SB2225 • 2026

Habitual offender; prior felonies with completed sentences more than 10 years prior to date of offense not considered.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE CALCULATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN OFFENDER SHOULD BE SENTENCED AS AN HABITUAL OFFENDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Crime

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Simmons (12th)
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not include a requirement for courts to provide an explanation when deviating from the maximum sentence, which was present in the candidate explanation.

Changes to Habitual Offender Sentencing

This bill changes how the state of Mississippi decides if someone should be sentenced as a habitual offender by not counting prior felony convictions that happened more than ten years before the current crime.

What This Bill Does

Updates Section 99-19-81 of the Mississippi Code to change when past felonies are considered for sentencing an offender as a habitual offender.
Specifies that if someone has committed a new felony, any prior felony convictions will not be counted towards habitual offender status if more than ten years have passed since completing the sentence for those previous crimes.

Who It Names or Affects

People convicted of felonies in Mississippi who might otherwise be sentenced as habitual offenders based on older convictions.
Courts and judges deciding sentences for repeat felony offenders.

Terms To Know

Habitual offender: A person who has been convicted multiple times of serious crimes, leading to harsher sentencing.
Felony: A serious crime that is punishable by more than one year in prison or death.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
It only affects sentencing decisions made after July 1, 2026, if it had passed.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-01-14 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/14 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B

Official Summary Text

Habitual offender; prior felonies with completed sentences more than 10 years prior to date of offense not considered.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2225 *SS08/R609* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R609
PAGE 1 (ens\tb)

To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th)

SENATE BILL NO. 2225

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 99-19-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE CALCULATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN OFFENDER SHOULD 2
BE SENTENCED AS AN HABITUAL OFFENDER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. Section 99-19-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 5
amended as follows: 6
99-19-81. (1) Every person convicted in this state of a 7
felony who shall have been convicted twice previously of any 8
felony or federal crime upon charges separately brought and 9
arising out of separate incidents at different times and who shall 10
have been sentenced to separate terms of one (1) year or more in 11
any state and/or federal penal institution, whether in this state 12
or elsewhere, shall be sentenced to the maximum term of 13
imprisonment prescribed for such felony unless the court provides 14
an explanation in its sentencing order setting forth the cause for 15
deviating from the maximum sentence, and such sentence shall not 16
be reduced or suspended nor shall such person be eligible for 17
parole or probation. 18
S. B. No. 2225 *SS08/R609* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R609
PAGE 2 (ens\tb)
ST: Habitual offender; prior felonies with
completed sentences more than 10 years prior to
date of offense not considered.
(2) A prior felony conviction shall not be considered for 19
the purposes of this section if more than ten (10) years have 20
elapsed between the date of completion of the sentence imposed for 21
the prior felony and the date of the commission of the offense or 22
offenses subject to sentencing enhancement under this section. 23
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 24
and after July 1, 2026. 25