Mississippi 2026 1st Extraordinary Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

SB 2001 — The Mississippi Youth Court Reform Act of 2026; enact.

Last action — Approved by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced July 15, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Tate Reeves (Republican) on July 17, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 52% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • 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).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

This bill enacts reforms to the Mississippi youth court system.

The Mississippi Youth Court Reform Act of 2026 implements changes to improve the youth court system, aiming for better outcomes for young individuals. It addresses various aspects of how youth cases are handled within the court.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

5350 added · 5362 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill SB 2001 has made significant changes regarding how youth court cases will be handled in the future. Starting from January 1, 2031, each county court's youth division will be required to have a dedicated judge focused solely on youth court matters, aimed at ensuring more consistent and specialized judicial attention. Additionally, the bill removes previous provisions that allowed for the appointment of referees and certain intake roles within youth courts, simplifying the judicial process and enhancing oversight by full-time judges. These changes are crucial as they aim to improve the handling of youth cases, ultimately benefiting the young individuals involved in the legal system.

− COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

− FOR

− 16 TO ABOLISH THE YOUTH COURT DIVISIONS OF BOLIVAR AND LEFLORE

− 17 COUNTIES; TO REQUIRE FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2031, THAT EACH

− 18 YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT HAS A COUNTY COURT JUDGE

− 19 THAT EXCLUSIVELY HANDLES YOUTH COURT MATTERS AND CASES; TO ABOLISH

− 20 EACH YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT UNLESS THE COUNTY OPTS

− 21 OUT OF THE PROVISION AND NOTIFIES THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF

− 22 COURTS BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2028, OF ITS INTENT TO CONTINUE TO

− 23 MAINTAIN A YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE COUNTY COURT AT ITS OWN

− 24 EXPENSE OTHER THAN THE SALARY SUPPLEMENT RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY

− 25 PURSUANT TO SECTION 9-9-11; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SENIOR

− 26 CHANCELLOR TO APPOINT ANOTHER JUDGE IN THE YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF

− 27 THE CHANCERY COURT; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY CHANCELLOR IN THE DISTRICT

− 28 SHALL BE THE JUDGE SO THAT ALL YOUTH COURT MATTERS ARE HEARD AND

− 29 DISPOSED OF BY A FULL-TIME JUDGE; TO CREATE CHANCELLORSHIPS IN

− 30 CERTAIN CHANCERY DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE

− 31 FILLING OF THE JUDICIAL VACANCY CREATED BY THIS ACT; TO REPEAL

− 32 SECTION 43-21-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES

− 33 REGULAR OR SPECIAL YOUTH COURT REFEREES ON JULY 1, 2027; TO REPEAL

− 34 SECTION 43-21-115, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE

− S. B. No. 2001 *SS36/R2CS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2

− 261E/SS36/R2CS

− 35 APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONS TO FUNCTION AS THE INTAKE UNIT FOR

− 36 YOUTH COURT ON JULY 1, 2027; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-117,

− 37 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE YOUTH COURT

− 38 PROSECUTOR SHALL REPRESENT THE STATE IN ALL DELINQUENCY

− 39 PROCEEDINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY SHALL

− 40 REPRESENT THE PETITION IN CHILD WELFARE MATTERS; TO PROVIDE THAT

− 41 THE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN DELINQUENCY MATTERS SHALL SERVE

− 42 AS THE YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-21-125,

− 43 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL OF

− 44 YOUTH COURT JUDGES; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-21-126, MISSISSIPPI

− 45 CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE FAMILY SERVICES FORUM FOR MISSISSIPPI

− 46 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES; TO SET FORTH THE MEMBERSHIP,

− 47 DUTIES, AND PROCEDURES OF THE FORUM; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-203,

− 48 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE LANGUAGE THAT PROHIBITS THE

− 49 GENERAL PUBLIC FROM YOUTH COURT HEARINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN

− 50 ORAL ORDER IS NOT REDUCED TO WRITING WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME

− 51 PERIOD THAT THE ORDER IS NULL AND VOID; TO CREATE NEW SECTION

Show all 100 changed lines (60 more)

− 52 43-21-204, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL

− 53 PUBLIC SHALL BE ADMITTED TO ANY HEARING IN A YOUTH COURT

− 54 PROCEEDING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ADJUDICATORY

− 55 HEARING OR ANY DISPOSITIONAL HEARING WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; TO

− 56 PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY CLOSE A YOUTH COURT HEARING IN ANY

− 57 WELFARE MATTER AFTER A FINDING ON THE RECORD STATING THE REASON OR

− 58 REASONS FOR CLOSING ALL OR PART OF A HEARING IN A YOUTH COURT

− 59 PROCEEDING; TO AUTHORIZE THE YOUTH COURT TO CLOSE ANY HEARING IN

− 60 ANY DELINQUENCY MATTER WITHOUT A FINDING ON THE RECORD; TO AMEND

− 61 SECTION 43-21-257, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE

+ (As Passed the Senate)

+ 16 TO REQUIRE FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2031, THAT EACH YOUTH COURT

+ 17 DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT HAS A COUNTY COURT JUDGE THAT

+ 18 EXCLUSIVELY HANDLES YOUTH COURT MATTERS AND CASES; TO ABOLISH EACH

+ 19 YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT UNLESS THE COUNTY OPTS OUT

+ 20 OF THE PROVISION AND NOTIFIES THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS

+ 21 BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2028, OF ITS INTENT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A

+ 22 YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE COUNTY COURT AT ITS OWN EXPENSE OTHER

+ 23 THAN THE SALARY SUPPLEMENT RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY PURSUANT TO

+ 24 SECTION 9-9-11; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SENIOR CHANCELLOR

+ 25 TO APPOINT ANOTHER JUDGE IN THE YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE

+ 26 CHANCERY COURT; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY CHANCELLOR IN THE DISTRICT

+ 27 SHALL BE THE JUDGE SO THAT ALL YOUTH COURT MATTERS ARE HEARD AND

+ 28 DISPOSED OF BY A FULL-TIME JUDGE; TO CREATE CHANCELLORSHIPS IN

+ 29 CERTAIN CHANCERY DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE

+ 30 FILLING OF THE JUDICIAL VACANCY CREATED BY THIS ACT; TO REPEAL

+ 31 SECTION 43-21-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES

+ 32 REGULAR OR SPECIAL YOUTH COURT REFEREES ON JULY 1, 2027; TO REPEAL

+ 33 SECTION 43-21-115, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE

+ 34 APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONS TO FUNCTION AS THE INTAKE UNIT FOR

+ S. B. No. 2001 *SS36/R2PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2

+ 261E/SS36/R2PS

+ 35 YOUTH COURT ON JULY 1, 2027; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-117,

+ 36 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE YOUTH COURT

+ 37 PROSECUTOR SHALL REPRESENT THE STATE IN ALL DELINQUENCY

+ 38 PROCEEDINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHILD WELFARE AGENCY SHALL

+ 39 REPRESENT THE PETITION IN CHILD WELFARE MATTERS; TO PROVIDE THAT

+ 40 THE COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN DELINQUENCY MATTERS SHALL SERVE

+ 41 AS THE YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-21-125,

+ 42 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL OF

+ 43 YOUTH COURT JUDGES; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 43-21-126, MISSISSIPPI

+ 44 CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE FAMILY SERVICES FORUM FOR MISSISSIPPI

+ 45 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES; TO SET FORTH THE MEMBERSHIP,

+ 46 DUTIES, AND PROCEDURES OF THE FORUM; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-203,

+ 47 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE LANGUAGE THAT PROHIBITS THE

+ 48 GENERAL PUBLIC FROM YOUTH COURT HEARINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT IF AN

+ 49 ORAL ORDER IS NOT REDUCED TO WRITING WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME

+ 50 PERIOD THAT THE ORDER IS NULL AND VOID; TO CREATE NEW SECTION

+ 51 43-21-204, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GENERAL

+ 52 PUBLIC SHALL BE ADMITTED TO ANY HEARING IN A YOUTH COURT

+ 53 PROCEEDING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ADJUDICATORY

+ 54 HEARING OR ANY DISPOSITIONAL HEARING WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS; TO

+ 55 PROVIDE THAT THE COURT MAY CLOSE A YOUTH COURT HEARING IN ANY

+ 56 WELFARE MATTER AFTER A FINDING ON THE RECORD STATING THE REASON OR

+ 57 REASONS FOR CLOSING ALL OR PART OF A HEARING IN A YOUTH COURT

+ 58 PROCEEDING; TO AUTHORIZE THE YOUTH COURT TO CLOSE ANY HEARING IN

+ 59 ANY DELINQUENCY MATTER WITHOUT A FINDING ON THE RECORD; TO AMEND

+ 60 SECTION 43-21-257, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE

+ 61 REQUIREMENT OF THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT

+ 62 OF HUMAN SERVICES TO MAINTAIN A STATE CENTRAL REGISTRY; TO DELETE

View plain text versions (4)

Amendments

5 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. Returned For Enrolling

  5. Passed

  6. Title Suff Do Pass

  7. Referred To Judiciary B

  8. Transmitted To House

  9. Immediate Release

  10. Passed As Amended

  11. Amended

  12. Committee Substitute Adopted

  13. Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

  14. Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

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

Subjects

civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 2001?
SB 2001 is sponsored by Brice Wiggins (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 2001?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced July 15, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 2001?
Track SB 2001 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 2001

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 2001

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →