SB2386 • 2026

Circuit court; prohibit political candidates from addressing the public during court terms.

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES FROM PROVIDING ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING COURT TERMS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-973, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT JUDGES FROM ALLOWING ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING COURT TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Elections

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does include additional provisions beyond prohibiting public addresses by political candidates, but these were removed as they were not supported by the provided official summary and digest.

Stop Political Candidates From Speaking During Court Time

This bill stops circuit court judges from letting political candidates speak to the public during times when courts are in session.

What This Bill Does

It says that circuit court judges cannot give any chance for political candidates to talk to people while the court is meeting.

Who It Names or Affects

Circuit court judges and people who want to run for judicial positions like circuit judge, chancellor, or justice court judge.
Political candidates during election times.

Terms To Know

Circuit Court: A type of court in Mississippi that handles certain kinds of cases and has judges who are elected by voters.
Judicial Office: The job or position someone holds as a judge, like circuit judge or justice court judge.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.
It only affects judges and candidates for specific judicial positions during election times.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-02-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/26 (H) DR - TSDPAA: AE To JB
2026-02-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/06 (H) Referred To Apportionment and Elections;Judiciary B
2026-02-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/06 (S) Transmitted To House
2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/05 (S) Immediate Release
2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/05 (S) Passed
2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/29 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (S) Referred To Elections

Official Summary Text

Circuit court; prohibit political candidates from addressing the public during court terms.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2386 *SS08/R764* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R764
PAGE 1 (ab\tb)

To: Elections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Tate

SENATE BILL NO. 2386

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES FROM PROVIDING ANY 1
POLITICAL CANDIDATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING 2
COURT TERMS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-973, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 3
TO PROHIBIT CIRCUIT JUDGES FROM ALLOWING ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE 4
TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC DURING COURT TERMS; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. No judge of any circuit court shall provide an 8
opportunity for any political candidate to address the public 9
during court terms. 10
SECTION 2. Section 23-15-973, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 11
amended as follows: 12
23-15-973. * * * No judge of any circuit court may provide 13
an opportunity for any candidate for the Office of Justice of the 14
Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, circuit judge, 15
chancellor or justice court judge to address the public during 16
court terms. It shall be unlawful for any candidate for * * * the 17
Office of Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of 18
Appeals, circuit judge, chancellor or justice court judge to align 19
himself or herself with any candidate or candidates for any other 20
S. B. No. 2386 *SS08/R764* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R764
PAGE 2 (ab\tb)
ST: Circuit court; prohibit political
candidates from addressing the public during
court terms.
office or with any political faction or any political party at any 21
time during any primary or general election campaign. Likewise it 22
shall be unlawful for any candidate for any other office nominated 23
or to be nominated at any primary election, wherein any candidate 24
for any of the judicial offices in this section mentioned, is or 25
are to be nominated, to align himself or herself with any one or 26
more of the candidates for the offices or to take any part 27
whatever in any nomination for any one or more of the judicial 28
offices, except to cast his or her individual vote. Any candidate 29
for any office, whether nominated with or without opposition, at 30
any primary wherein a candidate for any one (1) of the judicial 31
offices herein mentioned is to be nominated who shall 32
deliberately, knowingly and willfully violate the provisions of 33
this section shall forfeit his or her nomination, or if elected at 34
the following general election by virtue of the nomination, his or 35
her election shall be void. 36
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 37
and after July 1, 2026. 38