Judiciary B

The Mississippi Youth Court Reform Act of 2026 overhauls the state's juvenile justice and child welfare systems by restructuring court jurisdictions, mandating public access to hearings, and establishing a statewide diversion program for low-risk youth. The bill requires that youth court divisions be housed within chancery courts in counties without county courts, while prohibiting the creation of new county youth courts and requiring full-time judges to handle these cases by 2031. It also opens youth court proceedings to the general public, with specific exceptions allowing judges to close hearings for child welfare matters if justified on the record. Additionally, the legislation creates a Family Services Forum to coordinate cross-agency support for children and families, and mandates the implementation of a uniform data management system to replace existing tracking software by 2029.

This bill restores the right to vote to Leporion Versell, a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi, who had lost his voting rights due to past felony convictions. The legislation specifically addresses his disqualification resulting from a 1999 robbery conviction and subsequent probation violations, noting that he has since lived as a law-abiding citizen. By passing this act, the Mississippi Legislature formally reinstates his eligibility to participate in elections without requiring additional legal proceedings. The measure takes effect immediately upon passage and applies only to this individual rather than establishing a broader policy change.

This bill restores the right to vote to John Neskoroscheny of Hinds County, Mississippi, who had been disqualified from voting due to a past felony conviction for strong-armed robbery. The legislation formally recognizes that Neskoroscheny has served his sentence and has since lived as a law-abiding citizen, allowing him to regain his eligibility as an elector. Once enacted, the law takes effect immediately upon passage, removing the voting restriction that was applied following his 2008 conviction and 2012 release from prison.

This bill restores the right to vote to Brandon Shelton of Lee County, Mississippi, who had lost his voting rights due to a criminal conviction and subsequent prison sentence. The legislation specifically addresses his eligibility by acknowledging his release from custody on February 6, 2025, and noting his conduct as a law-abiding citizen since then. Once enacted, the act takes effect immediately, allowing Shelton to participate in elections without further legal barriers. The measure does not change general voting laws but applies a specific restoration of rights to one individual based on his completed sentence and behavior.

This bill restores the right to vote to Hillary Ivy of Neshoba County, Mississippi, who had previously lost her voting rights due to a 2016 conviction for false pretense. The legislation states that Ivy has completed her sentence and has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen, making her eligible to vote again. Once passed, the law takes effect immediately, allowing Ivy to participate in elections without further restrictions.