Read the full stored bill text
S. B. No. 2573 *SS26/R618* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R618
PAGE 1 (icj\kr)
To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th), Blount
SENATE BILL NO. 2573
AN ACT TO CREATE THE NATIONAL STATUARY HALL SELECTION 1
COMMISSION TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SELECTION OF 2
TWO NEW HISTORIC FIGURES TO REPRESENT MISSISSIPPI IN THE NATIONAL 3
STATUARY HALL COLLECTION AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL; TO PROVIDE 4
THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE FIGURES WHO BRING HONOR TO ALL 5
MISSISSIPPIANS AND REFLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE AS A 6
WHOLE; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND TO 7
PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE 8
COMMISSION SHALL MAKE WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR AND 9
THE LEGISLATURE NOT LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2026; AND FOR RELATED 10
PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that: 13
(a) In 1864, the United States Congress established the 14
National Statuary Hall Collection in the Old Hall of the House of 15
Representatives in the United States Capitol and authorized each 16
state to contribute to the hall collection two (2) statues that 17
represent important historic figures of each state; 18
(b) Mississippi currently has on display in the 19
National Statuary Hall Collection statues of Jefferson Davis and 20
James Zachariah George given by the State of Mississippi in 1931; 21
S. B. No. 2573 *SS26/R618* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R618
PAGE 2 (icj\kr)
(c) In 2000, the United States Congress enacted 22
legislation authorizing states to request that the Joint Committee 23
on the Library of Congress approve the replacement of statues that 24
states had provided for display in the hall collection; 25
(d) The State of Mississippi has a rich heritage in 26
art, literature, music, and history; and 27
(e) In the spirit of unity and for the sake of 28
displaying to our nation historic figures who bring honor to all 29
Mississippians, taking into account the demographics of the state 30
as a whole, the Legislature seeks to reopen consideration of the 31
figures whose statues are to represent the State of Mississippi in 32
the National Statuary Hall Collection. 33
SECTION 2. (1) The National Statuary Hall Selection 34
Commission is created. The commission shall consist of nine (9) 35
members, to be appointed as follows: 36
(a) Three (3) members appointed by the Lieutenant 37
Governor; 38
(b) Three (3) members appointed by the Speaker of the 39
House; and 40
(c) Three (3) members appointed by the Governor, to 41
include: 42
(i) A representative from the Mississippi Economic 43
Council; 44
(ii) A representative from the Mississippi Arts 45
Commission; and 46
S. B. No. 2573 *SS26/R618* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R618
PAGE 3 (icj\kr)
(iii) A representative from the Board of Trustees 47
of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 48
All appointments to the commission shall be made not later 49
than July 15, 2026. The chair of the commission shall be chosen 50
by majority vote of the members of the commission. Upon the joint 51
call of the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker, the commission 52
shall meet as soon as practicable after the appointments have been 53
made and shall organize for business. A majority vote of the 54
members of the commission shall be required for the adoption of 55
any reports and recommendations. The Mississippi Department of 56
Archives and History shall provide meeting space and clerical 57
support for the operation of the commission. 58
(2) The commission shall have the following functions and 59
duties: 60
(a) To hold regular public meetings when and where it 61
sees fit; 62
(b) To receive written public comments in a manner and 63
under the terms and conditions as it sees fit; 64
(c) To collect, examine and consider all information 65
that it determines may be helpful in making recommendations for 66
two (2) new historic figures to represent Mississippi in the 67
National Statuary Hall Collection; 68
(d) To make any inquiries and conduct any business that 69
may assist the commission in developing its recommendations, 70
including consultation with experts, representatives of 71
S. B. No. 2573 *SS26/R618* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R618
PAGE 4 (icj\kr)
ST: National Statuary Hall Selection
Commission; create for recommending two new
Mississippi statues at U.S. Capitol.
organizations and associations, and others with relevant knowledge 72
or expertise; 73
(e) To keep minutes of its meetings and make those 74
minutes available to the public; and 75
(f) To make written recommendations for the selection 76
of two (2) new historic figures for the National Statuary Hall 77
Collection, who bring honor to all Mississippians and reflect the 78
demographics of the state as a whole, which recommendations shall 79
be presented to the Governor and the Legislature not later than 80
November 30, 2026. 81
(3) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation 82
for their service on the commission, but may receive reimbursement 83
for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to 84
the extent that funds are available for that purpose. 85
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 86
and after its passage. 87