HB 1408 Summary

• Requires the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to maintain a searchable public website tracking seized property from seizure to final disposition, including seizure date, description, value, location type, alleged offense, criminal case outcome, and forfeiture method.

• Mandates law enforcement agencies submit seized property information to district attorneys within 30 days of seizure, and district attorneys must upload information to the website within 30 days of forfeiture notice or petition filing.

• Imposes sanctions on law enforcement agencies that fail to comply: disqualification from applying for or receiving state and federal grants until compliance is achieved.

• Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain seizure warrants within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) or notify property owners the property will not be forfeited and provide retrieval instructions.

• Establishes that website implementation is contingent on legislative appropriation of funds, with the website to be operational within 12 months of sufficient funding and requires 30 days' notice to district attorneys before operational launch.