The Mississippi Legislature has voted to retire the State Flag of Mississippi, a long-standing position of the Mississippi Economic Council.
House Bill 1796 was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 91-23. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 37-14. The bill repeals the current state flag and must create a commission to redesign it with the following caveats:
- The new flag must not contain Confederate battle flag imagery;
- The new flag must contain the words "In God We Trust."
The commission must submit the new flag design by September 14, 2020, and if approved, it will be voted on in the November 3, 2020 general election.The flag must receive a majority vote to become the new state flag.
MEC thanks our members and the countless others that stood up and voiced their opinions in support of this change.
A statement from Anthony Wilson, 2020-2021 MEC Chair / President and CEO of Mississippi Power:
“I commend our legislators on these landmark votes for a new Mississippi. Perceptions of our state will change around the nation and around the world. A new flag will unite us and help us move further toward creating economic prosperity and a brighter future for everyone in our great state.”
A statement from Scott Waller, President and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council:
“Ensuring a promising future for Mississippi begins with enhancing economic opportunities and improving the quality of life in a fair and inclusive manner for every Mississippian. Today’s decision to remove the state flag is historic, but more importantly, it is a huge step in unifying our citizens and sets Mississippi on a new course toward economic growth for generations to come. MEC thanks Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann and state legislators for their leadership and courage, and we look forward to working with Governor Tate Reeves in bringing our state together so Mississippi can realize her full potential.”
The bill goes to Governor Tate Reeves, who has indicated he will sign it into law.