SB 2126 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Name change; prohibit for persons convicted of a crime of violence and for sex offenders.

SB 2126 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders under Mississippi law from changing their names. This applies to all registered sex offenders in Mississippi, including those convicted of offenses involving force against victims as defined in the law. Violating this ban is a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both. The bill amends existing sex offender registration statutes to require registrants to disclose former names and enforce the name change prohibition.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the upper Current version · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill adds an exception to the prohibition on sex offender name changes, allowing registered sex offenders to change their names when the change results from marriage or divorce. A certified copy of the marriage certificate or divorce decree is required to qualify for this exception. All other changes in the diff are formatting and line-break adjustments with no substantive policy impact.
Scope change
The prohibition on sex offender name changes is no longer absolute; it now carves out an exception for name changes resulting from marriage or divorce, requiring a certified document to qualify.
ELIGIBILITY

Section 45-33-30 now allows a registered sex offender to change their name if the change results from marriage or divorce, provided they submit a certified copy of the marriage certificate or divorce decree. Previously, the prohibition was absolute with no exceptions.

SCOPE

The bill title was updated from 'TO PROHIBIT A PERSON THAT IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER FROM CHANGING HIS OR HER NAME' to 'TO PROHIBIT A PERSON WHO IS REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER FROM CHANGING HIS OR HER NAME WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS,' reflecting the new marriage and divorce exception.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

520
Passed
Total votes 52
Feb 5, 2026
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican34
34 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Mar 25, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
executive
Mar 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Concurred in Amend From House
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed As Amended
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Committee
Referred To Judiciary B
lower
Feb 6, 2026
Introduced
Transmitted To House
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
upper
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred To Judiciary, Division A
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors