HB 623 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

Indigent counsel; increase compensation for.

HB 623 increases compensation rates for attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants in Mississippi criminal cases. It raises the maximum payment for circuit court cases (currently $3,000) and other case types, with higher rates for capital cases ($6,000). The bill affects poor defendants who qualify for court-appointed lawyers and the attorneys representing them, ensuring higher reimbursement for legal services. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, and will expire July 1, 2028.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed Mar 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill increases compensation rates for court-appointed attorneys representing indigent clients in Mississippi. The changes raise maximum fees for circuit court cases, non-record court cases, capital cases, and appeals to the State Supreme Court, ensuring legal representation remains financially viable for public defenders.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same, but the financial thresholds for attorney compensation have been increased across all case types.

FISCAL

Increased maximum compensation for circuit court representation from $1,000 to $3,000 per case.

Raised maximum compensation for non-record court cases from $200 to $600 per case.

Increased maximum compensation for capital cases from $10,000 to $6,000 per case (note: this appears to be a reduction in the original text, but the diff shows $2,000 to $6,000 for two attorneys).

Raised maximum compensation for appeals to the State Supreme Court from $5,000 to $3,000 per case.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House Jan 28, 2025

How they voted

40–0

Passed · 11 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic16

14 Yea 2

87% Yea

R Republican35

26 Yea 9

74% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 18, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Concurred in Amend From Senate

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Jan 15, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary B

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors