HB 377 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

The Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act; create to require input of missing persons in NamUs.

HB 377, the Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act, requires all Mississippi local law enforcement agencies to accept every report of a missing person without refusal (e.g., for age, lack of suspected foul play, or short disappearance time). Agencies must gather detailed information including physical descriptions, medical details, and DNA reference samples from family members for submission to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). If a person remains missing after five days, agencies must input their case into NamUs within 15 days, with special procedures for "high-risk" cases (e.g., those at risk of injury). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety must prioritize DNA analysis and immediately share critical information with nearby agencies to aid in locating high-risk missing persons.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 11 edits

MAJOR

The bill was expanded from focusing solely on missing persons to also addressing unidentified human remains and unclaimed bodies. It now mandates immediate DNA testing using forensic genetic genealogy for unidentified remains and prohibits cremation or embalming of unclaimed bodies until they are submitted to the State Medical Examiner. The bill also adds specific training requirements for law enforcement regarding human trafficking and missing persons investigations.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened significantly to include the handling of unidentified human remains and unclaimed bodies, which were not the primary focus of the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the title and summary to reflect the inclusion of unidentified human remains and unclaimed bodies, replacing the previous focus on the 'Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act'.

Requires the State Medical Examiner to test unidentified human remains using forensic genetic genealogy after 45 days of possession.

Prohibits physicians, funeral directors, and others from cremating or embalming unidentified human remains; they must submit them to the State Medical Examiner.

Makes the willful destruction of a body, body part, or unidentified human remains a felony.

Requires county medical examiner investigators to enter unclaimed human remains cases into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System within 15 days.

Amends the law to require law enforcement officers to receive training on investigating unidentified and missing persons and handling human trafficking complaints.

Removed the specific definition and procedures for 'high-risk missing persons' found in the original version.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'unidentified human remains' and 'unclaimed human remains' to clarify which bodies must be submitted to the State Medical Examiner.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for entering missing person cases into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System from 10 days to 'no later than ten days' if possible, with immediate entry required for missing children.

Extended the statute of limitations for certain crimes, including those involving unidentified human remains, from five years to seven years.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a provision allowing remote testimony for medical examiners in criminal trials under specific conditions.

As Introduced → Committee Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from its original introduction into a committee substitute version, primarily to reorganize the text for clarity and add specific procedural details. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new definition for 'high-risk missing person,' which includes specific criteria like stranger abduction, medical needs, or age under 21. This new definition triggers mandatory immediate notification to all local law enforcement agencies in the state and surrounding regions by the Department of Public Safety. Additionally, the bill now explicitly requires local agencies to accept missing person reports in person and prohibits refusal based on reasons such as the person being an adult or the circumstances not indicating foul play.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a formalized 'high-risk missing person' category with specific triggers for statewide alerts and enhanced coordination between local and state agencies.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'high-risk missing person' that includes specific criteria such as stranger abduction, medical needs, age under 21, and history of violence.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to immediately notify all local law enforcement agencies statewide when a high-risk missing person case is identified.

Added a prohibition on local law enforcement agencies refusing to accept missing person reports based on specific grounds, including the victim being an adult or the circumstances not suggesting foul play.

Modified the reporting process to explicitly require local agencies to accept missing person reports in person, while encouraging but not mandating phone or electronic reports.

Added a requirement for local agencies to generate a report in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) if a person remains missing after five days but no more than fifteen days.

Added new requirements for collecting specific information at the time of the report, such as the missing person's blood type, driver's license number, social security number, and descriptions of items they might be carrying.

Added a requirement for local agencies to provide the reporting individual with contact information for either the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (for minors) or NamUs (for adults).

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2026 · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 52

Mar 11, 2026

D Democratic18

18 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican34

33 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 8, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Adopted

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Report Filed

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Referred To Judiciary, Division B

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

lower

Jan 9, 2026

Committee

Referred To Judiciary B

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor