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HB 1112

Mississippi Center for Legal Services; require $15.00 collected from criminal and civil actions to be remitted to.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Percy Watson

Mississippi would collect $15 fees from court cases to fund legal aid services for low-income residents unable to afford attorneys.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1112

Legislative bill overview

HB 1112 would require Mississippi courts to collect $15.00 from criminal and civil court actions and remit these funds to the Mississippi Center for Legal Services. This represents a court fee specifically designated to fund legal aid services for low-income individuals who cannot afford representation.

Why is this important

Legal aid organizations provide critical services to economically disadvantaged people navigating the justice system. This dedicated funding mechanism would create a stable, predictable revenue stream for legal services rather than relying on legislative appropriations that fluctuate yearly. Such fees are common across states as a way to support access-to-justice infrastructure.

Potential points of contention

  • Fee burden on litigants: Adding $15 to court costs could disproportionately affect low-income parties already struggling financially, potentially creating barriers to accessing courts themselves
  • Mandatory vs. voluntary funding: Some may argue that court fees should not be mandatory funding mechanisms for particular organizations, preferring direct legislative appropriations with full public debate
  • Implementation details: The bill's text appears incomplete in this summary, leaving unclear whether the fee applies to all cases, has exemptions, or includes collection procedures

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

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