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SB 2489

Appellate court expense allowance; authorize receipt for judicial duties performed in any area of the state.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tyler McCaughn and 2 co-sponsors

Appellate judges may receive a per‑diem travel allowance tied to federal rates for days spent on judicial duties, with a 20‑day monthly cap.

Approved by Governor
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Bill Summary · SB 2489

SB 2489 — Summary (Mississippi): Appellate court expense allowance

Status: Approved by Governor (enrolled and signed; effective language in bill)
Introduced: Filed Feb 7, 2025; Governor approval recorded Apr 10, 2025
Statute amended: Mississippi Code § 25-3-43

Main purpose

SB 2489 amends § 25-3-43 to authorize a per‑diem expense allowance for each Mississippi Supreme Court Justice and each judge of the Court of Appeals when actually attending to judicial duties in Jackson or elsewhere in the state, and clarifies administration of judicial travel reimbursements. The intent is to compensate appellate judges for travel‑related expenses when performing official duties away from their primary duty station.

Key provisions

  • Adds subsection (5) to § 25-3-43 establishing an expense allowance for Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals judges:
    • Allowance amount: equal to the maximum daily expense rate allowable to federal employees for travel in the “high‑rate geographical area of Jackson” (as set by federal regulations), paid per day.
    • When payable:
    • While actually attending judicial duties in Jackson, not to exceed 20 days per month.
    • While actually attending judicial duties in any other area of the state, not to exceed 12 days per month.
    • Overall cap: no justice or judge may receive more than 20 days total of the expense allowance in any month (i.e., the total monthly allowance days cannot exceed 20).
  • Retains existing provisions for chancery, county and circuit judges to receive mileage and reimbursement for other travel expenses under § 25-3-41, and requires chancery and circuit judges to route reimbursement requests through the Supreme Court to the Department of Finance and Administration.
  • Confirms the Supreme Court’s authority to adopt rules and regulations for administration of the authorized travel expenses.
  • Retains provision authorizing county boards of supervisors, in counties with a state penitentiary, to reimburse justice court judges’ mileage up to $100 per month from the county general fund.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: Mississippi Supreme Court Justices and judges of the Court of Appeals (new per‑diem expense allowance for judicial duties outside the judge’s normal station).
  • Administratively affected: Mississippi Supreme Court (rulemaking and submission of reimbursement requests), Department of Finance and Administration (payment processing), county boards of supervisors (existing justice‑court mileage reimbursement authority).
  • Fiscal impact: Potential increase in state expenditures for per‑diem allowances for appellate judges; exact cost depends on federal per‑diem rates and days claimed. No specific appropriation dollar amount is specified in the bill text.

Timing and procedural notes

  • The bill text states it “shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.” The bill also contains a repeal clause saying it “shall stand repealed June 30, 2025,” which is chronologically inconsistent with the effective date. This appears to be a drafting or typographical error in the enrolled language; the legislative history does not specify corrected repeal timing. (Careful review of the enrolled act or subsequent technical corrections is recommended to confirm the intended effective/repeal dates.)
  • Legislative actions: Passed both chambers, conference committee activity recorded, enrolled bill signed, and approved by the Governor (April 2025). Companion bill: HB 4943.

Practical effect

Appellate judges will be eligible to receive a per‑diem tied to federal high‑rate Jackson travel allowances for specified days spent performing judicial duties in Jackson or elsewhere in Mississippi, subject to a 20‑day monthly cap. The change formalizes additional expense compensation and requires administrative implementation by the Supreme Court and state finance authorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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