HB 1445 Summary

• Brings forward Section 99-19-71 to allow first-time misdemeanor offenders to petition for expungement and felony offenders to expunge one conviction five years after completing their sentence, with certain violent and drug-related felonies ineligible for expungement.

• Establishes that justice courts may expunge misdemeanor convictions upon showing rehabilitation and good conduct for two years, and allows expunction of records when charges are dismissed or defendants are found not guilty.

• Implements a $150 filing fee for expungement petitions under Section 99-19-71, with proceeds distributed to the Judicial System Operation Fund ($100), District Attorneys Operation Fund ($40), and circuit clerk administration ($10).

• Brings forward multiple sections related to voter registration and disfranchisement for persons convicted of crimes listed in Mississippi Constitution Section 241, requiring removal from voter rolls and maintenance of conviction records.

• Amends Section 99-19-37 to use gender-neutral language ("or her") regarding restoration of voting rights for honorably discharged veterans who served in World War I or II; effective July 1, 2024.