Mississippi 2024 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB327

Introduced
1/18/24  
Refer
1/18/24  

Caption

School board members; require all to be elected for term of four years at the statewide general election or presidential election.

Impact

The implications of HB 327 on state laws are notable as it strengthens the democratic process at the local level, encouraging active community participation. All elected school board members will serve four-year terms. The introduction of nominating petitions that require a uniform number of signatures for candidacy aims to standardize the election process across the state. As part of the reforms, existing provisions relating to the appointment of school board members will be repealed, and new procedures for filling vacancies will be established, which could streamline governance and ensure accountability.

Summary

House Bill 327 introduces significant changes to the election of school board members in Mississippi. The bill mandates that all school board positions shall be elective starting July 1, 2027. This shift aims to enhance local governance by allowing communities to directly choose their representatives rather than having them appointed. Additionally, school boards will decide whether to align their election cycles with the statewide general election from November 2027 or with the presidential election from November 2028. Each school board will also have the discretion to determine if its members will be elected from single-member districts or at-large from within the entire school district.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support for promoting direct election and community engagement, there are concerns regarding the transition and implementation. Existing school boards will need to make decisions about districting for single-member elections, which could spark debates over fair representation. Additionally, the repeal of previous election methods may face opposition from those who prefer the old systems, fearing that the new regulations could disadvantage less populous areas or lead to unforeseen complexities in local governance. The effectiveness of these changes will largely depend on proper oversight and public education about the new electoral processes.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

MS HB560

School boards; elect members at presidential election for 4-year term.

MS SB2423

Elections; require that candidates receive majority of votes in general election to be elected to statewide office.

MS SB2504

Elections; prohibit incumbent candidates from appearing in publicly funded ads leading up to statewide general elections.

MS SB2351

Elections; allow the Attorney General to investigate alleged election fraud.

MS HB933

Voter rolls; prohibit purging names from Statewide Elections Management System 120 days or less before the date of any election.

MS SB2824

Elections; allow an excused absence for compulsory-school-age children to serve as poll workers on election day.

MS SB2833

"Fair Access to Elections Act"; enact certain requirements regarding the conduct of elections.

MS SB2502

Elections and election personnel; make certain revisions.

MS HB481

Pre-election day voting; authorize for twenty days before an election.

MS SB2301

Election code; establish provisions for electronic voter registration application and secure website.

Similar Bills

MS HB560

School boards; elect members at presidential election for 4-year term.

MS HB1230

Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District; extend bonding authority until July 1, 2027.

MS HB34

Redistricting; authorize Legislature to alter boundaries of counties, municipalities and school districts.

MS HB1523

School district administrative consolidation; require for public school districts in Copiah County.

MS HB1431

School District Administrative Efficiency and Joinder Task Force; create.

MS HB154

School districts; require administrative efficiency joinder of multiple districts in county into single countywide district.

MS HB1549

Runoff elections; revise time for holding to five weeks.

MS SB2687

School boards; delete staggered terms of members, require four-year terms, require election to be held during statewide election.