Mississippi Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act
Summary
Mississippi enacted HB377, the Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act, requiring law enforcement agencies to enter missing persons reports into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) without delay and without requiring next of kin presence. The Act mandates DNA testing on unidentified human remains using forensic genetic genealogy, prohibits destruction of remains (classified as a felony), and requires law enforcement training on missing persons investigations.
What changed
Mississippi enacted HB377 creating the Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act with new requirements for law enforcement and medical examiners. The Act requires law enforcement agencies to enter missing persons into NamUs without delay and prohibits requiring next of kin appearance before initiating an investigation. Medical examiners must conduct DNA testing on unidentified remains using forensic genetic genealogy and enter unclaimed remains cases within 30 days. The willful destruction of human remains is now classified as a felony. The Act also mandates training on missing and unidentified persons investigations for law enforcement officers.
Law enforcement agencies and medical examiner offices in Mississippi must update procedures to comply with new reporting requirements to NamUs without delay. Entities must ensure staff complete required training on missing persons investigations. Any person or facility acquiring possession of unidentified human remains must submit them to the State Medical Examiner rather than performing cremation, embalming, or other destructive treatment. Non-compliance with felony provisions could result in criminal prosecution.
What to do next
- Update missing persons reporting procedures to enter reports into NamUs immediately upon receipt of credible report without requiring next of kin presence
- Ensure all unclaimed human remains cases are entered into NamUs within 30 days of the Act's effective date
- Implement required training for law enforcement officers on investigation of unidentified and missing persons
Penalties
Willful destruction of a body, body part, or unidentified human remains constitutes a felony
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Mississippi / HB377 Signed by Governor HB377 House Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-02
The Missing Persons Reporting and Identification Act; create to require input of missing persons in NamUs.
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.
Bill Details
State Mississippi
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Jay McKnight (Rep - R) Fred Shanks (Rep - R)
Action History
2026-04-06 S Enrolled Bill Signed 2026-04-02 H Enrolled Bill Signed 2026-03-31 S Conference Report Adopted 2026-03-31 H Conference Report Adopted 2026-03-30 S Conference Report Filed 2026-03-30 H Conference Report Filed 2026-03-23 S Conferees Named Fillingane,Barrett,Hickman 2026-03-23 H Conferees Named Horan,Grady,McKnight 2026-03-18 H Decline to Concur/Invite Conf 2026-03-12 S Returned For Concurrence 2026-03-11 S Passed As Amended 2026-03-11 S Amended 2026-03-03 S Title Suff Do Pass As Amended 2026-02-17 S Referred To Judiciary, Division B 2026-02-13 H Transmitted To Senate 2026-02-12 H Passed 2026-02-12 H Committee Substitute Adopted 2026-02-11 H Read the Third Time 2026-02-03 H Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub 2026-01-09 H Referred To Judiciary B
Votes
2026-02-12 House Passed Yea: 120 Nay: 0 2026-03-11 Senate Passed As Amended Yea: 51 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 House Conference Report Adopted Yea: 120 Nay: 0 2026-03-31 Senate Conference Report Adopted Yea: 52 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-09 H Judiciary B 2026-02-17 S Judiciary, Division B
Amendments
0000-00-00 Senate Committee Amendment No 1 0000-00-00 Senate Substitute No 1 for Committee Amendment No 1 Adopted
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-09 Introduced 2026-02-03 Comm Sub 2026-02-13 Engrossed 2026-04-02 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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