SB 2769 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Youth Court Chancellor Act of 2025; enact recommendation of Commission on a Uniform Youth Court System and Procedures.

SB 2769 creates Youth Court Chancellor Divisions within 19 specific chancery court districts across Mississippi, establishing separate "youth court chancellor" positions in each. It assigns all youth court cases (except those handled by existing County Youth Courts under Section 43-21-107) to these new divisions, replacing the previous system of Youth Court Referees. The bill creates a dedicated Chancery Youth Court Division Fund in the state treasury to finance the new structure and requires the Administrative Office of Courts to use case management systems like MYCIDS. This act formally repeals the existing authority for regular and special Youth Court Referees while directing counties without their own youth courts to utilize the new chancery court divisions.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated from 'Committee Substitute' to 'As Passed the Senate', indicating the bill has moved forward in the legislative process and reflects the final version approved by the Senate. This change tracks the bill's progression through the legislative stages but does not alter the substantive policy content of the legislation.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was updated to reflect its current legislative status as 'As Passed the Senate' instead of 'Committee Substitute', indicating the bill has advanced through the Senate committee stage and been approved by the full Senate.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to create a new Youth Court Chancellor Division system in 19 designated Chancery Court Districts, replacing the previous hybrid model that relied on regular and special youth court referees. The Committee Substitute clarifies the structure by establishing separate Youth Court Chancellor offices, defining specific counties within each district, and updating the Mississippi Code to reflect the new chancellor positions and their election procedures. It also brings forward existing youth court support provisions and repeals the section authorizing youth court referees.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly establishes Youth Court Chancellor Divisions in 19 specific Chancery Court Districts (including the First through Nineteenth), whereas the original version had a less detailed listing. The scope of jurisdiction remains focused on youth court matters in designated districts without existing county youth courts.

DEFINITION

Added clear definitions for 'County youth court' and 'Division' to establish the new terminology for the Youth Court Chancellor Act.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of designated Chancery Court Districts from 19 to 19 specific districts with detailed county breakdowns for each district.

REQUIREMENT

Added provisions for creating separate Office of Youth Court Chancellor positions in each designated district, distinct from other chancellor offices.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the election requirements to specify that Youth Court Chancellor positions are elected separately and denominated as distinct 'Places' within each district.

FISCAL

Created a new Chancery Youth Court Division Fund in the State Treasury to support the establishment and operation of the new divisions.

ENFORCEMENT

Repealed Section 43-21-111 which authorized regular and special youth court referees, shifting authority to elected Youth Court Chancellors.

TIMELINE

Set effective dates for the new provisions starting January 1, 2026, with the repeal of the referee section taking effect January 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Updated Mississippi Code sections 9-5-7 through 9-5-56 to conform with the new Youth Court Chancellor structure and added new sections 9-5-10, 9-5-48, and 9-5-56.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 13, 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

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary A

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division A

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors