Bill > HB4

This bill requires that when a municipality in Mississippi wants to expand its boundaries, an election must be held not only within the municipality but also in the territory being considered for annexation, and both groups of voters must approve the expansion by a majority vote. If twenty percent of the eligible voters in the territory petition for an election, it will be scheduled. This bill also removes the requirement for a chancery court (a type of court that handles certain legal matters like property and family law) to approve or deny municipal annexations, shifting the decision-making power to the voters. Previously, municipalities had to go through a court process to get their annexations approved, which involved presenting plans for improvements and services in the new territory. The bill also makes changes to how costs are handled in annexation proceedings and specifies that if an annexation is not approved by voters, the municipality cannot propose annexing the same territory again for five years.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0004.xml