Bill > HB707

This bill requires cities and counties in Mississippi to provide body-worn cameras to police officers and deputy sheriffs who are on patrol, with specific provisions to ensure compliance. The bill defines a "body-worn camera" as an electronic device worn on an officer's uniform that records both audio and video of an officer's activities. Municipal governing authorities must now include body-worn cameras as part of the necessary equipment for police officers, and county boards of supervisors must allocate funds in their annual budgets to purchase these cameras for sheriff's deputies. The legislation mandates that police officers and deputy sheriffs wear these cameras while on patrol, and establishes penalties for non-compliance: any officer who fails to wear a body-worn camera can be found guilty of a misdemeanor, facing potential fines up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. The new requirements will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving municipalities and counties time to budget for and implement the body-worn camera program. The primary goal of this bill appears to be increasing transparency and accountability in law enforcement by ensuring that officer interactions are recorded.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0707.xml