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S. B. No. 2098 *SS36/R479* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Barnett
SENATE BILL NO. 2098
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
DESIGNATE JUNE 19 AS "JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY"; TO SPECIFICALLY 2
PROVIDE THAT JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY SHALL NOT BE A LEGAL HOLIDAY, 3
BUT SHALL BE A DAY OF COMMEMORATION AT NO EXPENSE TO THE STATE; TO 4
CLARIFY WHEN A LEGAL HOLIDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED WHEN THE HOLIDAY 5
FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
WHEREAS, the date of June 19 is known as "Juneteenth," and it 7
is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of 8
slavery in the United States; and 9
WHEREAS, the commemoration of June 19 as Juneteenth 10
specifically refers to the fact that, even though President 11
Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the 12
joyous news of freedom from slavery did not reach certain 13
residents in Galveston, Texas, until June 19, 1865; and 14
WHEREAS, Juneteenth commemorates freedom from slavery in the 15
United States, emphasizes education and achievement and is a day 16
for reflection and rejoicing in the African-American experience; 17
and 18
WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth is inclusive of all 19
races, ethnicities, religions and nationalities, in that citizens 20
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across our country join hands in acknowledging a period in our 21
history that has influenced our society - - a great society that 22
advances the ideals of liberty and justice for all; NOW, 23
THEREFORE, 24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 26
amended as follows: 27
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 28
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 29
viz: the first day of January (New Year's Day); the third Monday 30
of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, 31
Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's 32
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); 33
the last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' 34
birthday); the fourth day of July (Independence Day); the first 35
Monday of September (Labor Day); the eleventh day of November 36
(Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by proclamation by the 37
Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be 38
fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the 39
United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of 40
December (Christmas Day). * * * If any holiday * * * above falls 41
on a Saturday or Sunday, then the * * * following * * * Monday, or 42
another day fixed by proclamation of the Governor as the day to 43
celebrate the holiday, shall be a legal holiday. 44
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(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 45
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 46
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 47
birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' 48
Day), the governing authorities of any municipality or county may 49
declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any 50
one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal holiday. 51
(3) The following are not legal holidays for purposes of 52
this section, and the commemoration, recognition or observation of 53
these days does not authorize any state or local governmental 54
entity or political subdivision to consider, recognize or declare 55
such days as legal holidays: 56
(a) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day 57
in recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 58
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 59
to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 60
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 61
holiday. 62
( * * *b) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day 63
in recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 64
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 65
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 66
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 67
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 68
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 69
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Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 70
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 71
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 72
holiday. 73
(c) June 19 is declared to be Juneteenth Freedom Day in 74
recognition and commemoration of June 19, 1865, as the date former 75
slaves of African descent received communication that slavery had 76
ended in the United States, and as a day when the ideals of 77
liberty and justice for all citizens is celebrated. This day 78
shall be a day of commemoration, recognition and observation and 79
shall not be recognized as a legal holiday. 80
( * * *4) 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
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 92
by participating school personnel. 93
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ST: Days of commemoration; designate June 19 as
Juneteenth Freedom Day.
( * * *5) 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
( * * *6) In recognition of the service, courage and 98
sacrifice of the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen 99
who served during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is 100
designated as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be 101
a day of recognition and observation and shall not be recognized 102
as a legal holiday. 103
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 104
and after its passage. 105