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

SB2232 • 2026

Vehicle safety equipment; increase sanctions for failure to use and divert funds to driver safety programs.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL FINE FOR FAILURE TO WEAR A SEATBELT; TO DIVERT THE MONIES RECEIVED FROM SUCH FINES TO CERTAIN FUNDS TO BE DISBURSED SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-309, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL FINE FOR FAILURE TO USE A CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEVICE; TO DIVERT THE MONIES RECEIVED FROM SUCH FINES TO CERTAIN FUNDS TO BE DISBURSED SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS; TO MIRROR THE PROVISION OF LAW IN THE CHAPTER CONCERNING SEATBELTS THAT VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE ENTERED ON DRIVING RECORDS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE USE OF SAFETY SEAT BELT EDUCATION FUND AS A SPECIAL FUND WITHIN THE STATE TREASURY; TO UPDATE AN OUTDATED REFERENCE TO THE FORMER STATE TAX COMMISSION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-25-17 AND 63-7-311, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Budget Children Education Parental Rights Taxes
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
DeBar
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so the exact new fine amounts and distribution percentages are unknown.

Vehicle safety equipment; increase sanctions for failure to use and divert funds to driver safety programs

This bill aims to increase fines for not wearing seat belts or using child restraint devices, and directs the collected fines towards education and information programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases criminal fines for failing to wear a seatbelt.
  • Increases criminal fines for failing to use a child passenger restraint device.
  • Directs monies from these fines into certain funds subject to appropriation by the legislature for education and information programs.
  • Ensures that violations do not affect driving records.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Drivers who violate seatbelt laws.
  • Parents or guardians who fail to secure children in car seats properly.

Terms To Know

Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund
A fund that collects money from fines for traffic violations to support driver training programs.
Use of Safety Seat Belt Education Fund
A special fund within the state treasury used to educate people about the importance and benefits of using seat belts.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during its session.
  • It does not specify the exact new fine amounts for violations.
  • Funds are disbursed only after being approved by the legislature.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/05 (S) Failed

  2. 2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/05 (S) Amended

  3. 2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/28 (S) Title Suff Do Pass

  4. 2026-01-14 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/14 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division B

Official Summary Text

Vehicle safety equipment; increase sanctions for failure to use and divert funds to driver safety programs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2232 *SS26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R712
PAGE 1 (ens\tb)

To: Judiciary, Division B
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) DeBar

SENATE BILL NO. 2232

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCREASE THE CRIMINAL FINE FOR FAILURE TO WEAR A SEATBELT; TO 2
DIVERT THE MONIES RECEIVED FROM SUCH FINES TO CERTAIN FUNDS TO BE 3
DISBURSED SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR 4
EDUCATION AND INFORMATION PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-309, 5
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE CRIMINAL FINE FOR 6
FAILURE TO USE A CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEVICE; TO DIVERT THE 7
MONIES RECEIVED FROM SUCH FINES TO CERTAIN FUNDS TO BE DISBURSED 8
SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR EDUCATION AND 9
INFORMATION PROGRAMS; TO MIRROR THE PROVISION OF LAW IN THE 10
CHAPTER CONCERNING SEATBELTS THAT VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL 11
NOT BE ENTERED ON DRIVING RECORDS; TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-5, 12
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE USE OF SAFETY SEAT BELT 13
EDUCATION FUND AS A SPECIAL FUND WITHIN THE STATE TREASURY; TO 14
UPDATE AN OUTDATED REFERENCE TO THE FORMER STATE TAX COMMISSION; 15
TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-25-17 AND 63-7-311, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 16
TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 17
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 18
SECTION 1. Section 63-2-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 19
amended as follows: 20
63-2-7. (1) A violation of this chapter shall be a 21
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of * * * One Hundred Dollars 22
($100.00) upon conviction; however, only the operator of a vehicle 23
may be fined for a violation of this chapter by the operator and 24
any passengers. The maximum fine that may be imposed against the 25
S. B. No. 2232 *SS26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R712
PAGE 2 (ens\tb)

operator of a vehicle for a violation of this chapter by the 26
operator or for a violation of this chapter by one or more 27
passengers shall be * * * One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) in the 28
aggregate. 29
(2) A violation of this chapter shall not be entered on the 30
driving record of any individual so convicted, nor shall any state 31
assessment provided for by Section 99-19-73, or any other state 32
law, be imposed or collected. 33
(3) (a) Sixty percent (60%) of the amount of the fine 34
collected for a violation of this chapter shall be deposited into 35
the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund created in Section 36
37-25-17. 37
(b) Forty percent (40%) of the amount of the fine 38
collected for a violation of this chapter shall be deposited into 39
the Use of Safety Seat Belt Education Fund created in Section 40
63-2-5. 41
SECTION 2. Section 63-7-309, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 42
amended as follows: 43
63-7-309. (1) Any person convicted of violating the 44
provisions of Section 63-7-301 shall be fined not more than * * * 45
One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each offense. 46
(2) A violation of this chapter shall not be entered on the 47
driving record of any individual so convicted. 48
(3) (a) Sixty percent (60%) of the amount of the fine 49
collected for a violation of this chapter shall be deposited into 50
S. B. No. 2232 *SS26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R712
PAGE 3 (ens\tb)

the Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund created in Section 51
37-25-17. 52
(b) Forty percent (40%) of the amount of the fine 53
collected for a violation of this chapter shall be deposited into 54
the Use of Safety Seat Belt Education Fund created in Section 55
63-2-5. 56
SECTION 3. Section 63-2-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 57
amended as follows: 58
63-2-5. (1) The Department of Public Safety shall initiate 59
an education program designed to encourage the use of safety belts 60
with emphasis on the effectiveness of safety belts, the monetary 61
savings and other benefits to the public. Funds for such 62
educational program shall be made available through the office of 63
the Governor's representative for highway safety programs. 64
(2) The State Highway Commission is authorized to direct the 65
Highway Department to erect signs along the highways of this state 66
notifying the traveling public that Mississippi is a mandatory 67
seat-belt-use state. 68
(3) The * * * Department of Revenue shall provide notices of 69
the requirement for safety belt use which shall accompany the 70
delivery of a passenger motor vehicle license tag or decal. 71
(4) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to 72
be designated as the "Use of Safety Seat Belt Education Fund." 73
The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate 74
and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the 75
S. B. No. 2232 *SS26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R712
PAGE 4 (ens\tb)

state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a 76
fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any 77
interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund 78
shall be deposited into such fund. Subject to appropriation by 79
the Legislature, monies in the fund shall be disbursed by the 80
Department of Public Safety to effectuate the purposes of the 81
education program created under this section. The fund shall 82
consist of: 83
(a) Monies deposited into the fund by the State 84
Treasurer; 85
(b) The interest accruing to the fund; 86
(c) Monies received through the office of the 87
Governor's representative for highway safety programs; 88
(d) Monies received from the federal government; 89
(e) Donations; and 90
(f) Monies received from such other sources as may be 91
provided by or allowable under law. 92
SECTION 4. Section 37-25-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 93
amended as follows: 94
37-25-17. Such assessments as * * * directed under Sections 95
63-2-7(3) and 63-7-309(3) shall be deposited in the Driver 96
Training Penalty Assessment Fund, which fund is hereby created, to 97
be used exclusively as provided in this chapter subject to 98
appropriation by the Legislature. 99
S. B. No. 2232 *SS26/R712* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R712
PAGE 5 (ens\tb)
ST: Vehicle safety equipment; increase
sanctions for failure to use and divert funds to
driver safety programs.
SECTION 5. Section 63-7-311, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 100
amended as follows: 101
63-7-311. The * * * Department of Revenue shall provide 102
notice of the requirement for child restraint devices or systems, 103
which notice shall accompany the delivery of a motor vehicle 104
license tag. 105
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 106
and after its passage. 107