MS HB494

Brings forward Section 99-19-18 requiring mandatory minimum one-year imprisonment for felony convictions involving unlawful taking of $10,000 or more in public funds, with no reduction, suspension, probation, or parole eligibility during that year.

Amends Section 97-11-53 (bribery of public officials) with minor nonsubstantive formatting changes to reorganize numbering from numeric to alphabetic/roman numeral designations.

Brings forward multiple code sections related to public corruption crimes including embezzlement, fraud by public officers, extortion, and grand larceny involving public funds and church property theft.

Amends Section 97-17-43 (petit larceny) and Section 97-23-19 (embezzlement) to require courts to make findings that offenders pose significant risks before imposing imprisonment, otherwise mandating suspended sentences with probation.

Effective date: July 1, 2025.