KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Mississippi

SB2077 • 2026

Dead bodies; criminalize the sale of.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-29-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CRIMINALIZE THE SALE OF A DEAD BODY OF ANY HUMAN BEING OR ANY PART OF THE DEAD BODY OF A HUMAN BEING; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material confirms the bill's content but notes that it did not pass, which affects its applicability.

Criminalizing the Sale of Dead Bodies

This bill makes it illegal to sell a dead body or any part of a dead human body and sets penalties for those who break this law.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes selling a dead body or parts of a dead body against the law.
  • Sets prison time in state jail from one year up to five years for breaking this new rule.
  • Allows fines up to $500 for people found guilty of selling dead bodies or parts.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who sell dead bodies or body parts
  • Law enforcement agencies that will enforce the new law

Terms To Know

Penitentiary
A prison where people are sent for serious crimes.
Conviction
When a court decides someone is guilty of breaking the law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
  • It does not say what happens to people who buy dead bodies or body parts.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/08 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B

Official Summary Text

Dead bodies; criminalize the sale of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2077 *SS36/R363* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R363
PAGE 1 (ens\tb)

To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackwell

SENATE BILL NO. 2077

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-29-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO CRIMINALIZE THE SALE OF A DEAD BODY OF ANY HUMAN BEING OR ANY 2
PART OF THE DEAD BODY OF A HUMAN BEING; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL 3
PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 97-29-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
97-29-19. (1) Every person who shall remove the dead body 8
of any human being from the grave or other place of interment for 9
the purpose of selling the same or for mere wantonness, or who 10
shall wantonly dig into or open the grave or other place of 11
interment where the remains of any dead human body is interred, or 12
wantonly disturb the remains of any dead human body therein 13
interred, shall upon conviction be imprisoned in the Penitentiary 14
not exceeding five (5) years or in the county jail not more than 15
one (1) year, or be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars 16
($500.00) or both. 17
(2) Every person who shall sell the dead body of any human 18
being or any part of the dead body of a human being shall upon 19
S. B. No. 2077 *SS36/R363* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS36/R363
PAGE 2 (ens\tb)
ST: Dead bodies; criminalize the sale of.
conviction be imprisoned in the Penitentiary not exceeding five 20
(5) years or in the county jail not more than one (1) year, or be 21
fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or both. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 23
and after July 1, 2026. 24