HB 540 Summary

• Amends habitual offender sentencing statutes (99-19-81 and 99-19-83) to apply mandatory minimum and life sentences only to offenders convicted of crimes of violence as defined in Section 97-3-2, rather than all felonies.

• Modifies Section 99-19-83 to allow parole eligibility for habitual offenders sentenced to life imprisonment, calculating life sentences as 50 years for early release purposes, consistent with the underlying offense eligibility.

• Restricts earned time and trusty-time sentence reductions for inmates convicted as habitual offenders for crimes of violence under Sections 47-5-139 and 47-5-138.1.

• Extends the repeal date of parole eligibility provisions from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028 in Section 47-7-3.

• Effective date: July 1, 2025.