Civil Legal Assistance Fund; specify funding of from certain sources.

H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 1 (ELS\KP)

To: Judiciary A;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Watson

HOUSE BILL NO. 386

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-21-43, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
SPECIFY THE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE 2
FUND; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 25-7-9 AND 25-7-13, MISSISSIPPI 3
CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; TO REENACT 4
SECTIONS 27-19-56.99 AND 27-19-56.135, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 5
WHICH WERE REPEALED BY SECTION 29, CHAPTER 432, LAWS OF 2018, 6
WHICH SPECIFY CHANCERY AND CIRCUIT COURT FEES AND FEES FOR CERTAIN 7
SPECIALIZED MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Section 9-21-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10
amended as follows: 11
9-21-43. (1) There is * * * created in the State Treasury a 12
special fund designated as the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. The 13
funds shall be administered by the Supreme Court through the 14
Administrative Office of Courts. The special fund shall consist 15
of monies from the fees collected by the clerks of the chancery 16
courts for each civil filing as provided in Section 25-7-9 and by 17
the clerks of the circuit court for each civil filing as provided 18
in Section 25-7-13, and from the fees collected on distinctive 19
license tags issued pursuant to Sections 27-19-56.99 and 20
27-19-56.135, and any other monies made available for the fund by 21
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 2 (ELS\KP)

the Legislature. The Administrative Office of Courts may also 22
accept monies from any public or private source for deposit into 23
the fund. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year 24
shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest 25
earned from the investment of monies in the fund shall be 26
deposited to the credit of the * * * fund. 27
(2) All monies shall be allocated to only those 28
organizations providing legal services to low income 29
Mississippians. Furthermore, no monies from this fund shall be 30
expended to provide legal services in matters currently prohibited 31
by the Legal Services Corporation, Washington, D.C., and no funds 32
shall be expended on persons who are not financially eligible to 33
receive legal services as directed by the Legal Services 34
Corporation, Washington, D.C. 35
(3) The monies appropriated shall be distributed to eligible 36
legal services programs based on the percentage of poverty 37
population within the program service area, consistent with the 38
formula used by the Legal Services Corporation. 39
(4) Monies appropriated to the fund may be used to promote 40
increased participation by the private bar in the delivery of 41
legal services to the indigent through the Mississippi Volunteer 42
Lawyers Project. 43
(5) Recipients of funds shall have the following duties: 44
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 3 (ELS\KP)

(a) To develop, operate and administer programs within 45
their respective service areas that provide free legal services to 46
indigent clients involved in civil matters; 47
(b) To report annually to the Supreme Court, through 48
the Administrative Office of Courts, on its activities, including 49
providing a copy of its annual audit that accounts for the use of 50
the funds; and 51
(c) To refund annually all unused or uncommitted funds. 52
SECTION 2. Section 25-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 53
brought forward as follows: 54
[From and after January 1, 2024, and through December 31, 55
2027, this section shall read as follows:] 56
25-7-9. (1) The clerks of the chancery courts shall charge 57
the following fees: 58
(a) For the act of certifying copies of filed 59
documents, for each complete document................... $ 1.00 60
(b) (i) Recording each deed, will, lease, amendment, 61
subordination, lien, release, cancellation, order, decree, oath, 62
etc., per book and page listed where applicable, each deed of 63
trust, or any other document, for the first five (5) 64
pages................................................... $ 25.00 65
(ii) Each additional page............... $ 1.00 66
(c) (i) Recording oil and gas leases, cancellations, 67
etc., including indexing in general indices; for the first five 68
(5) pages............................................... $ 25.00 69
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 4 (ELS\KP)

(ii) Recording each oil and gas assignment, 70
amendment of assignment, release, etc., first five (5) 71
pages................................................... $ 25.00 72
per additional assignee................................. $ 18.00 73
(iii) Each additional page.............. $ 1.00 74
(iv) Sectional index entries per section or 75
subdivision lot......................................... $ 1.00 76
(v) Archive fee......................... $ 1.00 77
(vi) Entering marginal notations, if requested on 78
document or by cover letter, pertaining to the recording of any 79
oil and gas document only per book and page............. $ 4.00 80
(d) (i) Furnishing copies of any papers of record or 81
on file: 82
If performed by the clerk or his employee, 83
per page................................................ $ .50 84
If performed by any other person, 85
per page................................................ $ .25 86
(ii) Entering marginal notations on 87
documents of record..................................... $ 1.00 88
(e) For attending the board of supervisors' meeting, an 89
annual sum not exceeding................................ $ 2,500.00 90
(f) For other services as clerk of the board of 91
supervisors an allowance shall be made to him (payable 92
semiannually at the July and January meetings) out of the county 93
treasury, an annual sum not exceeding................... $ 5,500.00 94
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 5 (ELS\KP)

(g) For each day's attendance on the chancery court, to 95
be approved by the chancellor: 96
For the first chancellor sitting only, clerk and two (2) deputies, 97
each.................................................... $ 85.00 98
For the second chancellor sitting, clerk only........... $ 85.00 99
Provided that the fees herein prescribed shall be the total 100
remuneration for the clerk and his deputies for attending chancery 101
court. 102
(h) On order of the court, clerks and not more than two 103
(2) deputies may be allowed five (5) extra days for each term of 104
court for attendance upon the court to get up records. 105
(i) For public service not otherwise specifically 106
provided for, the chancery court may by order allow the clerk to 107
be paid by the county on the order of the board of supervisors, an 108
annual sum not exceeding................................$ 5,000.00 109
(j) For each civil filing, to be deposited into the 110
Civil Legal Assistance Fund............................. $ 5.00 111
The chancery clerk shall itemize on the original document a 112
detailed fee bill of all charges due or paid for filing, recording 113
and abstracting same. No person shall be required to pay such 114
fees until same have been so itemized, but those fees may be 115
demanded before the document is recorded. 116
(2) The following fee shall be a total fee for all services 117
performed by the clerk with respect to any civil case filed that 118
includes, but is not limited to, divorce, alteration of birth or 119
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 6 (ELS\KP)

marriage certificate, removal of minority, guardianship or 120
conservatorship, estate of deceased, adoption that does not 121
involve the Department of Child Protection Services, land dispute 122
injunction, settlement of small claim, contempt, modification, 123
partition suit, or commitment, which shall be payable upon filing 124
and shall accrue to the chancery clerk at the time of filing. The 125
clerk or his successor in office shall perform all duties set 126
forth without additional compensation or fee............ $ 85.00 127
(3) For every civil case filed: 128
(a) An additional fee to be deposited to the credit of 129
the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund established in 130
Section 9-21-14......................................... $ 10.00 131
(b) An additional fee to be deposited to the 132
credit of the Judicial System Operation Fund established in 133
Section 9-21-45......................................... $ 40.00 134
(4) Cost of process shall be borne by the issuing party. 135
Additionally, should the attorney or person filing the pleadings 136
desire the clerk to pay the cost to the sheriff for serving 137
process on one (1) person or more, or to pay the cost of 138
publication, the clerk shall demand the actual charges therefor, 139
at the time of filing. 140
(5) For each civil case filed including an adoption 141
involving the Department of Child Protection Services, the filing 142
shall be exempt from any fee under this section. 143
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 7 (ELS\KP)

[From and after January 1, 2028, this section shall read as 144
follows:] 145
25-7-9. (1) The clerks of the chancery courts shall charge 146
the following fees: 147
(a) For the act of certifying copies of filed 148
documents, for each complete document................... $ 1.00 149
(b) (i) Recording each deed, will, lease, amendment, 150
subordination, lien, release, cancellation, order, decree, oath, 151
etc., per book and page listed where applicable, each deed of 152
trust, or any other document, for the first five (5) 153
pages................................................... $ 25.00 154
(ii) Each additional page............... $ 1.00 155
(c) (i) Recording oil and gas leases, cancellations, 156
etc., including indexing in general indices; for the first five 157
(5) pages............................................... $ 25.00 158
(ii) Recording each oil and gas assignment, 159
amendment of assignment, release, etc., first five (5) 160
pages................................................... $ 25.00 161
per additional assignee................................. $ 18.00 162
(iii) Each additional page.............. $ 1.00 163
(iv) Sectional index entries per section or 164
subdivision lot......................................... $ 1.00 165
(v) Archive fee......................... $ 1.00 166
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 8 (ELS\KP)

(vi) Entering marginal notations, if requested on 167
document or by cover letter, pertaining to the recording of any 168
oil and gas document only per book and page............. $ 4.00 169
(d) (i) Furnishing copies of any papers of record or 170
on file: 171
If performed by the clerk or his employee, 172
per page................................................ $ .50 173
If performed by any other person, 174
per page................................................ $ .25 175
(ii) Entering marginal notations on 176
documents of record..................................... $ 1.00 177
(e) For attending the board of supervisors' meeting an 178
annual sum not exceeding................................ $ 5,000.00 179
(f) For other services as clerk of the board of 180
supervisors an allowance shall be made to him (payable 181
semiannually at the July and January meetings) out of the county 182
treasury, an annual sum not exceeding................... $10,000.00 183
(g) For each day's attendance on the chancery court, to 184
be approved by the chancellor: 185
For the first chancellor sitting only, clerk and two (2) deputies, 186
each.................................................... $ 85.00 187
For the second chancellor sitting, clerk only........... $ 85.00 188
Provided that the fees herein prescribed shall be the total 189
remuneration for the clerk and his deputies for attending chancery 190
court. 191
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 9 (ELS\KP)

(h) On order of the court, clerks and not more than two 192
(2) deputies may be allowed five (5) extra days for each term of 193
court for attendance upon the court to get up records. 194
(i) For public service not otherwise specifically 195
provided for, the chancery court may by order allow the clerk to 196
be paid by the county on the order of the board of supervisors, an 197
annual sum not exceeding................................ $ 5,000.00 198
(j) For each civil filing, to be deposited into the 199
Civil Legal Assistance Fund............................. $ 5.00 200
The chancery clerk shall itemize on the original document a 201
detailed fee bill of all charges due or paid for filing, recording 202
and abstracting same. No person shall be required to pay such 203
fees until same have been so itemized, but those fees may be 204
demanded before the document is recorded. 205
(2) The following fee shall be a total fee for all services 206
performed by the clerk with respect to any civil case filed that 207
includes, but is not limited to, divorce, alteration of birth or 208
marriage certificate, removal of minority, guardianship or 209
conservatorship, estate of deceased, adoption that does not 210
involve the Department of Child Protection Services, land dispute 211
injunction, settlement of small claim, contempt, modification, 212
partition suit, or commitment, which shall be payable upon filing 213
and shall accrue to the chancery clerk at the time of filing. The 214
clerk or his successor in office shall perform all duties set 215
forth without additional compensation or fee............ $ 85.00 216
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 10 (ELS\KP)

(3) For every civil case filed: 217
(a) An additional fee to be deposited to the credit of 218
the Comprehensive Electronic Court Systems Fund established in 219
Section 9-21-14......................................... $ 10.00 220
(b) An additional fee to be deposited to the 221
credit of the Judicial System Operation Fund established in 222
Section 9-21-45......................................... $ 40.00 223
(4) Cost of process shall be borne by the issuing party. 224
Additionally, should the attorney or person filing the pleadings 225
desire the clerk to pay the cost to the sheriff for serving 226
process on one (1) person or more, or to pay the cost of 227
publication, the clerk shall demand the actual charges therefor, 228
at the time of filing. 229
(5) For each civil case filed including an adoption 230
involving the Department of Child Protection Services, the filing 231
shall be exempt from any fee under this section. 232
SECTION 3. Section 25-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 233
brought forward as follows: 234
25-7-13. (1) The clerks of the circuit court shall charge 235
the following fees: 236
(a) Docketing, filing, marking and registering each 237
complaint, petition and indictment....................... $ 85.00 238
The fee set forth in this paragraph shall be the total fee 239
for all services performed by the clerk up to and including entry 240
of judgment with respect to each complaint, petition or 241
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 11 (ELS\KP)

indictment, including all answers, claims, orders, continuances 242
and other papers filed therein, issuing each writ, summons, 243
subpoena or other such instruments, swearing witnesses, taking and 244
recording bonds and pleas, and recording judgments, orders, fiats 245
and certificates; the fee shall be payable upon filing and shall 246
accrue to the clerk at the time of collection. The clerk or his 247
or her successor in office shall perform all duties set forth 248
above without additional compensation or fee. 249
(b) Docketing and filing each motion to renew judgment, 250
notice of renewal of judgment, suggestion for a writ of 251
garnishment, suggestion for a writ of execution and judgment 252
debtor actions and issuing all process, filing and recording 253
orders or other papers and swearing witnesses............ $ 35.00 254
(c) For every civil case filed, an additional fee to be 255
deposited to the credit of the Comprehensive Electronic Court 256
Systems Fund established in Section 9-21-14.............. $ 10.00 257
(d) For every civil case filed, an additional fee to be 258
deposited to the credit of the Judicial System Operation Fund 259
established in Section 9-21-45........................... $ 40.00 260
(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, 261
the clerks of the circuit court shall charge the following fees: 262
(a) Filing and marking each order or other paper and 263
recording and indexing same.............................. $ 2.00 264
(b) Issuing each writ, summons, subpoena, citation, 265
capias and other such instruments........................ $ 1.00 266
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 12 (ELS\KP)

(c) Administering an oath and taking bond..... $ 2.00 267
(d) Certifying copies of filed documents, for each 268
complete document........................................ $ 1.00 269
(e) Recording orders, fiats, licenses, certificates, 270
oaths and bonds: 271
First page.......................................... $ 2.00 272
Each additional page................................ $ 1.00 273
(f) Furnishing copies of any papers of record or on 274
file and entering marginal notations on documents of record: 275
If performed by the clerk or his or her employee, 276
per page................................................. $ 1.00 277
If performed by any other person, per page.......... $ .25 278
(g) Judgment roll entry....................... $ 5.00 279
(h) Taxing cost and certificate............... $ 1.00 280
(i) For taking and recording application for marriage 281
license, for filing and recording consent of parents when required 282
by law, for filing and recording medical certificate, filing and 283
recording proof of age, recording and issuing license, recording 284
and filing returns....................................... $ 35.00 285
The clerk shall deposit Fourteen Dollars ($14.00) of each fee 286
collected for a marriage license in the Victims of Domestic 287
Violence Fund established in Section 93-21-117, on a monthly 288
basis. 289
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 13 (ELS\KP)

(j) For certified copy of marriage license and search 290
of record, the same fee charged by the Bureau of Vital Statistics 291
of the State Board of Health. 292
(k) For public service not particularly provided for, 293
the circuit court may allow the clerk, per annum, to be paid by 294
the county on presentation of the circuit court's order, the 295
following amount......................................... $5,000.00 296
However, in the counties having two (2) judicial districts, 297
such above allowance shall be made for each judicial district. 298
(l) For drawing jurors and issuing venire, to be paid 299
by the county............................................ $ 5.00 300
(m) For each day's attendance upon the circuit court 301
term, for himself or herself and necessary deputies allowed by the 302
court, each to be paid by the county..................... $ 85.00 303
(n) Summons, each juror to be paid by the county upon 304
the allowance of the court............................... $ 1.00 305
(o) For issuing each grand jury subpoena, to be paid by 306
the county on allowance by the court, not to exceed Twenty-five 307
Dollars ($25.00) in any one (1) term of 308
court.................................................... $ 1.00 309
(p) For each civil filing, to be deposited into the 310
Civil Legal Assistance Fund.............................. $ 5.00 311
(3) On order of the court, clerks and deputies may be 312
allowed five (5) extra days for attendance upon the court to get 313
up records. 314
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 14 (ELS\KP)

(4) The clerk's fees in state cases where the state fails in 315
the prosecution, or in cases of felony where the defendant is 316
convicted and the cost cannot be made out of his or her estate, in 317
an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) in one (1) 318
year, shall be paid out of the county treasury on approval of the 319
circuit court, and the allowance thereof by the board of 320
supervisors of the county. In counties having two (2) judicial 321
districts, such allowance shall be made in each judicial district; 322
however, the maximum thereof shall not exceed Eight Hundred 323
Dollars ($800.00). Clerks in the circuit court, in cases where 324
appeals are taken in criminal cases and no appeal bond is filed, 325
shall be allowed by the board of supervisors of the county after 326
approval of their accounts by the circuit court, in addition to 327
the above fees, for making such transcript the rate of Two Dollars 328
($2.00) per page. 329
(5) The clerk of the circuit court may retain as his or her 330
commission on all money coming into his or her hands, by law or 331
order of the court, a sum to be fixed by the court not exceeding 332
one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) on all such sums. 333
(6) For making final records required by law, including, but 334
not limited to, circuit and county court minutes, and furnishing 335
transcripts of records, the circuit clerk shall charge Two Dollars 336
($2.00) per page. The same fees shall be allowed to all officers 337
for making and certifying copies of records or papers which they 338
are authorized to copy and certify. 339
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 15 (ELS\KP)

(7) The circuit clerk shall prepare an itemized statement of 340
fees for services performed, cost incurred, or for furnishing 341
copies of any papers of record or on file, and shall submit the 342
statement to the parties or, if represented, to their attorneys 343
within sixty (60) days. A bill for same shall accompany the 344
statement. 345
SECTION 4. Section 27-19-56.99, Mississippi Code of 1972, 346
which was repealed by Section 29, Chapter 432, Laws of 2018, is 347
reenacted as follows: 348
27-19-56.99. (1) Any owner of a motor vehicle, who is a 349
resident of this state, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws 350
relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and upon 351
payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, ad valorem taxes 352
and registration fees as prescribed by law for private carriers of 353
passengers, pickup trucks and other noncommercial motor vehicles, 354
and upon payment of an additional annual fee in the amount 355
provided in subsection (3) of this section, shall be issued a 356
special license tag for each motor vehicle registered in his name 357
identifying such person as a supporter of the Civil Legal 358
Assistance Fund. The distinctive license tags so issued shall be 359
of such color and design as the Department of Revenue, with the 360
advice of the Administrative Office of Courts, may prescribe, and 361
shall consist of such letters or numbers, or both, as may be 362
necessary to distinguish each license tag. 363
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 16 (ELS\KP)

(2) Application for the distinctive license tags authorized 364
by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms 365
prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The application and the 366
additional fee imposed under subsection (3) of this section, less 367
Two Dollars ($2.00) thereof to be retained by the tax collector, 368
shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue on a monthly basis 369
as prescribed by the department. The portion of the additional 370
fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the 371
county general fund. 372
(3) Beginning with any registration year commencing on or 373
after July 1, 2004, any person applying for a distinctive license 374
tag under this section shall pay an additional fee in the amount 375
of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) for each distinctive license tag 376
applied for under this section, which shall be in addition to all 377
other taxes and fees. The additional fee paid shall be for a 378
period of time to run concurrently with the vehicle's established 379
license tag year. The additional fee is due and payable at the 380
time the original application is made for a distinctive license 381
tag under this section and thereafter annually at the time of 382
renewal registration as long as the owner retains the distinctive 383
license tag. If the owner does not wish to retain the distinctive 384
license tag, he must surrender it to the local county tax 385
collector. 386
(4) The Department of Revenue shall deposit all fees into 387
the State Treasury on the day collected. At the end of each 388
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 17 (ELS\KP)

month, the Department of Revenue shall certify to the State 389
Treasurer the total fees collected under this section from the 390
issuance of the distinctive license tags issued under this 391
section. The State Treasurer shall distribute such collections as 392
follows: 393
(a) Twenty-four Dollars ($24.00) of each additional fee 394
collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this 395
section shall be disbursed to the Civil Legal Assistance Fund 396
created under Section 9-21-43. 397
(b) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected 398
on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall 399
be deposited into the Mississippi Burn Care Fund created pursuant 400
to Section 7-9-70. 401
(c) Two Dollars ($2.00) of each additional fee 402
collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this 403
section shall be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund 404
to be expended solely for the repair, maintenance, construction or 405
reconstruction of highways. 406
(d) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected 407
on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall 408
be deposited to the credit of the special fund created in Section 409
27-19-44.2. 410
(5) A regular license tag must be properly displayed as 411
required by law until replaced by a distinctive license tag under 412
this section. The regular license tag must be surrendered to the 413
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 18 (ELS\KP)

tax collector upon issuance of the distinctive license tag under 414
this section. The tax collector shall issue up to two (2) license 415
decals for each distinctive license tag issued under this section, 416
which will expire the same month and year as the regular license 417
tag. 418
(6) In the case of loss or theft of a distinctive license 419
tag issued under this section, the owner may make application and 420
affidavit for a replacement distinctive license tag as provided by 421
Section 27-19-37. The fee for a replacement distinctive license 422
tag shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00). The tax collector receiving 423
such application and affidavit shall be entitled to retain and 424
deposit into the county general fund five percent (5%) of the fee 425
for such replacement license tag and the remainder shall be 426
distributed proportionately in the same manner as funds from the 427
sale of regular distinctive license tags issued under this 428
section. 429
SECTION 5. Section 27-19-56.135, Mississippi Code of 1972, 430
which was repealed by Section 29, Chapter 432, Laws of 2018, is 431
reenacted as follows: 432
27-19-56.135. (1) Beginning with any registration year 433
commencing on or after July 1, 2011, any owner of a motor vehicle 434
who is a member of The Mississippi Bar, upon complying with the 435
motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor 436
vehicles, and upon payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, 437
ad valorem taxes and registration fees as prescribed by law for 438
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 19 (ELS\KP)

private carriers of passengers, pickup trucks and other 439
noncommercial motor vehicles, and upon payment of an additional 440
annual fee in the amount provided in subsection (3), shall be 441
issued a special license tag for each motor vehicle registered in 442
his name identifying such person as an attorney. The distinctive 443
license tags so issued shall be of such color and design as the 444
Department of Revenue, with the advice of The Mississippi Bar and 445
the Magnolia Bar Association, may prescribe, and shall consist of 446
such letters or numbers, or both, as may be necessary to 447
distinguish each license tag. 448
(2) Application for the distinctive license tags authorized 449
by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms 450
prescribed by the Department of Revenue. The applicant's bar 451
identification card shall be presented at that time as proof of 452
membership in The Mississippi Bar. The application and the 453
additional fee imposed under subsection (3) of this section, less 454
Two Dollars ($2.00) thereof to be retained by the tax collector, 455
shall be remitted to the Department of Revenue on a monthly basis 456
as prescribed by the department. The portion of the additional 457
fee retained by the tax collector shall be deposited into the 458
county general fund. 459
(3) Any person applying for a distinctive license tag under 460
this section shall pay an additional fee in the amount of Thirty 461
Dollars ($30.00) for each distinctive license tag applied for 462
under this section, which shall be in addition to all other taxes 463
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 20 (ELS\KP)

and fees. The additional fee paid shall be for a period of time 464
to run concurrently with the vehicle's established license tag 465
year. The additional fee is due and payable at the time the 466
original application is made for a distinctive license tag under 467
this section and thereafter annually at the time of renewal 468
registration as long as the owner retains the distinctive license 469
tag. If the owner does not wish to retain the distinctive license 470
tag, he must surrender it to the local county tax collector. 471
(4) The Department of Revenue shall deposit all fees into 472
the State Treasury on the day collected. At the end of each 473
month, the Department of Revenue shall certify to the State 474
Treasurer the total fees collected under this section from the 475
issuance of the distinctive license tags issued under this 476
section. The State Treasurer shall distribute such collections as 477
follows: 478
(a) Twenty-four Dollars ($24.00) of each additional fee 479
collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this 480
section shall be disbursed to the Mississippi Civil Legal 481
Assistance Fund. 482
(b) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected 483
on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall 484
be deposited into the Mississippi Burn Care Fund created pursuant 485
to Section 7-9-70. 486
(c) Two Dollars ($2.00) of each additional fee 487
collected on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this 488
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 21 (ELS\KP)

section shall be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund 489
to be expended solely for the repair, maintenance, construction or 490
reconstruction of highways. 491
(d) One Dollar ($1.00) of each additional fee collected 492
on distinctive license tags issued pursuant to this section shall 493
be deposited to the credit of the special fund created in Section 494
27-19-44.2. 495
(5) A regular license tag must be properly displayed as 496
required by law until replaced by a distinctive license tag under 497
this section. The regular license tag must be surrendered to the 498
tax collector upon issuance of the distinctive license tag under 499
this section. The tax collector shall issue up to two (2) license 500
decals for each distinctive license tag issued under this section, 501
which will expire the same month and year as the regular license 502
tag. 503
(6) In the case of loss or theft of a distinctive license 504
tag issued under this section, the owner may make application and 505
affidavit for a replacement distinctive license tag as provided by 506
Section 27-19-37. The fee for a replacement distinctive license 507
tag shall be Ten Dollars ($10.00). The tax collector receiving 508
such application and affidavit shall be entitled to retain and 509
deposit into the county general fund five percent (5%) of the fee 510
for such replacement license tag and the remainder shall be 511
distributed proportionately in the same manner as funds from the 512
H. B. No. 386 *HR43/R1411* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1411
PAGE 22 (ELS\KP)
ST: Civil Legal Assistance Fund; specify
funding of from certain sources.
sale of regular distinctive license tags issued under this 513
section. 514
(7) In order for a distinctive license tag to be issued 515
under this section, the provisions of Section 27-19-44(3) must be 516
satisfied for the distinctive license tag before July 1, 2014. 517
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 518
and after July 1, 2026. 519