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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Banks
HOUSE BILL NO. 846
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE JUNE 19, JUNETEENTH, AS A LEGAL HOLIDAY IN THE STATE OF 2
MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 3
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that June 19, 1865, known as 4
"Juneteenth," commemorates the true end to slavery in the United 5
States when Major General Gordon Granger traveled to Galveston, 6
Texas, and declared the joyous news of freedom from slavery, and 7
250,000 enslaved individuals in Texas finally learned that they 8
were free, nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation 9
was signed by President Abraham Lincoln; and 10
WHEREAS, Juneteenth is considered to be the longest-standing 11
African-American holiday marking the end of slavery in the United 12
States, and it has been celebrated across the nation for over 150 13
years in commemoration of the last enslaved persons' freedom, 14
while emphasizing education and achievement, as well as 15
inclusiveness of all races and ethnic groups; and 16
WHEREAS, on June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed 17
the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to establish 18
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Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and this unanimous vote included 19
"aye" votes from Senator Roger Wicker and Senator Cindy Hyde 20
Smith; and on June 16, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives 21
passed the act with a vote of 415-14, with the "aye" votes 22
including those from Representative Bennie Thompson, 23
Representative Steven Palazzo, Representative Michael Guest and 24
Representative Trent Kelly; and 25
WHEREAS, forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have 26
declared Juneteenth as a public holiday, honoring freedom, 27
recognizing life and uplifting the complex history and beautiful 28
culture of the African-American community; and 29
WHEREAS, legal holidays in the State of Mississippi are 30
purposefully few in number and recognize the most important 31
milestones in our nation's history, and Juneteenth is certainly 32
one of our nation's most important milestones, as it marks the 33
true end of slavery in the United States, and should be declared a 34
legal holiday in the State of Mississippi; 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 40
holidays * * *: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the 41
third Monday of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin 42
Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February 43
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(Washington's birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate 44
Memorial Day); the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and 45
Jefferson Davis' birthday); the nineteenth day of June 46
(Juneteenth); the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first 47
Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November 48
(Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the 49
Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be 50
fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the 51
United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of 52
December (Christmas Day). In the event any holiday hereinbefore 53
declared legal shall fall on Sunday, then the next following day 54
shall be a legal holiday. 55
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 56
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 57
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Martin Luther 58
King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice 59
or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality 60
or county may declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi 61
Gras Day or any one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal 62
holiday. 63
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 64
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 65
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 66
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 67
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recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 68
holiday. 69
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 70
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 71
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 72
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 73
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 74
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 75
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 76
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 77
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 78
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 79
holiday. 80
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 81
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 82
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 83
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 84
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 85
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 86
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 87
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 88
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 89
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 90
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 91
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ST: Juneteenth; designate as a legal holiday in
the State of Mississippi.
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 92
by participating school personnel. 93
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 94
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 95
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 96
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 97
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 98
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 99
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 100
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 101
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 102
holiday. 103
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 104
and after its passage. 105