Mississippi lawmakers have approved a bill to reform the state’s youth court system, with the measure now headed to the governor’s desk. The legislation includes the creation of nine full-time chancellor positions in districts lacking county courts and aims to improve transparency and accountability, according to sources.
The Senate passed the bill late Wednesday night with a 25-10 vote, followed by the House’s approval Thursday with a 67-32 vote. House appropriations bills allocating nearly $30 million to fund the reforms were also approved and will be combined with additional funds for detention and diversion programs. The funding remains to be finalized in a special session called by Governor Tate Reeves.
The main bill, SB 2001, proposes eliminating the referee court system, with the transition scheduled for July 1, 2027. The other major reforms will take effect in 2028. To fill the chancellor positions, appointments will be made by Reeves, with elections planned for 2030. Counties with populations under 50,000 that operate county and youth courts can opt out until 2028, and will be responsible for funding their courts if they do so, according to Senate and House floor remarks.
The legislation also addresses concerns from Child Protective Services about inconsistent practices across youth courts, establishing uniform standards nationwide. Additionally, $10 million will be allocated to the Department of Public Safety for renovations at the Oakley Youth Development Center and for expanding diversion services and detention facilities across the state.
Some lawmakers expressed concerns about juvenile privacy and the lack of consultation with a broader range of judges during the bill’s drafting. Others, particularly Democrats, voiced frustration over limited review time before voting. Despite these concerns, the bills received broad legislative support and now await the governor’s signature.
In conjunction, two funding bills—HB 1 and HB 2—passed the House with strong bipartisan support, receiving 94-8 and 83-21 votes, respectively. These bills reallocate funds from the previous session for diversion programs, detention center upgrades, and the establishment of new detention facilities. Both bills were approved unanimously by the Senate after passing the House and are now pending final approval.
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann praised the reforms, emphasizing their potential to better serve Mississippi’s youth and improve the justice system. He thanked lawmakers for their effort and swift action during the special session, which was called to address these critical issues.
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
