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SB2201 • 2026

Confederate flag; direct removal of depiction from Capitol rotunda, and create commission to recommend replacement image.

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO CAUSE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND A SUITABLE IMAGE TO REPLACE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO LIST THE COMMISSION'S PREROGATIVES AND DUTIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO SUBMIT ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION; TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS THE RELOCATION, REMOVAL, DISTURBING, ALTERATION, RENAMING OR REDEDICATION OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL ITEMS, STRUCTURES OR AREAS, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.

Remove Confederate Flag from Capitol Rotunda

This bill directs the Department of Archives and History to remove the depiction of the Confederate flag from the State Capitol rotunda and establishes a commission to recommend an image to replace it.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to remove the depiction of the Confederate flag from the State Capitol rotunda as soon as practicable after July 1, 2026.
  • Establishes a commission with specific members appointed by various state officials to recommend a suitable image to replace the Confederate flag in the capitol rotunda.
  • Sets deadlines for the commission's appointments and meetings, requiring them to submit their recommendation no later than September 30, 2026.
  • Allows the commission to hold public meetings, gather information, and consult experts as needed.
  • Requires the commission to keep minutes of its meetings available to the public.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Archives and History
  • Members appointed to the commission by state officials

Terms To Know

Commission
A group of people chosen to do a specific job, like recommending an image for the capitol rotunda.
Depiction
An image or representation of something.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It does not specify how funds will be provided for the commission's work.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (S) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/13 (S) Referred To Rules

Official Summary Text

Confederate flag; direct removal of depiction from Capitol rotunda, and create commission to recommend replacement image.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2201 *SS36/R114* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS36/R114
PAGE 1 (icj\kr)

To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Blackmon

SENATE BILL NO. 2201

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO 1
CAUSE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO BE REMOVED FROM THE 2
STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND A 3
SUITABLE IMAGE TO REPLACE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN 4
THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION 5
AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO LIST THE 6
COMMISSION'S PREROGATIVES AND DUTIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO 7
SUBMIT ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE 8
LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 9
DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS WRITTEN 10
RECOMMENDATION; TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 11
1972, WHICH PROHIBITS THE RELOCATION, REMOVAL, DISTURBING, 12
ALTERATION, RENAMING OR REDEDICATION OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL ITEMS, 13
STRUCTURES OR AREAS, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 15
SECTION 1. (1) As soon as practicable on or after the 16
effective date of this act, the Mississippi Department of Archives 17
and History shall cause the depiction of the Confederate flag to 18
be removed from the State Capitol rotunda. 19
(2) There is established a commission to recommend a 20
suitable image to replace the depiction of the Confederate flag in 21
the Capitol rotunda. The commission shall consist of the 22
following members: 23
S. B. No. 2201 *SS36/R114* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(a) The Director of the Department of Archives and 24
History, who shall serve as chair of the commission; 25
(b) Two (2) appointees of the Governor, to include: 26
(i) A representative from the Mississippi Economic 27
Council; and 28
(ii) A representative from the Mississippi Arts 29
Commission; 30
(c) Two (2) Senators, one (1) from each political 31
party, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and 32
(d) Two (2) Representatives, one (1) from each 33
political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. 34
(3) All appointments to the commission shall be made no 35
later than June 30, 2026. As soon as practicable after all 36
appointments have been made, or as soon as practicable on or after 37
July 1, 2026, whichever is earlier, the commission shall meet upon 38
the call of the chair to organize and conduct business. A 39
majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum, and a 40
majority vote of the members present and voting shall be required 41
for any action by the commission. The Department of Archives and 42
History shall provide meeting space and clerical support for the 43
operation of the commission. 44
(4) The commission may: 45
(a) Hold regular public meetings when and where it sees 46
fit; 47
S. B. No. 2201 *SS36/R114* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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(b) Receive written public comments in a manner and 48
under the terms and conditions as it sees fit; 49
(c) Collect, examine and consider all information that 50
it determines may be helpful in making its recommendation; 51
(d) Consult with experts, representatives of 52
organizations and associations, and others, as it sees fit, whose 53
knowledge or expertise may assist the commission in making its 54
recommendation; and 55
(e) Make any inquiries and conduct any business that 56
may assist the commission in making its recommendation. 57
(5) The commission shall: 58
(a) Keep minutes of its meetings, and make those 59
minutes available to the public; 60
(b) When assessing options for an image to replace the 61
Confederate flag in the Capitol rotunda, give serious 62
consideration to a depiction of the slaves who contributed to the 63
construction of the State Capitol Building; and 64
(c) Submit its written recommendation to the Governor 65
and the Legislature no later than September 30, 2026. Upon 66
submission of its written recommendation, the commission shall be 67
dissolved. 68
(6) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation 69
for their service on the commission, but they may receive 70
reimbursement for mileage and actual expenses as provided in 71
S. B. No. 2201 *SS36/R114* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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Section 25-3-41, to the extent that funds are available for that 72
purpose. 73
SECTION 2. Section 55-15-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 74
amended as follows: 75
55-15-81. (1) None of the following items, structures or 76
areas may be relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, renamed or 77
rededicated, unless specifically authorized or directed by an act 78
of the Legislature: Any Revolutionary War, War of 1812, 79
Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American 80
War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian 81
Gulf War, War in Iraq or Native American War's statues, monuments, 82
memorials or nameplates (plaques), which have been erected on 83
public property of the state or any of its political subdivisions, 84
such as local, municipal or county owned public areas, and any 85
statues, monuments, memorials, nameplates (plaques), schools, 86
streets, bridges, buildings, parks preserves, reserves or other 87
public items, structure or areas of the state or any of its 88
political subdivisions, such as, local, municipal or county owned 89
public areas, which has been dedicated in memory of, or named for, 90
any historical military figure, historical military event, 91
military organization or military unit. 92
(2) No person may prevent the public body responsible for 93
maintaining any of the items, structures or areas described above 94
from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the 95
protection, preservation, care, repair or restoration of those 96
S. B. No. 2201 *SS36/R114* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Confederate flag; direct removal of
depiction from Capitol rotunda, and create
commission to recommend replacement image.
items, structures or areas. The governing body may move the 97
memorial to a more suitable location if it is determined that the 98
location is more appropriate to displaying the monument. 99
(3) This section shall not apply to items, structures or 100
areas located on property owned or acquired by the Mississippi 101
Transportation Commission which may interfere with the 102
construction, maintenance or operation of public transportation 103
facilities. 104
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 105
and after July 1, 2026. 106