Bill > HB1429

This bill, titled "The Law Enforcement Integrity Act," aims to hold government employers, such as state, county, and municipal entities, liable for injuries caused by their law enforcement officers, referred to as "peace officers" in the bill, who violate constitutional rights under color of law. It defines "government" as state, county, municipal, and other political subdivisions, and "government employer" as any agency or instrumentality of these entities. The act establishes that these employers must indemnify their peace officers for liability incurred, unless the officer did not act in good faith and on a reasonable belief that their actions were lawful, in which case the officer is personally liable for a portion of the judgment. The bill also sets a cap of $2,000,000 for judgments awarded and allows individuals to seek legal, equitable, or other relief in state courts for constitutional rights violations, with a three-year statute of limitations for bringing claims. Importantly, this act overrides common law and statutory doctrines of governmental immunity, including sovereign immunity and qualified immunity, though it exempts judges and legislators acting in their official capacities and prohibits class action lawsuits. The bill also clarifies that when evaluating a peace officer's use of force, courts must use an objective standard, considering the circumstances from the officer's perspective at the time, without hindsight. Prevailing plaintiffs can seek compensatory damages and attorney's fees, but not punitive damages, and all related documents will be publicly disclosed. The bill also brings forward and amends existing Mississippi Code sections related to governmental immunity, specifically Sections 11-46-5, 11-46-7, and 11-46-9, to align with these new provisions, and it will take effect on July 1, 2026.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1429.xml