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H. B. No. 641 *HR26/R1117* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Carpenter, Harris,
Morgan
HOUSE BILL NO. 641
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE THE MONTH OF JANUARY IN MISSISSIPPI AS NATIONAL BLOOD 2
DONOR MONTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
WHEREAS, more than 55 years ago, January was designated as 4
National Blood Donor Month, as an annual observance to honor 5
voluntary blood donors and encourage more people to donate blood 6
at a time when blood supplies are historically low; and 7
WHEREAS, Vitalant has been serving the community with the 8
collection and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products 9
to patients for more than 85 years; and 10
WHEREAS, in our communities, the need for a diverse blood 11
supply is constant, but the supply is not, making volunteer blood 12
donors the foundation for ensuring a safe and stable supply of 13
blood available to help meet the medical needs of patients; and 14
WHEREAS, a blood transfusion occurs in the United States 15
every two seconds, but only 3% of the age-eligible population 16
donates blood; and 17
H. B. No. 641 *HR26/R1117* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, type O blood is often used in trauma situations, 18
making it the most needed blood type and most likely to be in 19
short supply during a blood emergency; and 20
WHEREAS, patients requiring blood transfusions include cancer 21
patients, accident, burn, and trauma victims, newborn babies and 22
their mothers, transplant recipients, surgery patients, 23
chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease 24
or thalassemia, and many more; and 25
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Mississippi hereby 26
recognizes the month of January as National Blood Donor Month in 27
the State of Mississippi, and urge all citizens to celebrate the 28
cause of blood donation and recognize volunteer blood donors for 29
their generous gifts, and we further urge all eligible blood 30
donors to donate regularly, and encourage businesses and 31
organizations throughout the State of Mississippi to sponsor 32
community-based blood drives with Vitalant, among other blood 33
centers, and provide citizens of our state with the opportunity to 34
give; NOW, THEREFORE, 35
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 36
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 37
amended as follows: 38
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 39
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 40
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 41
of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, 42
H. B. No. 641 *HR26/R1117* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's 43
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); 44
the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' 45
birthday); the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first 46
Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November 47
(Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the 48
Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be 49
fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the 50
United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of 51
December (Christmas Day). In the event any holiday hereinbefore 52
declared legal shall fall on Sunday, then the next following day 53
shall be a legal holiday. 54
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 55
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 56
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 57
birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' 58
Day), the governing authorities of any municipality or county may 59
declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any 60
one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal holiday. 61
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 62
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 63
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 64
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 65
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 66
holiday. 67
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(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 68
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 69
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 70
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 71
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 72
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 73
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 74
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 75
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 76
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 77
holiday. 78
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 79
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 80
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 81
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 82
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 83
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 84
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 85
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 86
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 87
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 88
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 89
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 90
by participating school personnel. 91
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ST: National Blood Donor Month; designate
January as in State of Mississippi.
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 92
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 93
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 94
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 95
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 96
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 97
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 98
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 99
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 100
holiday. 101
(8) The month of January is declared to be National Blood 102
Donor Month as an annual observance to honor voluntary blood 103
donors, and encourage more people to donate blood at a time when 104
blood supplies are historically low. 105
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 106
and after its passage. 107