MS HB1196

Amends Mississippi Code Section 11-51-31 to establish limits on appeal bonds required to stay execution of judgments in civil cases during appellate review.

Caps total appeal bonds for all appellants collectively at the lesser of 50% of their collective net worth or $25 million, regardless of judgment value.

Allows courts to require bonds up to the full judgment amount if an appellee proves by preponderance of evidence that an appellant is dissipating assets outside ordinary business operations to avoid payment.

Defines "civil litigation" to include individual, aggregated, class action, and otherwise joined claims, and "dissipation of assets" to exclude regular business expenditures made before judgment.

Becomes effective July 1, 2015, and applies to all judgments entered on or after that date regardless of when the civil litigation was filed.