SB 2315 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Bail; make certain amendments to provisions related to, provide when bond discharged.

SB 2315 updates Mississippi's bail bond procedures to better protect bail bond companies (sureties) when defendants miss court appearances. It requires courts to notify sureties within 10 working days of a defendant's non-appearance, or the bond can be set aside; if notice is delayed, clerks must accept set-aside orders. The bill extends the time sureties have (30 days) to submit proof of defendant surrender or bond payment before their license can be revoked. These changes directly affect bail bond companies, courts, and defendants who fail to appear in criminal cases.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Mar 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'As Passed the Senate' to 'As Sent to Governor,' indicating the legislative process has moved forward to the final stage where the Governor will review and potentially sign the bill into law. No substantive policy changes were made to the bill's content; this is a procedural update reflecting the bill's current status in the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

The bill's status label was changed from 'As Passed the Senate' to 'As Sent to Governor,' reflecting procedural progress rather than substantive policy changes.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Mississippi's bail and surety bond laws to strengthen protections for defendants and their sureties. Key changes include requiring court clerks to accept set-aside orders from sureties who weren't properly notified of a defendant's failure to appear, extending the grace period before a surety's license can be revoked from 20 to 30 days, and adding new provisions for when bail bonds become null and void. The bill also clarifies mitigating circumstances for bail forfeiture and adds requirements for judges to consider domestic abuse protection orders when setting bail.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protection for sureties by adding a new section (99-5-41) that defines when bail bonds are discharged, and modifies existing sections to apply to both municipal and general courts with more consistent procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Court clerks must now accept set-aside orders from sureties even when the surety wasn't properly notified of the defendant's failure to appear, protecting sureties from forfeiture due to clerical errors.

Added requirement for municipal judges to check domestic abuse protection orders against defendants in certain family relationship cases before setting bail.

Added provision allowing defendants to waive appearance before a judge and execute an appearance bond in advance, with conditions for release.

TIMELINE

The time period before a surety's license can be revoked after notification was extended from 20 to 30 working days, giving sureties more time to prove the defendant has been surrendered or bond paid.

DEFINITION

New Section 99-5-41 defines specific circumstances when bail bonds are discharged and become null and void, including when a defendant is found guilty, charges are dismissed, or defendant is surrendered.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified mitigating circumstances for bail forfeiture to include hospitalization, drug rehabilitation programs, and witness protection programs, with specific notification duties for agencies.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2025 · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 6, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary B

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division B

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors