SB 2768 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Judicial redistricting; revise provisions related to chancery courts, provide procedure for implementation.

SB 2768 redistricts Mississippi's chancery court districts, revising county boundaries for multiple districts effective July 1, 2025. It requires chancellors to reside in their district by the time they qualify as candidates and updates criteria for determining the number of judges per district based on population, caseload, and geographic needs. The bill specifically adds Covington, Jefferson Davis, and Smith counties to the Second Chancery Court District while adjusting boundaries for others, and mandates new residency rules for judicial candidates. These changes directly affect county residents, chancery court judges, and the judicial structure across Mississippi.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Signed Apr 23, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper → Current version · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill redistricts Mississippi's chancery and circuit court districts based on the 2020 Census, changing county boundaries, the number of judges per district, and residency requirements. It also updates legal assistant staffing levels and establishes procedures for future elections in November 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only chancery court redistricting to include both chancery and circuit court districts, with provisions for both types of judicial offices.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from January 1, 2027 to July 1, 2025, with some provisions taking effect on different dates through 2031.

REQUIREMENT

Residency requirements for chancellors now require candidates to be residents of their district by the time they qualify as candidates, rather than after election.

New criteria established for determining the number of chancellors per district, including population, caseload, geographic area, and court personnel needs.

SCOPE

Added provisions for circuit court redistricting alongside chancery court changes, affecting multiple circuit court districts statewide.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the reference date for county and precinct boundaries from July 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025 in some sections.

FISCAL

Changed local contribution requirements for circuit court districts, with some districts having contributions paid through 2031 rather than 2027.

DEFINITION

Added provisions for split precincts and incorporated a split precinct block list from House Bill No. 1544.

ENFORCEMENT

Added procedures for the Secretary of State to correct errors in district descriptions and established filing requirements with state agencies.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2025 · House Feb 27, 2025

How they voted

38–12

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Feb 10, 2025

D Democratic16

3 Yea 12 Nay 1

75% Nay

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

Amendments

Apr 23, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Report Filed

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary B

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Amended

Amendment Failed

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division A

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors