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HB1198 • 2026

Historical monuments and memorials; prohibit moving and authorize aggrieved person to bring legal action for violations.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNING BODY TO MOVE A HISTORICAL MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION; TO GRANT STANDING TO A PERSON WHO FEELS THAT A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION AGAINST MOVING HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS HAS OCCURRED TO BRING A LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE ALLEGED OFFENDER IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE VIOLATION OCCURRED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Hobgood-Wilkes
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide information about specific historical items or structures being protected beyond those on public property.

Protecting Historical Monuments

This bill stops local governments from moving historical monuments or memorials on public property and allows people to sue if they believe a violation has occurred.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the ability of local government bodies to move historical monuments or memorials on public property.
  • Allows any person who believes a violation has occurred to file a lawsuit against the alleged offender in the county where the violation happened.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local government bodies responsible for maintaining public property with historical monuments or memorials.
  • People who want to sue if they believe a historical monument or memorial has been moved without permission.

Terms To Know

Standing
The legal right of an individual to bring a lawsuit in court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill does not apply to items on property owned by the Mississippi Transportation Commission if they interfere with transportation facilities.
  • The bill did not pass in its current session, so it has no legal effect at this time.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To State Affairs;Judiciary A

Official Summary Text

Historical monuments and memorials; prohibit moving and authorize aggrieved person to bring legal action for violations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1198 *HR26/R833* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R833
PAGE 1 (MCL\KW)

To: State Affairs; Judiciary
A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hobgood-Wilkes

HOUSE BILL NO. 1198

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNING BODY TO MOVE A HISTORICAL 2
MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION; TO GRANT STANDING TO 3
A PERSON WHO FEELS THAT A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION AGAINST 4
MOVING HISTORICAL MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS HAS OCCURRED TO BRING A 5
LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE ALLEGED OFFENDER IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH 6
THE VIOLATION OCCURRED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 55-15-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
55-15-81. (1) None of the following items, structures or 11
areas may be relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, moved, 12
renamed or rededicated: any Revolutionary War, War of 1812, 13
Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American 14
War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Civil 15
Rights struggle, Persian Gulf War, War in Iraq, War in Afghanistan 16
or Native American War's statues, monuments, memorials or 17
nameplates (plaques), which have been erected on public property 18
of the state or any of its political subdivisions, such as local, 19
municipal or county owned public areas, and any statues, 20
H. B. No. 1198 *HR26/R833* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R833
PAGE 2 (MCL\KW)

monuments, memorials, nameplates (plaques), schools, streets, 21
bridges, buildings, parks preserves, reserves or other public 22
items, structure or areas of the state or any of its political 23
subdivisions, such as, local, municipal or county owned public 24
areas, which has been dedicated in memory of, or named for, any 25
historical military figure, historical military event, military 26
organization or military unit. 27
(2) No person may prevent the public body responsible for 28
maintaining any of the items, structures or areas described above 29
from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the 30
protection, preservation, care, repair or restoration of those 31
items, structures or areas. * * * 32
(3) Any person who feels that this statute has been violated 33
by any party or any government body may bring a legal action to 34
enforce this section, or any part of it, and has legal standing 35
and the right to initiate such an action in the chancery or 36
circuit court of the county in which the violation is alleged to 37
have occurred. 38
(4) This section shall not apply to items, structures or 39
areas located on property owned or acquired by the Mississippi 40
Transportation Commission which may interfere with the 41
construction, maintenance or operation of public transportation 42
facilities. 43
H. B. No. 1198 *HR26/R833* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R833
PAGE 3 (MCL\KW)
ST: Historical monuments and memorials;
prohibit moving and authorize aggrieved person
to bring legal action for violations.
(5) The protections of this section apply and are in force 44
in regard to all protected items and structures in place as of the 45
effective date of this act. 46
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 47
and after its passage. 48