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S. B. No. 2574 *SS08/R602* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th), Blount
SENATE BILL NO. 2574
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 1
REVISE THE LEGAL HOLIDAYS BY REMOVING CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY AND 2
DESIGNATING THE NINETEENTH DAY OF JUNE AS JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY; 3
TO CLARIFY WHEN A LEGAL HOLIDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED IF THE HOLIDAY 4
FALLS ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
3-3-7. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) 9
of this section, the following are declared to be legal holidays, 10
viz: 11
(a) The first day of January (New Year's Day); 12
(b) The third Monday of January (Robert E. Lee's 13
birthday and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); 14
(c) The third Monday of February (Washington's 15
birthday); 16
* * * 17
(d) The last Monday of May (National Memorial Day and 18
Jefferson Davis' birthday); 19
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(e) The nineteenth day of June (Juneteenth Freedom 20
Day); 21
(f) The fourth day of July (Independence Day); 22
(g) The first Monday of September (Labor Day); 23
(h) The eleventh day of November (Armistice or 24
Veterans' Day); 25
(i) The day fixed by proclamation by the Governor of 26
Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which shall be fixed to 27
correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the United 28
States (Thanksgiving Day); and 29
(j) The twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas 30
Day). * * * If any holiday * * * falls on a Saturday or Sunday, 31
then the next following * * *, Monday or another day declared by 32
proclamation of the Governor as the day to celebrate the holiday, 33
shall be a legal holiday. 34
(2) In lieu of any one (1) legal holiday provided for in 35
subsection (1) of this section, with the exception of the third 36
Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 37
birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' 38
Day), the governing authorities of any municipality or county may 39
declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any 40
one (1) other day during the year, to be a legal holiday. 41
(3) August 16 is declared to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in 42
recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron Presley's many 43
contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy left 44
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to us by Elvis Aaron Presley. This day shall be a day of 45
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 46
holiday. 47
(4) May 8 is declared to be Hernando de Soto Day in 48
recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando de Soto, 49
who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by 50
Europeans into the wilds of North America and the State of 51
Mississippi, and in further recognition of the Spanish explorer's 52
187-day journey from the Tombigbee River basin on our state's 53
eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of the 54
Mississippi River on May 8, 1541. This day shall be a day of 55
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and 56
European exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal 57
holiday. 58
(5) Armistice Day (Veterans' Day) shall be observed by 59
appropriate exercises in all the public schools in the State of 60
Mississippi. The superintendent of schools of each public school 61
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed 62
military personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen 63
military personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in 64
honor of Armistice (Veterans') Day. The superintendent of schools 65
is also authorized to permit the school band and its director(s) 66
at any public school in the district to perform at Armistice 67
(Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request 68
of public officials or veterans associations without loss of any 69
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ST: Legal holidays; remove Confederate Memorial
Day and designate June 19 as Juneteenth Freedom
Day.
program credit by participating students and without loss of leave 70
by participating school personnel. 71
(6) The month of March is declared to be "Mississippi 72
Musicians Month" to recognize and celebrate the state's rich 73
musical heritage and to encourage the world to join Mississippi in 74
honoring our musicians and their contributions. 75
(7) In recognition of the service, courage and sacrifice of 76
the valiant service members of the Tuskegee Airmen who served 77
during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is designated as 78
Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi. This should be a day of 79
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal 80
holiday. 81
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 82
and after its passage. 83