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Legislative leaders are close to finalizing a deal on reforming Mississippi’s youth court system and expect Gov. Tate Reeves to call them into a special legislative session soon, according to multiple lawmakers and negotiators involved in the discussions.
It’s unclear how wide-ranging the reforms to the court would be and when exactly the special session would take place, though several legislators speculate it will happen later this month. Reeves’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
The reason for the special session is that lawmakers debated a youth court reform bill during their 2026 regular session. The reform package also contained a measure extending the “repealer” in existing law on how confidential youth court records can be shared between courts, state agencies, attorneys and law enforcement.
When a repealer, or sunset clause, is included in a state law, the law or a section goes away on a specified date unless the Legislature votes to reenact it.
Because the Legislature didn’t pass a measure extending the repealer, those confidentiality measures and other youth court laws expired.
The state Supreme Court issued an order earlier this month that state officials said will allow youth court business to proceed as usual. That order expires on July 24, but the Court could extend that order.
