SB2012 • 2026

Justice court; increase jurisdictional limit for residential evictions.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS OF JUSTICE COURT FOR CIVIL ACTIONS FILED PURSUANT TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Housing

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and therefore has no effective date or further implications beyond the session it was introduced in.

Increase Justice Court Limits for Evictions

This bill increases the amount of money that justice courts can handle when dealing with residential evictions under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

What This Bill Does

Changes Section 9-11-9 of the Mississippi Code to raise the limit on how much money justice courts can deal with in eviction cases from $3,500 to $5,000.
Applies only to actions filed under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.

Who It Names or Affects

Justice court judges in Mississippi who handle eviction cases.
Landlords and tenants involved in residential evictions where the amount is up to $5,000.

Terms To Know

Jurisdictional limit: The maximum amount of money a court can deal with for certain types of cases.
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act: A law that sets rules for landlords and tenants in rental homes or apartments.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
It only affects cases under $5,000 related to residential evictions.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-01-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/06 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Official Summary Text

Justice court; increase jurisdictional limit for residential evictions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2012 *SS08/R173* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R173
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)

To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Johnson

SENATE BILL NO. 2012

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCREASE THE JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS OF JUSTICE COURT FOR CIVIL 2
ACTIONS FILED PURSUANT TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT; 3
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 9-11-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
9-11-9. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this 8
section, justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all 9
actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, 10
where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the 11
value of the property sought to be recovered shall not exceed 12
Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00). 13
(2) Justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all 14
actions filed pursuant to Title 89, Chapter 8, Mississippi Code of 15
1972 for the recovery of debts or damages, where the principal of 16
the debt, the amount of the demand, or the value of the property 17
sought to be recovered shall not exceed Five Thousand Dollars 18
($5,000.00). 19
S. B. No. 2012 *SS08/R173* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R173
PAGE 2 (ens\kr)
ST: Justice court; increase jurisdictional
limit for residential evictions.
(3) The justice court judges shall have no pecuniary 20
interest in the outcome of any action once suit has been filed. 21
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 22
and after July 1, 2026. 23