MS HB377 | 2026 | Regular Session
Status
Completed Legislative Action
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: Passed on April 8 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-08 - Approved by Governor
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)
Status: Passed on April 8 2026 - 100% progression
Action: 2026-04-08 - Approved by Governor
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]
Summary
An Act To Provide Certain Procedures For Law Enforcement Agencies Concerning The Investigation Into A Missing Or Unidentified Person; To Require A Law Enforcement Agency To Initiate Certain Procedures Upon The Receipt Of A Credible Report Of A Missing Or Unidentified Person; To Require Certain Information About The Missing Or Unidentified Person To Be Entered Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System; To Prohibit A Law Enforcement Agency From Requiring A Delay Before Accepting A Report Or Requiring The Appearance Of A Next Of Kin Before Initiating A Missing Persons Investigation; To Require A Law Enforcement Agency Or The State Medical Examiner To Enter A Report Of A Missing Child Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System Without Delay; To Require The State Medical Examiner Test The Dna Of Unidentified Human Remains Using Forensic Genetic Genealogy Testing; To Amend Section 41-61-53, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define The Terms "unclaimed Human Remains" And "unidentified Human Remains"; To Amend Section 41-61-59, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That When A Body Is Unidentified Human Remains, The Body Shall Be Submitted To The State Medical Examiner; To Amend Section 41-61-61, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Upon Discovery Unidentified Human Remains Or Anatomical Material Suspected Of Being Part Of The Human Body Shall Be Submitted To The State Medical Examiner; To Provide That The Willful Destruction Of A Body, Body Part Or Unidentified Human Remains Shall Be A Felony; To Require The County Medical Examiner Investigator To Enter Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System All Unclaimed Human Remains Cases Within A Certain Amount Of Days; To Amend Section 41-39-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Any Physician, Hospital, Funeral Director, Embalmer, County Medical Examiner Or Other Person Acquiring Possession Of Unidentified Human Remains To Submit The Remains To The State Medical Examiner And Not Subject The Remains To Cremation, Embalming Or Other Destructive Treatment; To Amend Section 45-6-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require A Certain Amount Of Training Related To The Investigation Of Unidentified And Missing Persons For Law Enforcement Officers; And For Related Purposes.
Title
The Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act; create to require input of missing persons in NamUs.
Sponsors
Roll Calls
2026-03-31 - Senate - Senate Conference Report Adopted (Y: 52 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-31 - House - House Conference Report Adopted (Y: 120 N: 0 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-11 - Senate - Senate Passed As Amended (Y: 51 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-12 - House - House Passed (Y: 120 N: 0 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-31 - House - House Conference Report Adopted (Y: 120 N: 0 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-11 - Senate - Senate Passed As Amended (Y: 51 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-12 - House - House Passed (Y: 120 N: 0 NV: 2 Abs: 0) [PASS]
History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-08 | Approved by Governor | |
| 2026-04-06 | Senate | Enrolled Bill Signed |
| 2026-04-02 | House | Enrolled Bill Signed |
| 2026-03-31 | Senate | Conference Report Adopted |
| 2026-03-31 | House | Conference Report Adopted |
| 2026-03-30 | Senate | Conference Report Filed |
| 2026-03-30 | House | Conference Report Filed |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Conferees Named Fillingane,Barrett,Hickman |
| 2026-03-23 | House | Conferees Named Horan,Grady,McKnight |
| 2026-03-18 | House | Decline to Concur/Invite Conf |
| 2026-03-12 | Senate | Returned For Concurrence |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Passed As Amended |
| 2026-03-11 | Senate | Amended |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | Title Suff Do Pass As Amended |
| 2026-02-17 | Senate | Referred To Judiciary, Division B |
| 2026-02-13 | House | Transmitted To Senate |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Passed |
| 2026-02-12 | House | Committee Substitute Adopted |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Read the Third Time |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub |
| 2026-01-09 | House | Referred To Judiciary B |
Code Citations
| Chapter | Article | Section | Citation Type | Statute Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 39 | 5 | Amended Code | See Bill Text |
| 41 | 61 | 53 | Amended Code | See Bill Text |
| 41 | 61 | 59 | Amended Code | See Bill Text |
| 41 | 61 | 61 | Amended Code | See Bill Text |
| 45 | 6 | 7 | Amended Code | See Bill Text |
