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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Scott
HOUSE BILL NO. 197
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE JUNE 19, JUNETEENTH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY, AS A 2
LEGAL HOLIDAY IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO CLARIFY WHEN A LEGAL 3
HOLIDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED WHEN THE HOLIDAY FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR 4
SUNDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that June 19, 1865, known as 6
"Juneteenth," commemorates the true end to slavery in the United 7
States when Major General Gordon Granger traveled to Galveston, 8
Texas, and declared the joyous news of freedom from slavery, and 9
250,000 enslaved individuals in Texas finally learned that they 10
were free, nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation 11
was signed by President Abraham Lincoln; and 12
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is considered to be the longest-running 13
African-American holiday marking the end of slavery in the United 14
States, and it has been celebrated across the nation for over 150 15
years in commemoration of the last enslaved persons' freedom, 16
while emphasizing education and achievement, as well as 17
inclusiveness of all races and ethnic groups; and 18
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WHEREAS, on June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed 19
the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to establish 20
Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and this unanimous vote included 21
"aye" votes from Senator Roger Wicker and Senator Cindy Hyde 22
Smith; and on June 16, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives 23
passed the act with a vote of 415-14, with the "aye" votes 24
including those from Representative Bennie Thompson, 25
Representative Steven Palazzo, Representative Michael Guest and 26
Representative Trent Kelly; and 27
WHEREAS, on June 17, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. CST, Representative 28
Omeria Scott requested legislation to be drafted that designates 29
June 19th, Juneteenth National Independence Day, as an official, 30
legal state holiday in the State of Mississippi, five hours and 31
three minutes before President Joe Biden, the 46th President of 32
the United States, signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day 33
Act, making Juneteenth a federal holiday at 4:03 p.m. EST; and 34
WHEREAS, forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have 35
declared Juneteenth as a public holiday, honoring freedom, 36
recognizing life and uplifting the complex history and beautiful 37
culture of the African-American community; and 38
WHEREAS, legal holidays in the State of Mississippi are 39
purposefully few in number and recognize the most important 40
milestones in our nation's history, and Juneteenth is certainly 41
one of our nation's most important milestones, as it marks the 42
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true end of slavery in the United States, and should be declared a 43
legal holiday in the State of Mississippi; NOW, THEREFORE, 44
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 45
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 46
amended as follows: 47
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 48
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 49
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 50
of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, 51
Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's 52
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); 53
the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' 54
birthday); the nineteenth day of June (Juneteenth National 55
Independence Day) the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the 56
first Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of 57
November (Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by 58
proclamation by the Governor of Mississippi as a day of 59
Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to correspond to the date 60
proclaimed by the President of the United States (Thanksgiving 61
Day); and the twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas Day). * * * 62
If any holiday * * * falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the next 63
following * * * Monday, or another day fixed by proclamation of 64
the Governor as the day to celebrate the holiday, shall be a legal 65
holiday. 66
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(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 67
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 68
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Martin Luther 69
King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice 70
or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality 71
or county may declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi 72
Gras Day or any one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal 73
holiday. 74
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 75
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 76
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 77
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 78
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 79
holiday. 80
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 81
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 82
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 83
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 84
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 85
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 86
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 87
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 88
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 89
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 90
holiday. 91
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ST: Juneteenth National Independence Day;
designate as a legal holiday in the State of
Mississippi.
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 92
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 93
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 94
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 95
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 96
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 97
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 98
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 99
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 100
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 101
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 102
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 103
by participating school personnel. 104
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 105
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 106
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 107
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 108
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 109
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 110
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 111
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 112
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 113
holiday. 114
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 115
and after its passage. 116