HB760 • 2026

Elected official; prohibit from changing political party affiliation during term of office.

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM CHANGING POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION DURING SUCH OFFICIAL'S TERM OF OFFICE; TO PROVIDE THAT A CHANGE OF POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION SHALL BE CONSIDERED A RESIGNATION AND THE OFFICE OF SUCH OFFICIAL SHALL BE VACANT AND FILLED AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR SUCH OFFICE; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH VACANCY SHALL BE FILLED AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR THAT OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Evans
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee, so there is no effective date for the legislation.

Stop Elected Officials From Changing Party During Term

This bill stops elected officials from changing their political party during their time in office and treats such a change as a resignation.

What This Bill Does

It does not allow an elected official to switch political parties while they are still serving.
If an elected official changes their party, it is treated like the official quit their job.
When an official quits because of changing parties, someone else must take over that position according to state rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Elected officials in Mississippi who want to change their political party during their term.

Terms To Know

Vacancy: When a job or position becomes empty because someone leaves it, like when an elected official quits.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
It is unclear how many officials might want to change parties during their term.
There are no details on what happens if an official changes party secretly or without declaring it publicly.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To Apportionment and Elections;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

Elected official; prohibit from changing political party affiliation during term of office.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 760 *HR43/R866* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R866
PAGE 1 (ENK\KP)

To: Apportionment and
Elections; Accountability,
Efficiency, Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Evans

HOUSE BILL NO. 760

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM CHANGING 1
POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION DURING SUCH OFFICIAL'S TERM OF OFFICE; 2
TO PROVIDE THAT A CHANGE OF POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION SHALL BE 3
CONSIDERED A RESIGNATION AND THE OFFICE OF SUCH OFFICIAL SHALL BE 4
VACANT AND FILLED AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR SUCH OFFICE; TO PROVIDE 5
THAT SUCH VACANCY SHALL BE FILLED AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR THAT 6
OFFICE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) No elected official may change political 9
party affiliation during such official's term of office. A 10
"change in political party affiliation" occurs when: 11
(a) Any elected official publicly declares that he or 12
she is leaving the political party with which he or she was 13
affiliated when he or she was elected to office; 14
(b) Any elected official publicly declares that he or 15
she is becoming a member of a political party which is different 16
from the political party with which he or she was affiliated at 17
the time of election. 18
(2) Any change of political party affiliation during an 19
official's term of office shall be considered a resignation by 20
H. B. No. 760 *HR43/R866* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R866
PAGE 2 (ENK\KP)
ST: Elected official; prohibit from changing
political party affiliation during term of
office.
such official and a vacancy for such office. Any such vacancy 21
shall be filled as provided by law for that office. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 23
and after July 1, 2026. 24