Signed by Governor Tate Reeves

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a commission to redesign the state flag of Mississippi.

Highlights:

• Establishes a commission for the sole purpose of developing, designing, and reporting its recommendation for the new design of the Mississippi state flag by September 14, 2020 (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits the Confederate battle flag from being on the new flag (Sec. 1).

• Requires the new flag design to have the words “In God We Trust” (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the commission will be made of the following appointees, no later than July 15, 2020 (Sec. 1):

• 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House;

• 3 members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

• 3 members appointed by the governor, one each from the Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

• Establishes that a special election will be held on November 3, 2020, to approve the design of the flag (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that the commission will reconvene to create another design if the proposed design is voted “No” (Sec. 2). 

• Establishes that any elections for further design proposals will occur on the first Tuesday in November of whatever year the commission presents its design to the legislature (Sec. 2). 

• Repeals the portion of the Mississippi Code of 1972 that provided the original design of the Mississippi state flag (Sec. 5). 

• Requires the original flag to be removed from state grounds no later than 15 days from the passage of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Establishes that this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a commission to redesign the state flag of Mississippi.

Highlights:

• Establishes a commission for the sole purpose of developing, designing, and reporting its recommendation for the new design of the Mississippi state flag by September 14, 2020 (Sec. 1). 

• Prohibits the Confederate battle flag from being on the new flag (Sec. 1).

• Requires the new flag design to have the words “In God We Trust” (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes that the commission will be made of the following appointees, no later than July 15, 2020 (Sec. 1):

• 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House;

• 3 members appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

• 3 members appointed by the governor, one each from the Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Arts Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

• Establishes that a special election will be held on November 3, 2020, to approve the design of the flag (Sec. 2).

• Establishes that the commission will reconvene to create another design if the proposed design is voted “No” (Sec. 2). 

• Establishes that any elections for further design proposals will occur on the first Tuesday in November of whatever year the commission presents its design to the legislature (Sec. 2). 

• Repeals the portion of the Mississippi Code of 1972 that provided the original design of the Mississippi state flag (Sec. 5). 

• Requires the original flag to be removed from state grounds no later than 15 days from the passage of this bill (Sec. 6).

• Establishes that this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text