Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Senate Bill SB2566 Compare Versions

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11 MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Blackmon Senate Bill 2566 AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO CAUSE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND A SUITABLE IMAGE TO REPLACE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO LIST THE COMMISSION'S PREROGATIVES AND DUTIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO SUBMIT ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION; TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS THE RELOCATION, REMOVAL, DISTURBING, ALTERATION, RENAMING OR REDEDICATION OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL ITEMS, STRUCTURES OR AREAS, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) As soon as practicable on or after the effective date of this act, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History shall cause the depiction of the Confederate flag to be removed from the State Capitol rotunda. (2) There is established a commission to recommend a suitable image to replace the depiction of the Confederate flag in the Capitol rotunda. The commission shall consist of the following members: (a) The Director of the Department of Archives and History, who shall serve as chair of the commission; (b) Two (2) appointees of the Governor, to include: (i) A representative from the Mississippi Economic Council; and (ii) A representative from the Mississippi Arts Commission; (c) Two (2) Senators, one (1) from each political party, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and (d) Two (2) Representatives, one (1) from each political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House. (3) All appointments to the commission shall be made no later than June 30, 2025. As soon as practicable after all appointments have been made, or as soon as practicable on or after July 1, 2025, whichever is earlier, the commission shall meet upon the call of the chair to organize and conduct business. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of the members present and voting shall be required for any action by the commission. The Department of Archives and History shall provide meeting space and clerical support for the operation of the commission. (4) The commission may: (a) Hold regular public meetings when and where it sees fit; (b) Receive written public comments in a manner and under the terms and conditions as it sees fit; (c) Collect, examine and consider all information that it determines may be helpful in making its recommendation; (d) Consult with experts, representatives of organizations and associations, and others, as it sees fit, whose knowledge or expertise may assist the commission in making its recommendation; and (e) Make any inquiries and conduct any business that may assist the commission in making its recommendation. (5) The commission shall: (a) Keep minutes of its meetings, and make those minutes available to the public; (b) When assessing options for an image to replace the Confederate flag in the Capitol rotunda, give serious consideration to a depiction of the slaves who contributed to the construction of the State Capitol Building; and (c) Submit its written recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature no later than September 30, 2025. Upon submission of its written recommendation, the commission shall be dissolved. (6) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their service on the commission, but they may receive reimbursement for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to the extent that funds are available for that purpose. SECTION 2. Section 55-15-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 55-15-81. (1) None of the following items, structures or areas may be relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, renamed or rededicated, unless specifically authorized or directed by an act of the Legislature: Any Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, War in Iraq or Native American War's statues, monuments, memorials or nameplates (plaques), which have been erected on public property of the state or any of its political subdivisions, such as local, municipal or county owned public areas, and any statues, monuments, memorials, nameplates (plaques), schools, streets, bridges, buildings, parks preserves, reserves or other public items, structure or areas of the state or any of its political subdivisions, such as, local, municipal or county owned public areas, which has been dedicated in memory of, or named for, any historical military figure, historical military event, military organization or military unit. (2) No person may prevent the public body responsible for maintaining any of the items, structures or areas described above from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation, care, repair or restoration of those items, structures or areas. The governing body may move the memorial to a more suitable location if it is determined that the location is more appropriate to displaying the monument. (3) This section shall not apply to items, structures or areas located on property owned or acquired by the Mississippi Transportation Commission which may interfere with the construction, maintenance or operation of public transportation facilities. SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
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33 MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
44
55 2025 Regular Session
66
77 To: Rules
88
99 By: Senator(s) Blackmon
1010
1111 # Senate Bill 2566
1212
1313 AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY TO CAUSE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG TO BE REMOVED FROM THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO ESTABLISH A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND A SUITABLE IMAGE TO REPLACE THE DEPICTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA; TO PRESCRIBE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION AND TO PROVIDE FOR ITS ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS; TO LIST THE COMMISSION'S PREROGATIVES AND DUTIES; TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSION TO SUBMIT ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COMMISSION UPON THE SUBMISSION OF ITS WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION; TO AMEND SECTION 55-15-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS THE RELOCATION, REMOVAL, DISTURBING, ALTERATION, RENAMING OR REDEDICATION OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL ITEMS, STRUCTURES OR AREAS, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
1414
1515 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
1616
1717 SECTION 1. (1) As soon as practicable on or after the effective date of this act, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History shall cause the depiction of the Confederate flag to be removed from the State Capitol rotunda.
1818
1919 (2) There is established a commission to recommend a suitable image to replace the depiction of the Confederate flag in the Capitol rotunda. The commission shall consist of the following members:
2020
2121 (a) The Director of the Department of Archives and History, who shall serve as chair of the commission;
2222
2323 (b) Two (2) appointees of the Governor, to include:
2424
2525 (i) A representative from the Mississippi Economic Council; and
2626
2727 (ii) A representative from the Mississippi Arts Commission;
2828
2929 (c) Two (2) Senators, one (1) from each political party, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and
3030
3131 (d) Two (2) Representatives, one (1) from each political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House.
3232
3333 (3) All appointments to the commission shall be made no later than June 30, 2025. As soon as practicable after all appointments have been made, or as soon as practicable on or after July 1, 2025, whichever is earlier, the commission shall meet upon the call of the chair to organize and conduct business. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of the members present and voting shall be required for any action by the commission. The Department of Archives and History shall provide meeting space and clerical support for the operation of the commission.
3434
3535 (4) The commission may:
3636
3737 (a) Hold regular public meetings when and where it sees fit;
3838
3939 (b) Receive written public comments in a manner and under the terms and conditions as it sees fit;
4040
4141 (c) Collect, examine and consider all information that it determines may be helpful in making its recommendation;
4242
4343 (d) Consult with experts, representatives of organizations and associations, and others, as it sees fit, whose knowledge or expertise may assist the commission in making its recommendation; and
4444
4545 (e) Make any inquiries and conduct any business that may assist the commission in making its recommendation.
4646
4747 (5) The commission shall:
4848
4949 (a) Keep minutes of its meetings, and make those minutes available to the public;
5050
5151 (b) When assessing options for an image to replace the Confederate flag in the Capitol rotunda, give serious consideration to a depiction of the slaves who contributed to the construction of the State Capitol Building; and
5252
5353 (c) Submit its written recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature no later than September 30, 2025. Upon submission of its written recommendation, the commission shall be dissolved.
5454
5555 (6) Members of the commission shall receive no compensation
5656
5757 for their service on the commission, but they may receive reimbursement for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to the extent that funds are available for that purpose.
5858
5959 SECTION 2. Section 55-15-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
6060
6161 55-15-81. (1) None of the following items, structures or areas may be relocated, removed, disturbed, altered, renamed or rededicated, unless specifically authorized or directed by an act of the Legislature: Any Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, War Between the States, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, War in Iraq or Native American War's statues, monuments, memorials or nameplates (plaques), which have been erected on public property of the state or any of its political subdivisions, such as local, municipal or county owned public areas, and any statues, monuments, memorials, nameplates (plaques), schools, streets, bridges, buildings, parks preserves, reserves or other public items, structure or areas of the state or any of its political subdivisions, such as, local, municipal or county owned public areas, which has been dedicated in memory of, or named for, any historical military figure, historical military event, military organization or military unit.
6262
6363 (2) No person may prevent the public body responsible for maintaining any of the items, structures or areas described above from taking proper measures and exercising proper means for the protection, preservation, care, repair or restoration of those items, structures or areas. The governing body may move the memorial to a more suitable location if it is determined that the location is more appropriate to displaying the monument.
6464
6565 (3) This section shall not apply to items, structures or areas located on property owned or acquired by the Mississippi Transportation Commission which may interfere with the construction, maintenance or operation of public transportation facilities.
6666
6767 SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.