HB1698 • 2026

Mandatory minimum sentences for crimes committed by offenders; revise which offenders are eligible for.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY ELIGIBLE OFFENDER WHO HAS COMMITTED A NONVIOLENT CRIME OR VIOLENT CRIME ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1995, RATHER THAN JULY 1, 2014, SHALL NOT BE RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS UNTIL AFTER HE OR SHE HAS SERVED NO LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF HIS OR HER SENTENCE FOR A NONVIOLENT CRIME OR FIFTY PERCENT FOR A CRIME OF VIOLENCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime Firearms

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Banks
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact crimes excluded from the bill's scope beyond mentioning sex offenses and trafficking, but it lists specific violent crimes that have different minimum sentences.

Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Offenders

This bill changes the rules about when certain offenders can be released from prison by requiring them to serve a minimum amount of their sentence.

What This Bill Does

Changes the date that some offenders must start serving mandatory minimum sentences from July 1, 2014, to July 1, 1995.
Requires nonviolent offenders to serve at least 25% of their sentence before being released.
Requires violent crime offenders to serve at least 50% of their sentence before being released.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have committed crimes since July 1, 1995
The Department of Corrections

Terms To Know

Nonviolent crime: A crime that does not involve violence or the threat of violence.
Crime of violence: A serious crime involving violence, such as robbery with a deadly weapon, drive-by shooting, or carjacking.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
It is unclear how many offenders would be affected by this change.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Mandatory minimum sentences for crimes committed by offenders; revise which offenders are eligible for.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 1698 *HR43/R997* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R997
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Banks

HOUSE BILL NO. 1698

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-3.2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT ANY ELIGIBLE OFFENDER WHO HAS COMMITTED A 2
NONVIOLENT CRIME OR VIOLENT CRIME ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1995, RATHER 3
THAN JULY 1, 2014, SHALL NOT BE RELEASED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF 4
CORRECTIONS UNTIL AFTER HE OR SHE HAS SERVED NO LESS THAN 5
TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF HIS OR HER SENTENCE FOR A NONVIOLENT CRIME 6
OR FIFTY PERCENT FOR A CRIME OF VIOLENCE; AND FOR RELATED 7
PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Section 47-7-3.2, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10
amended as follows: 11
47-7-3.2. (1) Notwithstanding Section 47-5-138, 47-5-139, 12
47-5-138.1 or 47-5-142, no person convicted of a criminal offense 13
on or after July 1, * * * 1995, shall be released by the 14
department until he or she has served no less than the percentage 15
of the sentence or sentences imposed by the court as set forth 16
below: 17
(a) Twenty-five percent (25%) or ten (10) years, 18
whichever is less, for a nonviolent crime; 19
(b) Fifty percent (50%) or twenty (20) years, whichever 20
is less, for a crime of violence pursuant to Section 97-3-2, 21
H. B. No. 1698 *HR43/R997* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R997
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)
ST: Mandatory minimum sentences for crimes
committed by offenders; revise which offenders
are eligible for.
except for robbery with a deadly weapon as defined in Section 22
97-3-79, drive-by shooting as defined in Section 97-3-109, or 23
carjacking as defined in Section 97-3-117; 24
(c) Sixty percent (60%) or twenty-five (25) years, 25
whichever is less, for robbery with a deadly weapon as defined in 26
Section 97-3-79, drive-by shooting as defined in Section 97-3-109, 27
or carjacking as defined in Section 97-3-117. 28
(2) This section shall not apply to: 29
(a) Offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; 30
(b) Offenders convicted as habitual offenders pursuant 31
to Sections 99-19-81 through 99-19-87; 32
(c) Offenders serving a sentence for a sex offense; or 33
(d) Offenders serving a sentence for trafficking 34
pursuant to Section 41-29-139(f). 35
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 36
and after July 1, 2026. 37