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H. B. No. 247 *HR43/R376* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Clark
HOUSE BILL NO. 247
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE JUNE 19 AS "JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY"; TO SPECIFICALLY 2
PROVIDE THAT JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY SHALL NOT BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY, 3
BUT SHALL BE A DAY TO COMMEMORATE FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY AT NO 4
EXPENSE TO THE STATE; TO PROVIDE WHEN A LEGAL HOLIDAY WILL BE 5
CELEBRATED IF THE HOLIDAY FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY; AND FOR 6
RELATED PURPOSES. 7
WHEREAS, the date of June 19 is known as "Juneteenth," and it 8
is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 9
slavery in the United States; and 10
WHEREAS, the commemoration of June 19 as Juneteenth 11
specifically refers to the fact that, even though President 12
Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the 13
joyous news of freedom from slavery did not reach certain 14
Americans in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865; and 15
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates freedom from slavery in 16
America, emphasizes education and achievement and is a day for 17
reflection and rejoicing in the African-American experience; and 18
WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth is inclusive of all 19
races, ethnicities, religions and nationalities, and citizens 20
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across our country may join hands in acknowledging a period in our 21
history that has influenced our society, a great society that 22
advances the ideals of liberty and justice for all; NOW, 23
THEREFORE, 24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 26
amended as follows: 27
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 28
of this section, the following are declared to be legal 29
holidays * * *: 30
(a) The first day of January (New Year's Day); 31
(b) The third Monday of January (Robert E. Lee's 32
birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); 33
(c) The third Monday of February (Washington's 34
birthday); 35
(d) The last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial 36
Day); 37
(e) The last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and 38
Jefferson Davis' birthday); 39
(f) The fourth day of July (Independence Day); 40
(g) The first Monday of September (Labor Day); 41
(h) The eleventh day of November (Armistice or 42
Veterans' Day); 43
(i) The day fixed by proclamation by the Governor of 44
Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to 45
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correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the United 46
States (Thanksgiving Day); and 47
(j) The twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas Day). 48
* * * If any legal holiday * * * falls on Sunday, then the 49
next following * * * Monday, or another day declared by 50
proclamation of the Governor as the day to celebrate the holiday, 51
shall be a legal holiday. 52
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 53
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 54
Monday in January, designated as both Robert E. Lee's birthday and 55
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, and the eleventh day of 56
November, designated as Armistice or Veterans' Day, the governing 57
authorities of any municipality or county may declare, by order 58
spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any one (1) other day 59
during the year, to be a legal holiday. 60
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 61
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 62
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 63
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 64
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 65
holiday. 66
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 67
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 68
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 69
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 70
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Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 71
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 72
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 73
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 74
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 75
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 76
holiday. 77
(5) June 19 is declared to be Juneteenth Freedom Day in 78
recognition and commemoration of June 19, 1865, as the date former 79
slaves of African descent received communication that slavery had 80
ended in America, and as a day when the ideals of liberty and 81
justice for all citizens is celebrated. This day shall be a day 82
of commemoration, recognition and observation and shall not be 83
recognized as a legal holiday. 84
(6) Armistice Day or Veterans' Day shall be observed by 85
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 86
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 87
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 88
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 89
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 90
honor of Armistice or Veterans' Day. The superintendent of 91
schools is also authorized to permit the school band and its 92
director(s) at any public school in the district to perform at 93
Armistice or Veterans' Day exercises in the school district upon 94
the request of public officials or veterans associations without 95
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ST: Juneteenth Freedom Day; designate June 19
as.
loss of any program credit by participating students and without 96
loss of leave by participating school personnel. 97
( * * *7) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 98
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 99
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 100
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 101
( * * *8) In recognition of the service, courage and 102
sacrifice of the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen 103
who served during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is 104
designated as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be 105
a day of recognition and observation and shall not be recognized 106
as a legal holiday. 107
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 108
and after its passage. 109