HB377Introduced in the House
The Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act; create to require input of missing persons in NamUs.
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
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Michael McLendon | 1 | Yes |
| Theresa Gillespie Isom | 2 | Yes |
| Kathy Chism | 3 | Yes |
| Rita Potts Parks | 4 | Yes |
| Daniel Sparks | 5 | Yes |
| Chad Mcmahan | 6 | Yes |
| Hob Bryan | 7 | Yes |
| Benjamin Suber | 8 | Yes |
| Nicole Boyd | 9 | Yes |
| Neil Whaley | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Referred To Judiciary B
Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub
Read the Third Time
Committee Substitute Adopted
Passed
Transmitted To Senate
Referred To Judiciary, Division B
Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
Amended
Passed As Amended
Returned For Concurrence
Decline to Concur/Invite Conf
Conferees Named Horan,Grady,McKnight
Conferees Named Fillingane,Barrett,Hickman
Conference Report Filed
Conference Report Filed
Conference Report Adopted
Conference Report Adopted
Enrolled Bill Signed
Enrolled Bill Signed
Approved by Governor
Verify the information
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