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HB375 • 2026

Disabled veterans; establish right to appeal in forma pauperis in certain cases.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT OF A DISABLED VETERAN TO PROCEED ON APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS IN CASES WHERE A JUDGMENT CREDITOR SEEKS TO COLLECT A DEBT FROM FUNDS DERIVED FROM THE VETERAN'S DISABILITY BENEFITS AND IN CASES WHERE THE VETERAN, AS A DEFENDANT OR PLAINTIFF, HAS BEEN PERMITTED TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS IN THE TRIAL COURT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law, so its provisions are hypothetical.

Disabled Veterans' Right to Appeal Without Paying Fees

This bill would allow disabled veterans who are defendants or plaintiffs and have been permitted to proceed without paying court fees in the trial court to also appeal without paying fees if certain conditions are met.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows a disabled veteran to file an appeal without paying fees when a creditor tries to collect a debt from their disability benefits.
  • Permits a disabled veteran who has already been allowed to proceed without paying fees in the trial court to also do so on appeal, unless the trial court certifies that the veteran is no longer eligible.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Disabled veterans who are defendants or plaintiffs in civil cases and have been allowed to proceed without paying court fees in the trial court.
  • Judgment creditors seeking to collect debts from disabled veterans' benefits.

Terms To Know

In Forma Pauperis
A legal term that allows a person who cannot afford to pay for court costs and fees to proceed without paying them.
Judgment Creditor
Someone who has been given the right by a court judgment to collect money or property from another person (the debtor).

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It only applies if the bill had become law, starting July 1, 2026.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/09 (H) Referred To Military Affairs;Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

Disabled veterans; establish right to appeal in forma pauperis in certain cases.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 375 *HR43/R99* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R99
PAGE 1 (BS\KP)

To: Military Affairs;
Judiciary A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Osborne

HOUSE BILL NO. 375

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE RIGHT OF A DISABLED VETERAN TO 1
PROCEED ON APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS IN CASES WHERE A JUDGMENT 2
CREDITOR SEEKS TO COLLECT A DEBT FROM FUNDS DERIVED FROM THE 3
VETERAN'S DISABILITY BENEFITS AND IN CASES WHERE THE VETERAN, AS A 4
DEFENDANT OR PLAINTIFF, HAS BEEN PERMITTED TO PROCEED IN FORMA 5
PAUPERIS IN THE TRIAL COURT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. (1) A disabled veteran judgment debtor sued in a 8
civil case in any court in the state by a creditor seeking to 9
collect a debt from funds of the disabled veteran which are 10
derived from disability benefits from the United States Department 11
of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration or any other 12
source who desires to appeal the decision of the trial court may 13
proceed on appeal in forma pauperis. The veteran defendant shall 14
file a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis in the trial 15
court, together with an affidavit establishing that the defendant 16
is a disabled veteran. If the motion is granted, the defendant 17
may so proceed without further application to any appellate court, 18
including the Mississippi Supreme Court, and without the 19
prepayment of fees or costs in either court. If the motion is 20
H. B. No. 375 *HR43/R99* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R99
PAGE 2 (BS\KP)

denied, the trial court must state in writing the reasons for the 21
denial. 22
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a 23
disabled veteran who is a party defendant or plaintiff in any 24
action who has been permitted to proceed in forma pauperis in the 25
trial court may proceed on appeal in forma pauperis without 26
further authorization unless, either before or after notice of 27
appeal is filed, the trial court certifies that the party is no 28
longer disabled and is not entitled otherwise to proceed in forma 29
pauperis. The court shall state in writing the reasons for this 30
certification or finding. When an appeal is taken to the 31
Mississippi Supreme Court in forma pauperis, the certification of 32
compliance required by Rule 11(b)(1) of the Mississippi Rules of 33
Appellate Procedure must indicate that the appeal is taken in 34
forma pauperis. 35
(3) If a motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma 36
pauperis is denied by the trial court, the trial court clerk 37
immediately must serve notice of the action. A motion for leave 38
so to proceed may be filed in the Mississippi Supreme Court within 39
thirty (30) days after service of notice of the action of the 40
trial court. The motion must be accompanied by a copy of the 41
affidavit filed in the trial court, or by the affidavit prescribed 42
by Rule 6(a)(1) of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure if 43
no affidavit has been filed in the trial court, and by a copy of 44
H. B. No. 375 *HR43/R99* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R99
PAGE 3 (BS\KP)
ST: Disabled veterans; establish right to
appeal in forma pauperis in certain cases.
the statement of the reasons given by the trial court for its 45
action. 46
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 47
and after July 1, 2026. 48