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HB1295 • 2026

Juror qualifications; revise.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETENT JURORS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Owen
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Changing Rules for Being a Juror

This bill changes the requirements to become a competent juror in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes who can be a juror by requiring them to be at least 21 years old and either an active voter or a resident of their county for over one year.
  • Adds that jurors must be able to read and write, and have not been convicted of certain crimes within the last five years.
  • Says that people who have overseen public roads or worked as road contractors in the past 12 months cannot serve on grand juries.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to be jurors in Mississippi courts.

Terms To Know

Competent juror
A person who meets the legal requirements to serve as a juror.
Grand jury
A group of people who decide if there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and will not become law.
  • It does not specify how the changes would be enforced or what happens to current jurors who do not meet the new requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/19 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

  3. 2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/12 (H) Transmitted To Senate

  4. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (H) Passed

  5. 2026-02-02 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/02 (H) Title Suff Do Pass

  6. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Juror qualifications; revise.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1295 *HR26/R1696* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R1696
PAGE 1 (GT\KW)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Owen

HOUSE BILL NO. 1295

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 13-5-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETENT JURORS; AND FOR RELATED 2
PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. Section 13-5-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 5
amended as follows: 6
13-5-1. Every citizen not under the age of twenty-one (21) 7
years, who is either a * * * designated as an active voter in the 8
Statewide Election Management System, or a resident freeholder of 9
the county for more than one (1) year, is able to read and write, 10
and has not been convicted of an infamous crime, or the unlawful 11
sale of intoxicating liquors within a period of five (5) years and 12
who is not a common gambler or habitual drunkard, is a competent 13
juror. No person who is or has been within twelve (12) months the 14
overseer of a public road or road contractor shall, however, be 15
competent to serve as a grand juror. The lack of any such 16
qualifications on the part of one or more jurors shall not, 17
however, vitiate an indictment or verdict. Moreover, no talesman 18
H. B. No. 1295 *HR26/R1696* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1696
PAGE 2 (GT\KW)

or tales juror shall be qualified who has served as such talesman 19
or tales juror in the last preceding two (2) years, and no juror 20
shall serve on any jury who has served as such for the last 21
preceding two (2) years. No juror shall serve who has a case of 22
his own pending in that court, provided there are sufficient 23
qualified jurors in the district, and for trial at that term. 24
In order to determine that prospective jurors can read and 25
write, the presiding judge shall, with the assistance of the 26
clerk, distribute to the jury panel a form to be completed 27
personally by each juror prior to being empaneled as follows: 28
"1. Your name ________ last ________ first ________ middle 29
initial. 30
2. Your home address ________ . 31
3. Your occupation ________ . 32
4. Your age ________ . 33
5. Your telephone number ________ . If none, write none. 34
6. If you live outside the county seat, the number of miles 35
you live from the courthouse ________ miles. 36
______________________ 37
Sign your name" 38
The judge shall personally examine the answers of each juror 39
prior to empaneling the jury and each juror who cannot complete 40
the above form shall be disqualified as a juror and discharged. 41
A list of any jurors disqualified for jury duty by reason of 42
inability to complete the form shall be kept by the circuit clerk 43
H. B. No. 1295 *HR26/R1696* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R1696
PAGE 3 (GT\KW)
ST: Juror qualifications; revise.
and their names shall not be placed in the jury box thereafter 44
until such person can qualify as above provided. 45
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 46
and after July 1, 2026. 47