Mississippi Legislature to hold special session for youth court laws

• Mississippi lawmakers will convene for a special session on July 15 to address youth court issues.
• The session was called after statutes protecting the private information of children in the court system expired on June 30.
• Gov. Tate Reeves stated the proposed legislation will improve the system for children who are abused, neglected, or facing delinquency.
• The new bill aims to create a more uniform youth court system across the state, including access to full-time judges.

The Mississippi State Legislature will return for a special session not on redistricting, as many conservative politicians have called for, but to resolve issues with youth court and records protection.

Gov. Tate Reeves called the Legislature back into Jackson on July 14 for a special session beginning the next day, July 15, at 3 p.m.

“I am hopeful — and even optimistic — that members of both political parties can and will vote for this common-sense legislation that will help children and families all across Mississippi,” Reeves wrote in a post on X.

The issue stems from statutes that used to govern youth court records. The statutes were put in place to protect the personally identifiable information of children in the youth court system, including those who are under the care of Child Protection Services.

The Legislature is responsible for making the laws and renewing them when they are set to be repealed, but the body did not do so before the end of the legislative session in April. The statutes were repealed on June 30, and CPS employees have been left scrambling to engage in court proceedings without illegally sharing private information about vulnerable children.

Leadership in both chambers have been discussing the new laws governing youth court since the end of the session, and Reeves wrote that he was pleased with the bill that they are set to propose at the special session.

“The agreed upon solution (as proposed and agreed by House and Senate leadership) sets up a far better system for both kids who are abused and neglected, as well as those children facing delinquency proceedings,” he wrote. “For the first time, children and families will have access to full-time judges and moves us toward a uniform youth court system statewide.”

Bea Anhuci is the state government reporter for the Clarion Ledger. She has covered Mississippi politics since the start of 2026. Email her at banhuci@usatodayco.com.