Retirement; elected officials convicted of certain felonies shall have benefits withheld until full restitution has been paid.

HB 490 requires Mississippi elected officials convicted of felonies involving misuse of public funds to repay misappropriated money through monthly deductions from their retirement benefits. It applies to members of the Public Employees' Retirement System or Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan who are convicted of felonies where public funds were unlawfully taken, obtained, or misused in their official capacity after July 1, 2025. The court must hold a hearing to confirm the conviction is final (after all appeals), then order retirement benefits withheld until the full amount is repaid within three years. The withheld funds are sent monthly to the Attorney General, who distributes them to the affected government body.