Mississippi House Bill HB143

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/4/22
• Refer: 1/4/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

State song; designate "My Home Mississippi" as second official state song.

Impact

The enactment of HB 143 will amend the Mississippi Code by adding a new section, 3-3-63, which will codify 'My Home Mississippi' as an official state song. This addition to state law will promote the song's use in various state functions and public events and potentially encourage its adoption in the culture of Mississippi, promoting tourism and community identity based on musical heritage.

Summary

House Bill 143 aims to designate 'My Home Mississippi' as the second official state song of Mississippi, alongside the current official song 'Go, Mississippi'. The bill, introduced by Representative Paden, seeks to enhance the musical representation of the state by providing a second song that is more approachable for informal singing by residents. This initiative is part of an effort to foster state pride among Mississippians by encouraging a song that resonates with daily life and community gatherings.

Contention

While the bill is primarily a celebration of the state's cultural heritage, there may be underlying discussions regarding the preference for one song over another or the representation of modern versus traditional values in state symbols. Supporters of the bill argue that having two official state songs can cater to diverse cultural expressions, while opponents may feel that such changes dilute the significance of the existing official song. Nevertheless, the legislature recognizes the common practice among other states to have multiple official songs as a point of reference.