Bill Text: MS HB372 | 2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Employment; prohibit denial of solely because a person has been convicted of a felony.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2026-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB372 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2026-HB372-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Business and Commerce; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Representative Osborne

House Bill 372

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE DENIED EMPLOYMENT SOLELY BECAUSE HE OR SHE HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall be denied employment solely because he or she has been convicted of a felony by any of the following actions:

          (a)  Prohibiting the person from applying for an open position;

          (b)  Disqualifying the person for an open position for which he or she is otherwise qualified; or

          (c)  Dismissing or terminating the person from his or her current position.

     (2)  For purposes of this section, a "felony" means a crime that is a felony under the laws of this state or that is punishable by imprisonment for one (1) year or more in a federal court or a court of competent jurisdiction of any other state.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.