Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 1235 *HR26/R925* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R925
PAGE 1 (GT\KW)
To: Judiciary B;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Grady, Keen, Hall
HOUSE BILL NO. 1235
AN ACT TO CREATE "THE MISSISSIPPI HEROES SUPPORT FUND ACT"; 1
TO AUTHORIZE SOURCES OF MONEY FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE FUND; TO 2
AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO 3
ADMINISTER THE FUND; TO AUTHORIZE AN ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE 4
FUND TO ALL FULL-TIME, CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE 5
COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF SERVICE WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT 6
AGENCY IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE ALL MUNICIPAL, 7
COUNTY AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO RECEIVE ACCREDITATION 8
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION COMMISSION BY A 9
CERTAIN DATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 11
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "The 12
Mississippi Heroes Support Fund Act". 13
SECTION 2. For purposes of this act, the following terms 14
shall have the meanings described herein: 15
(a) "Accredited" means accreditation issued to a 16
municipal, county or state law enforcement agency by the 17
Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. 18
(b) "Full-time certified law enforcement officer" has 19
the meaning provided in Section 45-6-11. 20
(c) "Good standing" means as of October 1 of any year 21
in which distribution of the Mississippi Heroes Support Fund 22
H. B. No. 1235 *HR26/R925* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R925
PAGE 2 (GT\KW)
occurs, the certified law enforcement officer is not suspended or 23
under a reprimand, has not been suspended or reprimanded within 24
the previous twelve (12) months, or has not had his or her 25
certification recalled or cancelled within the previous twelve 26
(12) months. 27
SECTION 3. [Until January 1, 2030, the following section 28
shall read, as follows:] 29
(1) (a) The Mississippi Heroes Support Fund is hereby 30
established in the State Treasury as a special fund. The 31
administration and regulation of the fund shall be vested in the 32
Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and shall consist 33
of: 34
(i) Fifty percent (50%) of all fines and 35
assessments collected pursuant to Sections 99-19-73, 41-29-181, 36
99-19-307 and 63-1-43; 37
(ii) Donations to the fund from any source; and 38
(iii) Any interest accruing to the fund. 39
(b) By October 1 of each year, each municipal, county 40
and state law enforcement agency shall provide the Commissioner of 41
the Department of Public Safety with a list of all full-time 42
certified law enforcement officers who have completed at least one 43
(1) year of full-time service with the agency, is a current 44
employee with the agency and is otherwise in good standing with 45
the agency. By December 31 of each year, the Commissioner of the 46
Department of Public Safety shall evenly distribute all monies in 47
H. B. No. 1235 *HR26/R925* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R925
PAGE 3 (GT\KW)
the fund to any certified law enforcement officer who has 48
completed at least one (1) year of full-time service with a law 49
enforcement agency, is working as a full-time certified law 50
enforcement officer at the time of distribution of the fund and is 51
otherwise in good standing with his or her law enforcement agency. 52
(2) The Mississippi Heroes Support Fund is created as a 53
special fund in the State Treasury. Monies in the fund shall not 54
lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year, 55
and all interest and other earnings on the monies in the 56
Mississippi Heroes Support Fund shall be deposited to the credit 57
of the fund. 58
(3) All law enforcement agencies who seek to receive funds 59
from the Mississippi Heroes Support Fund shall be accredited by 60
the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission by 61
December 31, 2029. 62
[From and after January 1, 2030, the following section shall 63
read, as follows:] 64
(1) (a) The Mississippi Heroes Support Fund is hereby 65
established in the State Treasury as a special fund. The 66
administration and regulation of the fund shall be vested in the 67
Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, and shall consist 68
of: 69
(i) Fifty percent (50%) of all fines and 70
assessments collected pursuant to Sections 99-19-73, 41-29-181, 71
99-19-307 and 63-1-43; 72
H. B. No. 1235 *HR26/R925* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R925
PAGE 4 (GT\KW)
(ii) Donations to the fund from any source; and 73
(iii) Any interest accruing to the fund. 74
(b) By October 1 of each year, each municipal, county 75
and state law enforcement agency accredited by the Mississippi Law 76
Enforcement Accreditation Commission shall provide the 77
Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety with a list of all 78
full-time certified law enforcement officers that have completed 79
at least one year of full-time service with the agency, is a 80
current employee with the agency and is otherwise in good standing 81
with the agency. By December 31 of each year, the Commissioner of 82
the Department of Public Safety shall evenly distribute all monies 83
in the fund to any certified law enforcement officer who has 84
completed at least one (1) year of full-time service, is working 85
as a full-time certified law enforcement officer with an 86
accredited law enforcement agency and is otherwise in good 87
standing with his or her accredited law enforcement agency. 88
(c) The payments from the Mississippi Heroes Support 89
Fund shall only be awarded to officers employed by full-time law 90
enforcement agencies accredited by the Mississippi Law Enforcement 91
Accreditation Commission. The monies from the Mississippi Heroes 92
Support Fund shall only be provided to law enforcement officers 93
who are employed by a law enforcement agency accredited by the 94
Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. 95
(2) The Mississippi Heroes Support Fund is created as a 96
special fund in the State Treasury. Monies in the fund shall not 97
H. B. No. 1235 *HR26/R925* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R925
PAGE 5 (GT\KW)
ST: The Mississippi Heroes Support Fund; create
to authorize supplemental pay to law enforcement
officers.
lapse into the State General Fund at the end of the fiscal year, 98
and all interest and other earnings on the monies in the 99
Mississippi Heroes Support Fund shall be deposited to the credit 100
of the fund. 101
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 102
and after July 1, 2026. 103