Bill > HB483

This bill modifies the residency requirements for candidates seeking municipal, county, or county district offices in Mississippi by reducing the mandatory residency period from two years to one year immediately preceding the election. The changes apply to Section 23-15-300 of the Mississippi Code, which governs candidate qualifications, and also update Section 21-8-7 to conform with the new residency standard for municipal council members. Candidates must still prove they meet the residency requirement when filing their qualifying information, and the appropriate election officials will review and verify this qualification. The bill includes an important exception that these new residency requirements do not apply to municipalities with fewer than 1,000 residents, as determined by the most recent federal census. Additionally, if a specific elected office already has its own unique residency requirement, those specific rules would take precedence over this general standard. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving local governments and election officials time to prepare for the new residency guidelines.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB0483.xml