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HB770 • 2026

Law enforcement agency; authorize to purchase equipment with certain proceeds.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-37-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO USE CERTAIN PROCEEDS TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Firearms
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee, so it has no effective date.

Law Enforcement Can Buy Equipment with Money from Auctions

This bill allows law enforcement agencies to use money from auctions of seized weapons to buy equipment.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Section 97-37-3 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to authorize law enforcement agencies to sell forfeited and merchantable weapons at auction.
  • Requires that proceeds from these auctions be used by the seizing law enforcement agency to purchase equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement agencies in Mississippi
  • People who might have their weapons seized by police

Terms To Know

Forfeited
When something is taken away from someone because they broke the law.
Auction
A public sale where items are sold to the highest bidder.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
  • It is unclear what specific types of equipment can be bought with this money.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To Judiciary B

Official Summary Text

Law enforcement agency; authorize to purchase equipment with certain proceeds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 770 *HR43/R519* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R519
PAGE 1 (GT\KP)

To: Judiciary B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Sanders

HOUSE BILL NO. 770

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-37-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO USE CERTAIN PROCEEDS TO PURCHASE 2
EQUIPMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. Section 97-37-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 5
amended as follows: 6
97-37-3. (1) Any weapon used in violation of Section 7
97-37-1, or used in the commission of any other crime, shall be 8
seized by the arresting officer, may be introduced in evidence, 9
and in the event of a conviction, shall be ordered to be 10
forfeited, and shall be disposed of as ordered by the court having 11
jurisdiction of such offense. In the event of dismissal or 12
acquittal of charges, such weapon shall be returned to the accused 13
from whom it was seized. 14
(2) (a) If the weapon to be forfeited is merchantable, the 15
court may order the weapon forfeited to the seizing law 16
enforcement agency. 17
H. B. No. 770 *HR43/R519* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R519
PAGE 2 (GT\KP)
ST: Law enforcement agency; authorize to
purchase equipment with certain proceeds.
(b) A weapon so forfeited to a law enforcement agency 18
may be sold at auction as provided by Sections 19-3-85 and 19
21-39-21 to a federally-licensed firearms dealer, with the 20
proceeds from such sale at auction to be used to * * * purchase 21
equipment for the seizing law enforcement agency. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 23
and after July 1, 2026. 24