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HB 4143

Suffrage; restore to Leporion Versell of Hinds County.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Zakiya Summers

Restores the voting right only to Leporion Versell in Hinds County, returning him to full suffrage after a prior robbery conviction.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 4143

Bill Summary: HB 4143 (2026) – Mississippi

Title

Suffrage; restore to Leporion Versell of Hinds County

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to restore the right of suffrage (the right to vote) to Leporion Versell, a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi.
  • It asserts that Versell was disqualified due to a prior conviction (Robbery in Hinds County) and establishes that he has since conducted himself as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
  • The bill explicitly states that Versell’s voting rights would be “fully and completely restored,” returning him to full eligibility to vote.

Key Provisions

  • Section 1: Restoration of Suffrage
    • Restore the right to vote to Leporion Versell, who was convicted of Robbery in Hinds County on July 13, 1999.
    • Details provided about his criminal history:
    • Sentenced to 5 years in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
    • Released from custody on February 21, 2003; discharged on August 24, 2003.
    • Probation violation leading to a 1-year sentence in the MDOC starting November 8, 2004.
    • Released on July 25, 2005; discharged on September 6, 2005.
    • The Legislature states that Versell has since behaved as a law-abiding and honorable citizen.
  • Section 2: Effective Date
    • The act becomes effective upon passage.

Who is Affected

  • Leporion Versell of Hinds County, Mississippi, as an individual voter, would have his right to vote restored.
  • The bill does not indicate changes to voting rights for other individuals or broader categories; it is a targeted restoration.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referral: Referred to Judiciary B (March 12, 2026).
  • Action history indicates procedural hurdles:
    • April 15, 2026: “Suspend from Deadlines by HC 64” (procedural note, not a substantive change).
    • April 15, 2026: “Died In Committee” (the bill did not advance out of committee in this session).
  • Sponsorship:
    • Primary sponsor: Representative Summers.
    • Co-sponsor: Zakiya Summers.
  • Given the committee outcome (“Died In Committee”), the bill did not progress to a floor vote in the 2026 Regular Session.

Notes and Observations

  • The bill is narrowly focused on a single individual and does not propose changes to broader suffrage restoration processes or eligibility criteria for other former offenders.
  • If there is interest in this policy area, similar measures would need to be pursued in future sessions to address restoration of rights more generally or to establish a standardized process for rehabilitation-based restoration.

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

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