HB 863: Offenses, certain; elimination of mandatory minimum sentences.
HB 863 status: Introduced — Continued from last session (updated Jul 21, 2026).
OpenStates summary
What this bill does
Overall score


Bill summary
OfficialThis law stops forcing judges to give out a specific minimum amount of jail time for certain crimes. Instead, judges will now have more freedom to decide what a fair sentence is for each case.
Key analysis
Impact analysis
Environment
Benefits
- No direct environmental impact identified
Risks
- No direct environmental impact identified
Economy
Benefits
- Reduced state corrections expenditure
Risks
- Potential indirect costs to local law enforcement resources
Society
Benefits
- Increased judicial discretion in sentencing
- Potential reduction in systemic incarceration disparities
Risks
- Concerns regarding sentencing uniformity across jurisdictions
- Potential public safety perception challenges
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
lowlow
Analysis status
OpenStates summary
The specific list of crimes impacted by the removal of mandatory minimums is unknown, limiting risk assessment
Limited to abstract summary; specific offenses targeted by the bill are not detailed
Where it stands
Introduced
CurrentContinued from last session
Committee
UpcomingFloor
UpcomingGovernor
UpcomingEnacted
UpcomingHow it affects your district
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