SB2696 • 2026

Justice court; increase limit of jurisdiction.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE JURISDICTION OF JUSTICE COURT FROM $3,500.00 TO $5,000.00; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a statement about judges having no pecuniary interest, which is mentioned in the bill text but was likely an existing requirement rather than part of this new legislation. The official summary and digest did not mention this aspect as a change being made by this bill.

Increase Justice Court Jurisdiction

This bill increases the amount of money that justice courts can handle from $3,500 to $5,000.

What This Bill Does

Changes a law to allow justice court judges to hear cases where the main issue is up to $5,000 instead of $3,500.
Sets when this new rule will start: July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

Justice courts and people who use them for small claims or debt issues up to $5,000.

Terms To Know

Jurisdiction: The amount of money a court can handle in cases it hears.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass and will not become law.
It only affects justice courts in Mississippi.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (H) Referred To Judiciary A
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (S) Transmitted To House
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (S) Passed
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/19 (S) Referred To Judiciary, Division A

Official Summary Text

Justice court; increase limit of jurisdiction.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S. B. No. 2696 *SS26/R203.3* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R203.3
PAGE 1 (ens\kr)
ST: Justice court; increase limit of
jurisdiction.
To: Judiciary, Division A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Wiggins

SENATE BILL NO. 2696

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 9-11-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCREASE THE JURISDICTION OF JUSTICE COURT FROM $3,500.00 TO 2
$5,000.00; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 4
SECTION 1. Section 9-11-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 5
amended as follows: 6
9-11-9. Justice court judges shall have jurisdiction of all 7
actions for the recovery of debts or damages or personal property, 8
where the principal of the debt, the amount of the demand, or the 9
value of the property sought to be recovered shall not 10
exceed * * * Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). 11
The justice court judges shall have no pecuniary interest in 12
the outcome of any action once suit has been filed. 13
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 14
and after July 1, 2026. 15