Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB438: Initiative process; revise certain provisions relating to the.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PETITION FOR AN INITIATIVE MEASURE BE PRINTED ON A SHEET OF PAPER NOT LESS THAN EIGHT AND ONE-HALF INCHES IN WIDTH AND NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INCHES IN LENGTH; TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROVIDE THE FORM FOR THE PETITION FOR AN INITIATIVE MEASURE ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE CIRCUIT CLERKS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES TO SUBMIT THE PETITION, ALONG WITH THE SIGNATURES THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FILING WHEN THE PERSON PROPOSING AN INITIATIVE MEASURE HAS SECURED UPON THE PETITION THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDING THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 23-17-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend section 23-17-17, mississippi code of 1972, to remove the requirement that a petition for an initiative measure be printed on a sheet of paper not less than eight and one-half inches in width and not less than fourteen inches in length; to amend section 23-17-19, mississippi code of 1972, to require the secretary of state to provide the form for the petition for an initiative measure on the secretary of state's website…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT A PETITION FOR AN INITIATIVE MEASURE BE PRINTED ON A SHEET OF PAPER NOT LESS THAN EIGHT AND ONE-HALF INCHES IN WIDTH AND NOT LESS THAN FOURTEEN INCHES IN LENGTH; TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO PROVIDE THE FORM FOR THE PETITION FOR AN INITIATIVE MEASURE ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-17-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE CIRCUIT CLERKS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES TO SUBMIT THE PETITION, ALONG WITH THE SIGNATURES THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED, TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FILING WHEN THE PERSON PROPOSING AN INITIATIVE MEASURE HAS SECURED UPON THE PETITION THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS EQUAL TO OR EXCEEDING THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 23-17-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 23-17-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 23-17-17. (1) The person proposing an initiative measure shall print blank petitions upon single sheets of paper of good writing quality * * *. Each sheet shall have a full, true and correct copy of the proposed measure …
Sponsors
- McCray, Hester Jackson (D, 40) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Died In Committee
- : Referred To Constitution
Subjects: Initiative process
Common questions
- What is HB438?
- HB438 is a bill in the Mississippi Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Initiative process; revise certain provisions relating to the.
- What does HB438 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend section 23-17-17, mississippi code of 1972, to remove the requirement that a petition for an initiative measure be printed on a sheet of paper not less than eight and one-half inches in width and not less than fourteen inches in length; to amend section 23-17-19, mississippi code of 1972, to require the secretary of state to provide the form for the petition for an initiative measure on the secretary of state's website…
- What is the status of HB438?
- Failed as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Died In Committee (February 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB438?
- McCray, Hester Jackson (D, 40).
- Where is the official record for HB438?
- On the Mississippi Legislature website: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0438.xml
Source: official Mississippi record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.