MS HB488

Amends Section 21-1-27 to require separate elections in both the municipality and the territory proposed to be annexed when 20% of qualified electors in the annexation territory petition for a vote within 60 days of the annexation ordinance.

Requires both the municipality and the annexation territory to approve the annexation by majority vote for it to be permitted; if either rejects it by majority vote, the ordinance is not approved.

Elections must be held within 60 days after petition certification, with notice published once weekly for three consecutive weeks at least 21 days before the election date.

Removes municipal annexation proceedings from chancery court; transfers jurisdiction for boundary enlargements to an electoral process while maintaining court procedures only for boundary contractions.

Prohibits municipalities from proposing annexation of the same territory for five years if voters reject it in the elections, and requires the Secretary of State to maintain records of approved annexation ordinances.