Mississippi lawmakers approved a sweeping youth court reform bill during a special legislative session and sent it to Gov. Tate Reeves for signing, ending a contentious debate among legislators.
The Senate voted 67-32 late Wednesday night to pass the legislation, which was then reviewed Thursday morning by the House Judiciary B Committee. The full House approved the bill later that day in the Old Capitol Building—the first time a bill has been taken in that historic location since 1903. The chamber was used due to renovations in the current Capitol.
The proposed legislation aims to overhaul Mississippi’s youth court system by assigning full-time judges to cases across all counties. Currently, only 24 of the state’s 82 counties have dedicated youth court judges. The bill would establish new chancellor positions in counties lacking judges, effective summer 2027, transforming youth courts into divisions of county chancery courts. Existing systems in some counties would have the option to adopt the new structure.
Funding includes $29.5 million for upgrades to youth correctional facilities and community intervention programs. The state plans to spend $12 million to expand the Oakley Youth Development Center in Hinds County and $10 million to build additional youth detention centers across the state. The initiative also seeks to create a statewide intervention system with $7.5 million, offering counseling and probation services for nonviolent juvenile offenders.
Debate over the bill was intense. Some lawmakers criticized the rushed process, noting the governor called the special session just one day before, limiting review time. Rep. Jeffery Harness, D-Fayette, voiced strong objections, accusing the bill’s supporters of rushing legislation without proper discussion and criticizing Reeves for leading youth reform efforts without courtroom experience. Conversely, Rep. Jansen Owen, R-Poplarville, emphasized that similar bills had been introduced multiple times over the past four years, arguing that opponents had ample opportunity to review the legislation.
House Judiciary B Committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Horan, R-Grenada, defended the bill, stating it would protect vulnerable children by ensuring full-time judges are available to handle their cases. He asserted the legislation was a step in the right direction for juvenile justice reform. The bill now awaits Reeves’s signature, which he has indicated he will provide.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
