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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Karriem
HOUSE BILL NO. 407
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
EXCLUSIVELY RECOGNIZE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY ON 2
THE THIRD MONDAY OF JANUARY; TO REMOVE ROBERT E. LEE'S BIRTHDAY AS 3
A LEGAL STATE HOLIDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature desires to reflect the 5
transformative power of Mississippi from its past to its present 6
by celebrating holidays that wholly reflect the remarkable strides 7
made by all citizens; NOW, THEREFORE, 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 10
amended as follows: 11
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 12
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 13
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 14
of January ( * * * Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); the 15
third Monday of February (Washington's birthday); the last Monday 16
of April (Confederate Memorial Day); the last Monday of May 17
(National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' birthday); the fourth 18
day of July (Independence Day); the first Monday of September 19
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(Labor Day); the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' 20
Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the Governor of Mississippi 21
as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to correspond to 22
the date proclaimed by the President of the United States 23
(Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of December 24
(Christmas Day). * * * If any legal holiday * * * falls on a 25
Sunday, then the next following day shall be a legal holiday. 26
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 27
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 28
Monday in January ( * * * Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday) and 29
the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' Day), the 30
governing authorities of any municipality or county may declare, 31
by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any one (1) 32
other day during the year, to be a legal holiday. 33
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 34
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 35
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 36
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 37
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 38
holiday. 39
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 40
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 41
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 42
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 43
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 44
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187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 45
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 46
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 47
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 48
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 49
holiday. 50
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 51
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 52
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 53
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 54
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 55
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 56
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 57
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 58
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 59
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 60
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 61
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 62
by participating school personnel. 63
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 64
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 65
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 66
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 67
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 68
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 69
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ST: State holiday; exclusively recognize Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on the third
Monday of January.
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 70
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 71
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 72
holiday. 73
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 74
and after July 1, 2026. 75