Bill Text: MS SC529 | 2026 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Mississippi Senate Concurrent Resolution 529

Bill Title: Recognize Anniversary of "Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act" and Prison Fellowship.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2026-04-06 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC529 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2026-SC529-Enrolled.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) England, Frazier

Senate Concurrent Resolution 529

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTIONS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS UNDER THE RELIGIOUS LAND USE AND INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ACT OF 2000 (RLUIPA) ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND RECOGNIZING THE FAITH-BASED REHABILITATION CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE PRISON FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion, and these protections do not end at the prison gate; and

WHEREAS, RLUIPA ensures that individuals in prisons, jails, and other institutions receiving federal funds are not subjected to unjustified burdens on their religious exercise; and

WHEREAS, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, now in its 25th year, affirms the fundamental right of individuals who are incarcerated to freely exercise their faith while in custody; and

WHEREAS, under RLUIPA, governments may not impose a substantial burden on an incarcerated individual's religious exercise unless they can demonstrate that it furthers a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court has consistently upheld RLUIPA's constitutionality and importance in cases including Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005), Holt v. Hobbs (2015), Dunn v. Smith (2021), and Ramirez v. Collier (2022), reaffirming that religious liberty protections extend to incarcerated persons; and

WHEREAS, faith practice in correctional settings fosters personal accountability, improved mental health, and successful reentry into society, thereby promoting safer prisons and reducing recidivism; and

WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976 by the late Charles Colson following his personal conversion and strengthened faith during incarceration, has championed the religious liberty of incarcerated individuals and actively supported the adoption and defense of RLUIPA; and

WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship is the nation's largest Christian nonprofit serving prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, annually reaching more than 600,000 individuals and supported by more than 200,000 volunteers nationwide; and

WHEREAS, evaluations of Prison Fellowship's Academy program by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Baylor University, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections have shown significant reductions in recidivism: over 60% for program participants, demonstrating the power of faith-informed programming to transform lives; and

WHEREAS, Prison Fellowship will mark its 50th anniversary in 2026, continuing its mission to seek justice, love mercy, and restore hope for men and women behind bars, and to ensure robust opportunities for religious practice within prisons; and

WHEREAS, ongoing challenges such as correctional staffing shortages, pandemic restrictions, and over-reliance on digital access to religious content pose risks to the practice of faith behind bars:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby affirm our strong support for the protections for incarcerated individuals guaranteed under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we recognize the importance of safeguarding the religious exercise of all incarcerated individuals, regardless of faith tradition, as essential to rehabilitation, constitutional fidelity, and public safety.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby honor Prison Fellowship on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary and commend its decades of service in advancing restoration, rehabilitation, and second chances through faith-based programs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we encourage correctional agencies within Mississippi to adopt policies and practices consistent with both the letter and spirit of protections for incarcerated individuals in RLUIPA, ensuring that faith-based and volunteer-led programs remain accessible to those who seek them;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Mississippi Commissioner of Corrections, to each member of the state's congressional delegation, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.