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H. B. No. 275 *HR43/R398* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: County Affairs
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Clark
HOUSE BILL NO. 275
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS FROM ONE TO TWO THAT THE BOARD OF 2
SUPERVISORS OF ANY COUNTY AND THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF ANY 3
MUNICIPALITY MAY DECLARE AS A LEGAL HOLIDAY IN LIEU OF CERTAIN 4
OTHER LEGAL HOLIDAYS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 9
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 10
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 11
of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, 12
Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's 13
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); 14
the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' 15
birthday); the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first 16
Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November 17
(Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the 18
Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be 19
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fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the 20
United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of 21
December (Christmas Day). In the event any holiday hereinbefore 22
declared legal shall fall on Sunday, then the next following day 23
shall be a legal holiday. 24
(2) In lieu of any * * * legal holiday provided for in 25
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 26
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Martin Luther 27
King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice 28
or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality 29
or county may declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi 30
Gras Day or any * * * two (2) other days during the year, to be a 31
legal holiday. 32
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 33
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 34
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 35
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 36
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 37
holiday. 38
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 39
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 40
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 41
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 42
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 43
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 44
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eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 45
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 46
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 47
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 48
holiday. 49
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 50
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 51
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 52
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 53
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 54
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 55
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 56
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 57
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 58
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 59
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 60
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 61
by participating school personnel. 62
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 63
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 64
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 65
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 66
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 67
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 68
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 69
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ST: Legal holidays; increase number of days
counties and municipalities may declare as in
lieu of certain other holidays.
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 70
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 71
holiday. 72
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 73
and after July 1, 2026. 74