HB4177 • 2026

Suffrage; restore to Stephen Roy Sims of Forrest County.

AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO STEPHEN R. SIMS OF FORREST COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

Elections

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Nelson
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: Dead
Effective date: Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material confirms the restoration of voting rights and provides details about Mr. Sims' conviction, parole, and discharge but does not provide specific information on his behavior post-discharge.

Restore Voting Rights for Stephen R. Sims

This bill restores the right to vote for Stephen R. Sims of Forrest County, Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

Restores voting rights to Stephen R. Sims.
States that Mr. Sims was previously disqualified from voting due to a conviction for embezzlement in Newton County.
Notes that Mr. Sims has been on parole and served his sentence as required by law.

Who It Names or Affects

Stephen R. Sims of Forrest County, Mississippi

Terms To Know

Suffrage: The right to vote in elections.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill only affects one person and does not change voting laws for others.
It is unclear if there are similar cases that this bill might address indirectly.

Bill History

2026-04-15 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
04/15 (S) Died In Committee
2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/26 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B
2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/26 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/26 (H) Immediate Release
2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/26 (H) Passed
2026-03-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/25 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-03-23 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/23 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Suffrage; restore to Stephen Roy Sims of Forrest County.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 4177 *HR43/R2502* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N2/3
26/HR43/R2502
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Nelson

HOUSE BILL NO. 4177

AN ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE TO STEPHEN R. SIMS OF 1
FORREST COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 3
SECTION 1. The right of suffrage is hereby fully and 4
completely restored to Stephen R. Sims of Forrest County, 5
Mississippi, who was disqualified as an elector as a result of his 6
conviction for the crime of Embezzlement x6 in Newton County, on 7
January 18, 2011, for which he was sentenced to serve five (5) 8
years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, 9
with each count to run concurrently. He was paroled on June 29, 10
2012, and returned from parole on November 19, 2012. His order 11
was amended on October 17, 2012, in Newton County Circuit Court to 12
serve ten (10) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department 13
of Corrections. 14
He was continued on parole June 18, 2013, and discharged on 15
February 13, 2017. The Legislature is informed that he has since 16
conducted himself as a law-abiding and honorable citizen in a good 17
and lawful manner. 18
H. B. No. 4177 *HR43/R2502* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R2502
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)
ST: Suffrage; restore to Stephen Roy Sims of
Forrest County.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 19
and after its passage. 20