Mississippi legislation · 2026 Extraordinary Session
Mississippi SB2001: The Mississippi Youth Court Reform Act of 2026; enact.
Status: Signed into law, July 17, 2026
AN ACT TO ENACT THE MISSISSIPPI YOUTH COURT REFORM ACT OF 2026; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RECOGNIZE THE UNIFORM RULES OF YOUTH COURT PRACTICE; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE TERMS "YOUTH COURT" AND "JUDGE"; TO DELETE THE TERM "DESIGNEE"; TO DEFINE THE TERMS "INTAKE OFFICER," "INTAKE UNIT," "PRE-PETITION GUARDIAN," "DIVERSION," "DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM," "YOUTH COURT PROSECUTOR," "CHILD WELFARE MATTER," "DELINQUENCY MATTER," AND "YOUTH COURT PROCEEDING"; TO AMEND SECTION 43-21-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE CREATION OF ANY COUNTY YOUTH COURT AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT; TO CREATE A YOUTH COURT DIVISION AS A DIVISION OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF EACH COUNTY IN WHICH THE YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE COUNTY COURT HAS BEEN ABOLISHED; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY FOR THE CREATION OF A YOUTH COURT DIVISION AS A DIVISION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT IN ANY CITY; TO REQUIRE FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2031, THAT EACH YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT HAS A COUNTY COURT JUDGE THAT EXCLUSIVELY HANDLES YOUTH COURT MATTERS AND CASES; TO ABOLISH EACH YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF A COUNTY COURT UNLESS THE COUNTY OPTS OUT OF THE PROVISION AND NOTIFIES THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2028, OF ITS INTENT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE COUNTY COURT AT ITS OWN EXPENSE OTHER THAN THE SALARY SUPPLEMENT RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 9-9-11; TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SENIOR CHANCELLOR TO APPOINT ANOTHER JUDGE IN THE YOUTH COURT DIVISION OF THE CHANCERY COURT; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY CHANCELLOR IN THE DISTRICT SHALL BE THE JUDGE SO THAT ALL YOUTH COURT MATTERS ARE HEARD AND DISPOSED OF BY A FULL-TIME JUDGE; TO CREATE CHANCELLORSHIPS IN CERTAIN CHANCERY DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE THE PROCEDURE FOR THE FILLING OF THE JUDICIAL VACANCY CREATED BY THIS ACT; TO REPEAL SECTION 43-21-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES REGULAR OR SPECIAL YOUTH COURT REFEREES O
What the bill says
An act to enact the mississippi youth court reform act of 2026; to amend section 43-21-103, mississippi code of 1972, to recognize the uniform rules of youth court practice; to amend section 43-21-105, mississippi code of 1972, to revise the terms "youth court" and "judge"; to delete the term "designee"; to define the terms "intake officer," "intake unit," "pre-petition guardian," "diversion," "data management system," "youth court prosecutor," "child welfare matter," "delinquency matter," and "youth court proceeding"…