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HB1324 • 2026

Aggravated manslaughter; create the crime of.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER; TO PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Sanford
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

Details about specific penalties for child homicide remain unchanged in this bill, but the official source material does not provide enough information to confirm or deny this claim.

Creating the Crime of Aggravated Manslaughter

This bill proposes to create a new crime called aggravated manslaughter with specific conditions and penalties.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new section to Mississippi's laws about manslaughter, creating the crime of aggravated manslaughter.
  • Defines aggravated manslaughter as when someone is found guilty of manslaughter under certain circumstances involving vulnerable adults or senior citizens over 65 years old, individuals with known physical or mental disabilities, or if the perpetrator had a prior violent crime conviction.
  • Sets penalties for aggravated manslaughter to be imprisonment from ten to thirty years in state custody.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit manslaughter under specific conditions that make it aggravated manslaughter.
  • Victims of manslaughter if the perpetrator meets certain criteria, such as having a prior violent crime or harming vulnerable adults and seniors.
  • The Department of Corrections which will be responsible for imprisoning those convicted.

Terms To Know

Vulnerable adult
An individual who is unable to care for themselves due to physical or mental disabilities.
Crime of violence
A type of crime that involves the use or threat of force against another person, as defined by Mississippi law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It does not specify how it will be enforced or funded.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Aggravated manslaughter; create the crime of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 1324 *HR43/R1953* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1953
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Sanford

HOUSE BILL NO. 1324

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
CREATE THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER; TO PROVIDE THE 2
ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR 3
RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 97-3-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
97-3-25. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, 8
any person convicted of manslaughter shall be fined in a sum not 9
less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in the 10
county jail not more than one (1) year, or both, or in the custody 11
of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) years, nor 12
more than twenty (20) years. 13
(2) (a) A person is guilty of child homicide if: 14
(i) The person is found guilty of manslaughter in 15
circumstances where the killing, although without malice, was 16
intentional and not accidental; and 17
H. B. No. 1324 *HR43/R1953* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1953
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)
ST: Aggravated manslaughter; create the crime
of.
(ii) The perpetrator was over the age of 18
twenty-one (21) years and the victim was a child under the age of 19
eighteen (18) years. 20
(b) A person found guilty of child homicide shall be 21
imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a 22
term not to exceed thirty (30) years. 23
(3) (a) A person is guilty of aggravated manslaughter if 24
the person is found guilty of manslaughter in circumstances where 25
the killing, although without malice, was intentional and not 26
accidental; and: 27
(i) The victim was a vulnerable adult, a senior 28
citizen who was over the age of sixty-five (65) years of age; or 29
an individual with known physical or mental disabilities; or 30
(ii) At the time of offense, the perpetrator had a 31
prior conviction of a crime of violence listed under Section 32
97–3–2. 33
(b) A person convicted of aggravated manslaughter shall 34
be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for 35
a term not less than ten (10) years nor more than thirty (30) 36
years. 37
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after its passage. 39