yea
Cedric Burnett Democrat Yea
Cheikh Taylor Democrat Yea
Christopher M. Bell Democrat Yea
Daryl Porter Democrat Yea
Earle S. Banks Democrat Yea
Fabian Nelson Democrat Yea
Gregory Holloway, Sr. Democrat Yea
Hester Jackson McCray Democrat Yea
Jeffery Harness Democrat Not Voting
Jeffrey Hulum III Democrat Yea
Jeramey Anderson Democrat Yea
John G. Faulkner Democrat Not Voting
John W. Hines, Sr. Democrat Yea
Juan Barnett Democrat Yea
Justis Gibbs Democrat Not Voting
Kabir Karriem Democrat Yea
Karl Gibbs Democrat Yea
Keith Jackson Democrat Yea
Kenji Holloway Democrat Not Voting
Lataisha Jackson Democrat Yea
Omeria Scott Democrat Yea
Oscar Denton Democrat Yea
Otis Anthony Democrat Yea
Percy W. Watson Democrat Yea
Robert L. Sanders Democrat Yea
Ronnie C. Crudup Democrat Yea
Solomon C. Osborne Democrat Yea
Stephanie Foster Democrat Yea
Tamarra Butler-Washington Democrat Yea
Timaka James-Jones Democrat Yea
Tracey T. Rosebud Democrat Yea
Willie Bailey Democrat Yea
Angela Cockerham Independent Yea
Shanda Yates Independent Yea
Andy Boyd Republican Yea
Becky Currie Republican Yea
Beth Luther Waldo Republican Yea
Bill Kinkade Republican Yea
Bill Pigott Republican Yea
Billy Adam Calvert Republican Yea
Brad Mattox Republican Yea
Brent Anderson Republican Yea
Brent Powell Republican Yea
C. Scott Bounds Republican Yea
Carolyn Crawford Republican Yea
Casey Eure Republican Not Voting
Celeste Hurst Republican Yea
Chris Johnson Republican Yea
Clay Deweese Republican Yea
Clay Mansell Republican Yea
Dan Eubanks Republican Yea
Dana McLean Republican Yea
Donnie Bell Republican Yea
Donnie Scoggin Republican Yea
Elliot Burch Republican Yea
Fred Shanks Republican Yea
Gene Newman Republican Yea
Greg Haney Republican Yea
Henry Zuber III Republican Yea
Jansen Owen Republican Yea
Jay McKnight Republican Yea
Jeff Hale Republican Yea
Jeffrey S. Guice Republican Yea
Jerry R. Turner Republican Yea
Jill Ford Republican Yea
Jim Estrada Republican Yea
Jimmy Fondren Republican Yea
Jody Steverson Republican Yea
Joey Hood Republican Not Voting
John Read Republican Yea
John Thomas "Trey" Lamar, III Republican Yea
Jonathan McMillan Republican Yea
Joseph Tubb Republican Yea
Josh Hawkins Republican Yea
Justin Keen Republican Yea
Karl Oliver Republican Yea
Ken Morgan Republican Yea
Kent McCarty Republican Yea
Kevin Blackwell Republican Yea
Kevin Felsher Republican Yea
Kevin Ford Republican Yea
Kevin Horan Republican Yea
Kimberly Remak Republican Yea
Lance Varner Republican Yea
Larry Byrd Republican Yea
Lee Yancey Republican Yea
Lester Carpenter Republican Yea
Manly Barton Republican Yea
Mark Tullos Republican Yea
Mike Thompson Republican Not Voting
Missy McGee Republican Yea
Noah Sanford Republican Yea
Philman Ladner Republican Yea
Price Wallace Republican Yea
Randy P. Boyd Republican Yea
Randy Rushing Republican Yea
Richard Bennett Republican Yea
Rob Roberson Republican Yea
Rodney Hall Republican Yea
Sam C. Mims, V Republican Yea
Sam Creekmore IV Republican Yea
Shane Aguirre Republican Yea
Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes Republican Yea
Stephen A. Horne Republican Yea
Steve Lott Republican Yea
Steve Massengill Republican Yea
Troy Smith Republican Yea
Vince Mangold Republican Yea
W.I. "Doc" Harris Republican Yea
William Tracy Arnold Republican Yea
Zachary Grady Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage as Amended

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 11002
Republican 23009
Unaffiliated 6000
Total 400011
% of votes cast 78%0%0%22%
How each member voted (51)
Member Party Vote
Horhn — Yea
Jordan — Yea
Parker — Yea
Polk — Yea
Robinson — Yea
Turner- Ford — Yea
Albert Butler Democrat Yea
Bradford Blackmon Democrat Yea
David Blount Democrat Yea
Derrick T. Simmons Democrat Not Voting
Gary Brumfield Democrat Not Voting
Hillman Terome Frazier Democrat Yea
Hob Bryan Democrat Yea
Joseph Thomas Democrat Yea
Juan Barnett Democrat Yea
Reginald Jackson Democrat Yea
Rod Hickman Democrat Yea
Sarita Simmons Democrat Yea
Sollie B. Norwood Democrat Yea
Andy Berry Republican Yea
Angela Burks Hill Republican Not Voting
Bart Williams Republican Yea
Benjamin Suber Republican Not Voting
Brian Rhodes Republican Yea
Brice Wiggins Republican Yea
Briggs Hopson Republican Yea
Chad McMahan Republican Yea
Chris Johnson Republican Yea
Chuck Younger Republican Yea
Daniel H. Sparks Republican Not Voting
Dean Kirby Republican Yea
Dennis DeBar, Jr. Republican Not Voting
J. Walter Michel Republican Yea
Jason Barrett Republican Not Voting
Jeff Tate Republican Yea
Jeremy England Republican Yea
Joel R. Carter, Jr. Republican Yea
Joey Fillingane Republican Yea
Joseph M. Seymour Republican Not Voting
Josh Harkins Republican Yea
Kathy L. Chism Republican Not Voting
Kevin Blackwell Republican Yea
Lydia Graves Chassaniol Republican Yea
Michael McLendon Republican Yea
Mike Thompson Republican Not Voting
Neil S. Whaley Republican Yea
Nicole Boyd Republican Yea
Philman Ladner Republican Yea
Rita Potts Parks Republican Not Voting
Scott DeLano Republican Yea
Tyler McCaughn Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 118 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 75002
Democrat 38000
Independent 2000
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 118002
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (120)
Member Party Vote
Lancaster — Yea
Paden — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Bo Brown Democrat Yea
Bob Evans Democrat Yea
Bradford Blackmon Democrat Yea
Bryant W. Clark Democrat Yea
Carl Mickens Democrat Yea
Cedric Burnett Democrat Yea
Cheikh Taylor Democrat Yea
Christopher M. Bell Democrat Yea
Daryl Porter Democrat Yea
Earle S. Banks Democrat Yea
Fabian Nelson Democrat Yea
Gregory Holloway, Sr. Democrat Yea
Hester Jackson McCray Democrat Yea
Jeffery Harness Democrat Yea
Jeffrey Hulum III Democrat Yea
Jeramey Anderson Democrat Yea
John G. Faulkner Democrat Yea
John W. Hines, Sr. Democrat Yea
Juan Barnett Democrat Yea
Justis Gibbs Democrat Yea
Kabir Karriem Democrat Yea
Karl Gibbs Democrat Yea
Keith Jackson Democrat Yea
Kenji Holloway Democrat Yea
Lataisha Jackson Democrat Yea
Omeria Scott Democrat Yea
Oscar Denton Democrat Yea
Otis Anthony Democrat Yea
Percy W. Watson Democrat Yea
Robert L. Sanders Democrat Yea
Ronnie C. Crudup Democrat Yea
Solomon C. Osborne Democrat Yea
Stephanie Foster Democrat Yea
Tamarra Butler-Washington Democrat Yea
Timaka James-Jones Democrat Yea
Tracey T. Rosebud Democrat Yea
Willie Bailey Democrat Yea
Zakiya Summers Democrat Yea
Angela Cockerham Independent Yea
Shanda Yates Independent Yea
Andy Boyd Republican Yea
Becky Currie Republican Yea
Beth Luther Waldo Republican Yea
Bill Kinkade Republican Yea
Bill Pigott Republican Yea
Billy Adam Calvert Republican Yea
Brad Mattox Republican Yea
Brent Anderson Republican Yea
Brent Powell Republican Yea
C. Scott Bounds Republican Yea
Carolyn Crawford Republican Yea
Casey Eure Republican Yea
Celeste Hurst Republican Yea
Chris Johnson Republican Yea
Clay Deweese Republican Yea
Clay Mansell Republican Yea
Dan Eubanks Republican Yea
Dana McLean Republican Yea
Donnie Bell Republican Yea
Donnie Scoggin Republican Yea
Elliot Burch Republican Yea
Fred Shanks Republican Yea
Gene Newman Republican Yea
Greg Haney Republican Yea
Henry Zuber III Republican Yea
Jansen Owen Republican Yea
Jay McKnight Republican Yea
Jeff Hale Republican Yea
Jeffrey S. Guice Republican Yea
Jerry R. Turner Republican Yea
Jill Ford Republican Yea
Jim Estrada Republican Yea
Jimmy Fondren Republican Yea
Jody Steverson Republican Yea
Joey Hood Republican Not Voting
John Read Republican Yea
John Thomas "Trey" Lamar, III Republican Yea
Jonathan McMillan Republican Yea
Joseph Tubb Republican Yea
Josh Hawkins Republican Yea
Justin Keen Republican Yea
Karl Oliver Republican Yea
Ken Morgan Republican Yea
Kent McCarty Republican Yea
Kevin Blackwell Republican Yea
Kevin Felsher Republican Yea
Kevin Ford Republican Yea
Kevin Horan Republican Yea
Kimberly Remak Republican Yea
Lance Varner Republican Yea
Larry Byrd Republican Yea
Lee Yancey Republican Yea
Lester Carpenter Republican Yea
Manly Barton Republican Yea
Mark Tullos Republican Yea
Mike Thompson Republican Yea
Missy McGee Republican Yea
Noah Sanford Republican Yea
Philman Ladner Republican Yea
Price Wallace Republican Yea
Randy P. Boyd Republican Yea
Randy Rushing Republican Yea
Richard Bennett Republican Yea
Rob Roberson Republican Yea
Rodney Hall Republican Yea
Sam C. Mims, V Republican Yea
Sam Creekmore IV Republican Yea
Shane Aguirre Republican Yea
Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes Republican Not Voting
Stephen A. Horne Republican Yea
Steve Lott Republican Yea
Steve Massengill Republican Yea
Troy Smith Republican Yea
Vince Mangold Republican Yea
W.I. "Doc" Harris Republican Yea
William Tracy Arnold Republican Yea
Zachary Grady Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 623?
HB 623 is sponsored by Kevin Horan (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 623?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 15, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 623?
Track HB 623 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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