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H. B. No. 200 *HR26/R1248* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Scott
HOUSE BILL NO. 200
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE JUNE 19 AS JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY; AND FOR RELATED 2
PURPOSES. 3
WHEREAS, the date of June 19 is known as "Juneteenth," and it 4
is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 5
slavery in the United States; and 6
WHEREAS, the commemoration of June 19 as Juneteenth 7
specifically refers to the fact that, even though President 8
Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the 9
joyous news of freedom from slavery did not reach certain 10
Americans in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865; and 11
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates freedom from slavery in 12
America, emphasizes education and achievement and is a day for 13
reflection and rejoicing in the African-American experience; and 14
WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth is inclusive of all 15
races, ethnicities, religions and nationalities, and citizens 16
across our country may join hands in acknowledging a period in our 17
history that has influenced our society, a great society that 18
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advances the ideals of liberty and justice for all; NOW, 19
THEREFORE, 20
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 21
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 22
amended as follows: 23
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 24
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 25
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 26
of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, 27
Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's 28
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); 29
the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' 30
birthday); the nineteenth day of June (Juneteenth Freedom Day); 31
the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first Monday of 32
September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November (Armistice or 33
Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the Governor of 34
Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to 35
correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the United 36
States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of December 37
(Christmas Day). In the event any holiday hereinbefore declared 38
legal shall fall on Sunday, then the next following day shall be a 39
legal holiday. 40
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 41
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 42
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Martin Luther 43
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King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice 44
or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality 45
or county may declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi 46
Gras Day or any one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal 47
holiday. 48
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 49
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 50
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 51
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 52
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 53
holiday. 54
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 55
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 56
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 57
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 58
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 59
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 60
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 61
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 62
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 63
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 64
holiday. 65
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 66
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 67
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 68
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ST: Legal holidays; designate June 19 as
Juneteenth Freedom Day.
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 69
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 70
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 71
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 72
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 73
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 74
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 75
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 76
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 77
by participating school personnel. 78
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 79
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 80
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 81
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 82
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 83
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 84
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 85
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 86
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 87
holiday. 88
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 89
and after its passage. 90