Mississippi Proposes 'GOLD Alert' for Missing Young Adults

New bill aims to create emergency notification system for ages 18-23, filling gap in Amber and Silver alerts.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:47pm

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A Mississippi lawmaker is pushing legislation to create an emergency alert system for missing young adults between the ages of 18 and 23, known as the Mississippi GOLD Alert System. The proposed House Bill 1445 was inspired by the case of Jimmie Jay Lee, an Ole Miss student who went missing in 2022 and whose body was not found until over two years later. The bill would require law enforcement to send phone alerts to the public in the affected area when a young adult is reported missing, in an effort to help locate them quickly.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to address a critical gap in existing emergency alert systems, which currently only cover children (Amber Alert) and older adults (Silver Alert). Supporters believe the GOLD Alert could make a significant difference in finding missing young adults, a vulnerable population that often falls through the cracks.

The details

Under the proposed bill, when a person between 18 and 23 is reported missing, law enforcement would send that information to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The department would then review the case and issue phone alerts to residents in the affected area, providing details about the missing individual's appearance and last known location. The goal is to quickly mobilize the public to assist in locating the missing young adult.

  • In 2022, Ole Miss student Jimmie Jay Lee went missing and his body was not found until over two years later.
  • House Bill 1445, known as the Mississippi GOLD Alert System, has been proposed in the current legislative session.

The players

Representative Justis Gibbs

One of the authors of the proposed GOLD Alert legislation.

Jimmie Jay Lee

An Ole Miss student who went missing in 2022, inspiring the creation of the GOLD Alert bill.

Kimora Ewing

A Jackson State University student from Tennessee who supports the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“This is one of the ways of showing parents we are taking active steps in ensuring their child will be safe, and their child will be found if something terrible happens to them.”

— Representative Justis Gibbs, Bill Author

“With this, it would make me feel more protected. It is a system in place for me to be found if I was to be lost, or somebody was to go take me. I hope this helps our community and helps our parents get back to feeling secure.”

— Kimora Ewing, Jackson State University Student

What’s next

The proposed GOLD Alert legislation has been crafted and assigned to a committee, but no timeline has been announced for when lawmakers plan to consider the bill.

The takeaway

This proposed GOLD Alert system represents a proactive effort by Mississippi lawmakers to address a critical gap in emergency notification systems and provide an additional tool to help locate missing young adults quickly. If passed, it could make a meaningful difference in the lives of college students and their families across the state.