HC 42 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Constitution; amend to create State Suffrage Restoration Panel and add additional disenfranchising crimes.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Mississippi's 1890 Constitution. It creates a State Suffrage Restoration Panel to allow eligible people convicted of *nonviolent* disenfranchising crimes (like theft or fraud) to apply for restored voting rights through a panel process, rather than requiring a two-thirds legislative vote. The amendment also adds human trafficking, attempted murder, and sexual battery to the list of crimes that permanently disqualify someone from voting. This directly affects Mississippi residents convicted of these specific nonviolent offenses who wish to regain their voting rights. The amendment must be approved by voters in November 2026.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Title Suff Adopted As Amended
lower
Jan 19, 2026
Committee
Referred To Apportionment and Elections
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Noah Sanford
Noah Sanford
RRepublican
MS
90