Mississippi House of Representatives

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Mississippi House of
Representatives
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Republican
Session start:   January 2, 2024
Session end:   May 5, 2024
Term length:   4 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $23,500/year + per diem
Members
Total:  122
Democrats:  41
Republicans:  79
Other:  2 (independent)
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
Speaker:   Philip Gunn (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 7, 2023
Next election:  November 2, 2027

The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Mississippi State Legislature. Alongside the Mississippi State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Mississippi state government and works alongside the governor of Mississippi to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Mississippi House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Mississippi House of Representatives meets in the state capitol building in Jackson, Mississippi.

  • All 122 seats in the Mississippi House of Representatives were up for election in 2023.
  • In the 2023 elections, Republicans gained three seats, giving them a 79-41 majority with two independents. Click to read more »
  • Mississippi has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Mississippi House of Representatives.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Mississippi House of Representatives as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 41
         Republican Party 79
         Independent 2
         Vacancies 0
    Total 122

    Members

    Leadership

    The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[1]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 1 Lester Carpenter Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 2 Brad Mattox Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 3 William Arnold Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 4 Jody Steverson Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 5 John Faulkner Democratic January 7, 2014
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 6 Justin Keen Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 7 Kimberly Remak Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 8 Trey Lamar Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 9 Cedric Burnett Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 10 Josh Hawkins Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 11 Lataisha M. Jackson Democratic April 26, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 12 Clay Deweese Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 13 Steve Massengill Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 14 Sam Creekmore IV Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 15 Beth Luther Waldo Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 16 Rickey Thompson Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 17 Shane Aguirre Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 18 Jerry Turner Republican 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 19 Randy Boyd Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 20 Rodney Hall Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 21 Donnie Bell Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 22 Jon Lancaster Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 23 Andrew Stepp Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 24 Jeff Hale Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 25 Dan Eubanks Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 26 Orlando Paden Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 27 Kenji Holloway Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 28 Doc Harris Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 29 Robert Sanders Democratic November 3, 2021
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 30 Tracey Rosebud Democratic June 11, 2018
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 31 Otis Anthony Democratic December 13, 2018
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 32 Solomon Osborne Democratic March 18, 2019
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 33 Jim Estrada Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 34 Kevin Horan Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 35 Joey Hood Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 36 Karl Gibbs Democratic April 4, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 37 Andy Boyd Republican November 22, 2022
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 38 Cheikh Taylor Democratic 2017
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 39 Dana Underwood McLean Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 40 Hester Jackson-McCray Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 41 Kabir Karriem Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 42 Carl Mickens Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 43 Rob Roberson Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 44 C. Scott Bounds Republican 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 45 Keith Jackson Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 46 Karl Oliver Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 47 Bryant Clark Democratic 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 48 Jason White Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 49 Willie Bailey Democratic 1995
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 50 John Hines Democratic 2001
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 51 Timaka James-Jones Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 52 Bill Kinkade Republican January 9, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 53 Vince Mangold Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 54 Kevin Ford Republican 2017
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 55 Oscar Denton Democratic November 29, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 56 Clay Mansell Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 57 Lawrence Blackmon Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 58 Jonathan McMillan Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 59 Brent Powell Republican January 11, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 60 Fred Shanks Republican March 19, 2018
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 61 Gene Newman Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 62 Lance Varner Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 63 Stephanie Foster Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 64 Shanda Yates Independent January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 65 Christopher Bell Democratic January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 66 Fabian Nelson Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 67 Earle Banks Democratic 1993
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 68 Zakiya Summers Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 69 Tamarra Butler-Washington Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 70 William Brown Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 71 Ronnie Crudup Jr. Democratic March 18, 2019
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 72 Justis Gibbs Democratic January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 73 Jill Ford Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 74 Lee Yancey Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 75 Celeste Hurst Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 76 Gregory Holloway Sr. Democratic 2000
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 77 Price Wallace Republican 2018
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 78 Randy Rushing Republican January 3, 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 79 Mark Tullos Republican January 20, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 80 Omeria Scott Democratic 1993
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 81 Stephen Horne Republican 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 82 Charles Young Democratic 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 83 Billy Adam Calvert Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 84 Troy Smith Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 85 Jeffery Harness Democratic December 21, 2018
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 86 Shane Barnett Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 87 Joseph Tubb Republican December 8, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 88 Charles Blackwell Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 89 Donnie Scoggin Republican 2017
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 90 Noah Sanford Republican January 5, 2016
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 91 Bob Evans Democratic 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 92 Becky Currie Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 93 Timmy Ladner Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 94 Robert Johnson III Democratic 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 95 Jay McKnight Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 96 Angela Cockerham Independent 2005
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 97 Sam Mims Republican 2004
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 98 Daryl Porter Jr. Democratic January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 99 Bill Pigott Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 100 Ken Morgan Republican 2007
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 101 Kent McCarty Republican 2019
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 102 Missy Warren McGee Republican October 13, 2017
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 103 Percy Watson Democratic 1984
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 104 Larry Byrd Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 105 Elliot Burch Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 106 Jansen Owen Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 107 Steve Lott Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 108 Stacey Hobgood Wilkes Republican 2017
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 109 Manly Barton Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 110 Jeramey Anderson Democratic December 6, 2013
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 111 Jimmy Fondren Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 112 John Read Republican 1994
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 113 Henry B. Zuber, III Republican 2000
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 114 Jeffrey S. Guice Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 115 Zachary Grady Republican January 2, 2024
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 116 Casey Eure Republican February 3, 2011
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 117 Kevin Felsher Republican January 7, 2020
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 118 Greg Haney Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 119 Jeffrey Hulum III Democratic August 5, 2022
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 120 Richard Bennett Republican 2008
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 121 Carolyn Crawford Republican 2012
    Mississippi House of Representatives District 122 Brent Anderson Republican January 7, 2020


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $23,500/year$157/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered.

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year following election. The constitution requires the legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.[2]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    In order to run for the Mississippi House of Representatives, a candidate must:[3]

    • Be 21 years of age or older.
    • Be a qualified elector and resident of the State of Mississippi for four years.
    • Be a resident of the county or district the candidate plans to represent for two years.
    • If running as a Republican or Democrat, pay a $15 filing fee to the State Executive Committee of the party with which the candidate is affiliated.
    • If running as an independent, submit 50 signatures to the Circuit Clerk or the Secretary of State.

    Historical party control

    Republicans won control of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2011. In 2019, they won a 75-46-1 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi House following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Mississippi House of Representatives election results: 1991-2019

    Party 91 95 99 03 07 11 15 19
    Democrats 93 86 86 75 75 58 49 46
    Republicans 27 33 33 47 47 64 73 75
    Other 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 1

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Mississippi was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 2000-2003
    • Republican trifecta: 2012-2023
    • Divided government: 1992-1999, 2004-2011

    Mississippi Party Control: 1992-2024
    Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Thirteen years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R[4] D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Mississippi state representatives serve four-year terms, with all seats up for election every four years. Mississippi holds elections for its legislature in odd years.

    2023

    See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2023

    Elections for the Mississippi House of Representatives took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was August 8, 2023, and a primary runoff was August 29, 2023. The filing deadline was February 1, 2023.

    In the 2023 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 76-40 to 79-41.

    Mississippi House of Representatives
    Party As of November 7, 2023 After November 8, 2023
         Democratic Party 40 41
         Republican Party 76 79
         Independent 3 2
         Vacancy 3 0
    Total 122 122

    2019

    See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2019

    Elections for the Mississippi House of Representatives took place in 2019. The primary was on August 6, 2019, the primary runoff was on August 27, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 1, 2019.

    In the 2019 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 74-44 to 75-46.

    Mississippi House of Representatives
    Party As of November 5, 2019 After November 6, 2019
         Democratic Party 44 46
         Republican Party 74 75
         Independent 2 1
         Vacancies 2 0
    Total 122 122

    2015

    See also: Mississippi House of Representatives elections, 2015

    Elections for the Mississippi House of Representatives took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015. The general election took place on November 3, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.[5]

    Following the 2015 election, House Republicans were one seat away from gaining a supermajority. Republicans reached 73 seats after incumbent Jody Steverson switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican. The election in District 79 between incumbent Bo Eaton (D) and Mark Tullos (R) ended in a tie. The tie was decided by drawing straws on November 20. Eaton drew the green straw and won the race, but Tullos filed a challenge with the state House. On January 20, 2016, a special House committee concluded that five votes in the election for District 79 should not have counted. The House committee voted 4-1 to seat Tullos. The House voted 67-49 to unseat Eaton and to move Tullos into the seat.[6][7] This gave Republicans a 74-48 majority.

    Mississippi House of Representatives
    Party As of November 3, 2015 After November 3, 2015
         Democratic Party 54 49*
         Republican Party 67 73
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 122 122

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Mississippi State Legislature, a special election is required to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election no later than 30 days after the vacancy happened. After the governor sets the election date, the counties conducting the election must be given at least 60 days' notice before the election. All qualifying deadlines are 50 days before the election.[11]

    The governor can choose not to issue a writ of election if the vacancy occurs in the same calendar year as the general election for state officials.[11]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Mississippi Code Ann. § 23-15-851

    District map

    See also: Mississippi state legislative districts

    The state of Mississippi has 174 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 52 districts and the state House has 122 districts.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Mississippi

    In Mississippi, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. Congressional district lines are approved as regular legislation and are thus subject to veto by the governor. State legislative district boundaries are approved as a joint resolution; as such, they are not subject to gubernatorial veto.[12]

    If the legislature cannot approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a five-member commission must draw the lines. This commission comprises the chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the majority leaders of the Mississippi State Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives.[12]

    The Mississippi Constitution requires that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous. State statutes further require that state legislative districts "be compact and cross political boundaries as little as possible."[12]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Mississippi after the 2020 census

    Mississippi enacted new state legislative district boundaries on March 31, 2022, when both legislative chambers approved district maps for the other chamber.[13] Legislative redistricting in Mississippi is done via a joint resolution and did not require Gov. Tate Reeves' (R) approval.[13] Emily Wagster Pettus of the Associated Press wrote that "Republican legislative leaders said the redistricting plans are likely to maintain their party's majority in each chamber."[14] Pettus also wrote that "Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby of Pearl said the Senate redistricting plan keeps the same number of Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning districts as now."[14]

    Redistricting of the state Senate was approved by the Senate on March 29, 2022, by a vote of 45-7, with 31 Republicans and 14 Democrats in favor and five Republicans and two Democrats voting against.[15] The state House approved the Senate's district boundaries on March 31, 2022, by a vote of 68-49. Sixty-two Republicans, three Democrats, and three independents voted in favor and 35 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted against.[16]

    New district boundaries for the Mississippi House of Representatives were approved by the House on March 29, 2022, by an 81-38 vote. Seventy-three Republicans, five Democrats, and three independents voted to enact the new map and 36 Democrats and two Republicans voted against it.[17] The Mississippi Senate approved the House map—41 to 8—on March 31, 2022, with 34 Republicans and seven Democrats voting in favor and all eight votes against by Democrats.[18]

    This map took effect for Mississippi’s 2023 legislative elections. Mississippi State House Districts March 2022.jpg

    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Mississippi after the 2010 census

    Mississippi received its local census data on February 3, 2011. The state's population grew 4.3 percent, with several of its cities (Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi) losing as much as 13 percent. Most of the state's population loss was in the north-central region and along the western edge.

    Republicans controlled the Legislature and governorship at the time of redistricting. The legislature was given a deadline of June 1, 2011, for redistricting. This deadline was created for the plans to be done in time for the 2011 elections, and allow 60 days for review by the Department of Justice as required at the time by the Voting Rights Act. The deadline passed without a plan, meaning any new maps would not take effect until 2015, and elections were held with the previous maps. The House passed a new map on April 26, 2012, with the Senate following in May.[19] On September 14, 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice approved Mississippi's new legislative districts.[20]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Mississippi House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Mississippi by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Mississippi legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2024, and adjourn on May 5, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Mississippi legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on April 1, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Mississippi

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[35] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article IV of the Mississippi Constitution establishes when the Mississippi State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to meet. Section 36 of Article IV states that the legislature is to convene in regular session on the Tuesday following the first Monday in January of each year. Section 36 limits the length of regular sessions to ninety calendar days, except for once every four years when the regular session can last up to one hundred twenty-five calendar days. The most recent one hundred twenty-five day session was in 2008, and the next session of this kind was in 2012.

    Section 36 also allows the Legislature to extend its sessions for thirty days by a two-thirds vote of both legislative houses. There is no limit on the number of times a session can be extended in this way. In 2010, the Legislature extended its session once, moving the date of adjournment from April 3rd to May 3rd.

    Article V of the Mississippi Constitution gives the Governor of Mississippi the power to call the Legislature into extraordinary session. Section 121 of Article V enumerates this power.[36]

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Mississippi are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 82 of the 122 members in the Mississippi House of Representatives and 35 of the 52 members in the Mississippi State Senate. Mississippi is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    Vetoes can be overridden when the next regular session convenes.[37][38]

    Authority: Article IV, Section 72 of the Mississippi Constitution.

    "Every Bill which shall pass both Houses shall be presented to the Governor of the state. If he approve, he shall sign it; but if he does not approve, he shall return it, with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon its Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two-thirds (2/3) of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other House, by which, likewise, it shall be reconsidered; and if approved by two-thirds (2/3) of that House, it shall become a law; but in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Mississippi state budget and finances
    Mississippi on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[39]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
    2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in August.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by November 15. This deadline is extended to January 31 for a newly elected governor.
    4. The legislature typically adopts a budget in March or April. The fiscal year begins July 1.

    Mississippi is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[39]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[39]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Mississippi state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Mississippi House of Representatives has 46 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Mississippi Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XV of the Mississippi Constitution and Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi

    Note on Mississippi:

    Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001.[40]


    Mississippi Constitution
    Seal of Mississippi.jpg
    Preamble
    Articles
    123456789101112131415

    The Mississippi Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process and a legislative process. Mississippi requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

    Initiative

    See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

    An indirect initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are two states – Massachusetts and Mississippi – that allow citizens to initiate indirect constitutional amendments.

    While a direct initiated constitutional amendment is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiated constitutional amendment is first presented to the state legislature, which has various options depending on the state.

    In Mississippi, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to at least 12% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial general election immediately preceding the signature deadline—not necessarily the gubernatorial election immediately preceding the targeted election date. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

    Beginning with the day the sponsor receives the ballot title and summary, proponents have one year to circulate petitions and receive certification from the county circuit clerks. Signatures must be submitted to the secretary of state at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the regular session—which begins in the first week of January.

    Once it is determined that proponents of a measure have collected enough signatures, the measure is filed with the Mississippi State Legislature on the first day of the legislative session. The legislature must act on the measure within four months of that date. The legislature may choose to adopt the measure by a majority vote in each house. Whether the legislature adopts or rejects the measure, the proposed amendment proceeds to the ballot. The legislature may also choose to approve an amended alternate version of the measure. In this case, both measures appear on the ballot together.

    An initiative must receive a majority of the total votes cast for that particular initiative and must also receive more than 40% of the total votes cast in that election.

    Note on Mississippi:

    Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001.[41]

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Mississippi State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 77 votes in the Mississippi House of Representatives and 35 votes in the Mississippi State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The absolute number of those voting in favor must be equal to at least a majority of the members elected to each house. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    No measures to list

    See also

    Elections Mississippi State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Flag of Mississippi.png
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Mississippi Legislature, "House of Representatives," accessed February 16, 2021
    2. Mississippi Secretary of State, "Mississippi Constitution Article 4, Section 36," accessed February 2, 2023
    3. Mississippi Secretary of State, "Qualifications and Fees for Mississippi Candidates," accessed February 2, 2023
    4. Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
    5. Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections Calendar," accessed December 2, 2014
    6. NY Times, "Republicans Unseat Mississippi Democrat Who Drew Winning Straw After Race Ended in Tie," accessed January 22, 2016
    7. Clarion Ledger, "Eaton draws green straw, wins election," accessed November 20, 2015
    8. Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2011 - Candidates," accessed March 24, 2014
    9. Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2007 - Candidates," accessed March 24, 2014
    10. Follow the Money, "Mississippi 2003 - Candidates," accessed March 24, 2014
    11. 11.0 11.1 Justia US Law, "2020 Mississippi Code," accessed February 6, 2023 (Statute 23-15-851)
    12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 All About Redistricting, "Mississippi," accessed May 4, 2015
    13. 13.0 13.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House and Senate OK Each Other's Redistricting," April 1, 2022
    14. 14.0 14.1 Jackson Free Press, "Mississippi House, Senate Pass Separate Redistricting Plans," March 30, 2022
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