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HB377Introduced in the House

The Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act; create to require input of missing persons in NamUs.

Passed

Introduced by Jay McKnight, District 95

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

An Act To Provide Certain Procedures For Law Enforcement Agencies Concerning The Investigation Into A Missing Or Unidentified Person; To Require A Law Enforcement Agency To Initiate Certain Procedures Upon The Receipt Of A Credible Report Of A Missing Or Unidentified Person; To Require Certain Information About The Missing Or Unidentified Person To Be Entered Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System; To Prohibit A Law Enforcement Agency From Requiring A Delay Before Accepting A Report Or Requiring The Appearance Of A Next Of Kin Before Initiating A Missing Persons Investigation; To Require A Law Enforcement Agency Or The State Medical Examiner To Enter A Report Of A Missing Child Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System Without Delay; To Require The State Medical Examiner Test The Dna Of Unidentified Human Remains Using Forensic Genetic Genealogy Testing; To Amend Section 41-61-53, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define The Terms "unclaimed Human Remains" And "unidentified Human Remains"; To Amend Section 41-61-59, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That When A Body Is Unidentified Human Remains, The Body Shall Be Submitted To The State Medical Examiner; To Amend Section 41-61-61, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That Upon Discovery Unidentified Human Remains Or Anatomical Material Suspected Of Being Part Of The Human Body Shall Be Submitted To The State Medical Examiner; To Provide That The Willful Destruction Of A Body, Body Part Or Unidentified Human Remains Shall Be A Felony; To Require The County Medical Examiner Investigator To Enter Into The National Missing And Unidentified Persons System All Unclaimed Human Remains Cases Within A Certain Amount Of Days; To Amend Section 41-39-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require Any Physician, Hospital, Funeral Director, Embalmer, County Medical Examiner Or Other Person Acquiring Possession Of Unidentified Human Remains To Submit The Remains To The State Medical Examiner And Not Subject The Remains To Cremation, Embalming Or Other Destructive Treatment; To Amend Section 45-6-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require A Certain Amount Of Training Related To The Investigation Of Unidentified And Missing Persons For Law Enforcement Officers; And For Related Purposes.

Where it stands

Approved by Governor

April 8, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

2 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate Conference Report Adopted · March 31, 2026

52

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

52 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

Bill history

  1. Referred To Judiciary B

  2. Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

  3. Read the Third Time

  4. Committee Substitute Adopted

  5. Passed

  6. Transmitted To Senate

  7. Referred To Judiciary, Division B

  8. Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

  9. Amended

  10. Passed As Amended

  11. Returned For Concurrence

  12. Decline to Concur/Invite Conf

  13. Conferees Named Horan,Grady,McKnight

  14. Conferees Named Fillingane,Barrett,Hickman

  15. Conference Report Filed

  16. Conference Report Filed

  17. Conference Report Adopted

  18. Conference Report Adopted

  19. Enrolled Bill Signed

  20. Enrolled Bill Signed

  21. Approved by Governor

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