Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Judiciary B Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 38
Voting rights; restore to people who have been released from incarceration.
What it does
The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.
AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO CERTAIN PERSONS DISQUALIFIED BY REASON OF CONVICTION OF A DISENFRANCHISING CRIME; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PERSONS SHALL BE ENFRANCHISED AFTER COMPLETING THE TERM OF INCARCERATION AND PAROLE OR UPON THE IMPOSITION OF A PROBATION-ONLY SENTENCE FOR SUCH CRIMES; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE REMOVAL OF A PERSON'S NAME FROM THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UNLESS THE PERSON IS SERVING A TERM OF INCARCERATION OR PAROLE FOR A DISENFRANCHISING CRIME AT THE TIME OF REMOVAL; TO PROVIDE THAT A COURT'S CERTIFICATION OF A CONVICTION FOR PURPOSES OF REMOVAL FROM THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MUST INDICATE THE TYPE OF SENTENCE IMPOSED; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-151, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CIRCUIT CLERK'S ENROLLMENT BOOK LISTING THE NAMES OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF DISENFRANCHISING CRIMES MUST BE UPDATED TO EXCLUDE THE NAMES OF THOSE PERSONS ENFRANCHISED UNDER THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-15-125 AND 23-15-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE VOTER ROLL AND POLLBOOKS MUST BE UPDATED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO ADOPT VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS THAT STATE THAT A PERSON RESTORED THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE UNDER THIS ACT IS NOT DISQUALIFIED FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-213, 23-15-223 AND 23-15-239, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TRAINING FOR ELECTION COMMISSIONERS, REGISTRARS AND POLL MANAGERS THAT INSTRUCTS THEM ON THEIR DUTIES WITH REGARD TO PERSONS RESTORED THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE UNDER THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO UPDATE THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIALS TO VERIFY WHETHER A PERSON HAS A DISQUALIFYING CONVICTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Sponsors
Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.
In the House of Representatives
Sponsor
Its course
January 7 to February 3, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.
Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.
Every action2 actions on 2 days
In the House of RepresentativesJan 7 to Feb 3 · stopped27 days
Judiciary BJan 7 to Feb 3 · stopped27 days
Text
Each version as the Legislature printed it.
l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.
What happened
In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.
In the House of Representatives Jan 7 – Feb 3
- Jan 7Referred to the House committees on Judiciary B and on Constitution
- Feb 3Died in committee in the House
All 2 actions, as published
- Jan 7Referred To Judiciary B;ConstitutionHouse of Representatives
- Feb 3Died In CommitteeHouse of Representatives