HB 1739 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Corrections Overview Task Force; establish and repeal Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force.

HB 1739 establishes the Corrections Overview Task Force to replace Mississippi's existing Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force. The 13-member task force includes legislative committee chairs, department commissioners, public defender representatives, judges, parole board members, sheriffs, and advocates. It will analyze inmate death/suicide data, track past reform recommendations, study parole effectiveness and rehabilitation programs, assess sentencing standards, and prepare annual reports with findings and recommendations to the Legislature, Governor, and courts. The bill repeals the old task force's structure (Section 47-5-6) and redirects its duties to the new body.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action Mar 11, 2026

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 House,' indicating the legislation has advanced through the House committee stage and reflects the version approved by the full House. No substantive policy changes, scope modifications, or new requirements were identified in the provided text excerpt.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect its current legislative status as 'As Passed the House' instead of 'Committee Substitute,' indicating procedural progress rather than substantive policy changes.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill amends Mississippi's corrections laws to create a new Corrections Overview Task Force, replacing the previous Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force. The new task force will focus on analyzing inmate deaths, parole effectiveness, and program outcomes while establishing specific requirements for work release programs and parole eligibility. Key changes include new data reporting requirements, wage distribution rules for work release participants, and expanded parole eligibility criteria for certain offenders.

Scope change

The bill shifts oversight from the Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force to a new Corrections Overview Task Force with different membership composition and expanded duties including unexpected fatality reviews.

SCOPE

Established a new Corrections Overview Task Force with 13 members including corrections officials, court representatives, and community advocates

Repealed the original Corrections and Criminal Justice Task Force and its associated duties

TIMELINE

Changed task force meeting schedule from biannual to at least every other month with initial meeting required by July 15, 2026

Extended work release program reporting requirements with first report due January 15, 2023 instead of 2022

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for task force to conduct unexpected fatality reviews within 120 days and publish reports publicly

Added detailed wage distribution requirements for work release participants including 25% for dependents, 15% for administrative expenses, and 50% savings

Added geriatric parole provision allowing inmates aged 60+ who served 10 years to be considered for parole with exceptions for violent crimes

ELIGIBILITY

Modified work release program eligibility to exclude sex offenders and those convicted of violent crimes within the last five years

Expanded parole eligibility for nonviolent offenders to 25% or 10 years of sentence, whichever is less

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'unexpected fatality review' to exclude deaths from terminal illnesses but include deaths of people under corrections jurisdiction

Floor votes · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

120–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 122

Feb 10, 2026

D Democratic40

40 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican80

78 Yea 2

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred To Corrections

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Referred To Corrections

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors