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SB2140 • 2026

Aggravated manslaughter; create crime and provide criminal penalties for.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER; TO PROVIDE THE ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME; 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
Fillingane
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status is clear from the provided metadata but does not affect its content description.

Creating the Crime of Aggravated Manslaughter

This bill proposes to create a new crime called aggravated manslaughter with specific conditions and penalties.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new section to Mississippi law that defines aggravated manslaughter as a form of killing without malice but intentional, not accidental.
  • Specifies that aggravated manslaughter applies if the victim is a vulnerable adult or someone over 65 years old, or an individual with known physical or mental disabilities; or if the perpetrator has a prior violent crime conviction.
  • Sets penalties for aggravated manslaughter at imprisonment from 10 to 30 years in state custody.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit manslaughter under specific conditions that make it aggravated manslaughter.
  • Victims of manslaughter when they are vulnerable adults, seniors over 65, or individuals with known disabilities.
  • Perpetrators who have a prior violent crime conviction and commit manslaughter.

Terms To Know

Aggravated Manslaughter
A form of manslaughter that has stricter penalties when the victim is vulnerable, or if the perpetrator has a history of violent crimes.
Vulnerable Adult
An adult who is at risk due to age, disability, or other factors and needs protection from harm.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • It does not specify how law enforcement will identify cases of aggravated manslaughter.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/13 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Official Summary Text

Aggravated manslaughter; create crime and provide criminal penalties for.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2140 *SS08/R383* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R383
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)

To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Fillingane

SENATE BILL NO. 2140

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-3-25, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
CREATE THE CRIME OF AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER; TO PROVIDE THE 2
ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME; TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND FOR 3
RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 97-3-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
97-3-25. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, 8
any person convicted of manslaughter shall be fined in a sum not 9
less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in the 10
county jail not more than one (1) year, or both, or in the custody 11
of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) years, nor 12
more than twenty (20) years. 13
(2) (a) A person is guilty of child homicide if: 14
(i) The person is found guilty of manslaughter in 15
circumstances where the killing, although without malice, was 16
intentional and not accidental; and 17
S. B. No. 2140 *SS08/R383* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R383
PAGE 2 (ens\kr)
ST: Aggravated manslaughter; create crime and
provide criminal penalties for.
(ii) The perpetrator was over the age of 18
twenty-one (21) years and the victim was a child under the age of 19
eighteen (18) years. 20
(b) A person found guilty of child homicide shall be 21
imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a 22
term not to exceed thirty (30) years. 23
(3) (a) A person is guilty of aggravated manslaughter if 24
the person is found guilty of manslaughter in circumstances where 25
the killing, although without malice, was intentional and not 26
accidental; and: 27
(i) The victim was a vulnerable adult, a senior 28
citizen who was over the age of sixty-five (65) years of age; or 29
an individual with known physical or mental disabilities; or 30
(ii) At the time of offense, the perpetrator had a 31
prior conviction of a crime of violence listed under Section 97–3–32
2. 33
(b) A person convicted of aggravated manslaughter shall 34
be imprisoned in the custody of the Department of Corrections for 35
a term not less than ten (10) years nor more than thirty (30) 36
years. 37
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 38
and after its passage. 39