MS HB1432

Requires the board of supervisors to hold an election in any territory proposed for annexation or removal within 60 days after passage of a municipal ordinance, with only residents of that territory eligible to vote.

Repeals the requirement that enlargement or contraction petitions be filed in chancery court, replacing it with a mandatory election process as the primary decision mechanism.

Mandates that municipal authorities pay all attorney's fees and costs of any court hearing if they appeal election results that defeat the proposed annexation or removal.

Allows the chancellor to consider election results as evidence when hearing appeals of adverse election outcomes and preserves the burden on municipal authorities to prove the enlargement or contraction is reasonable and necessary.

Applies the same election requirements to municipal consolidations under Section 21-1-43, requiring governing authorities to adopt ordinances and hold elections in the manner provided for annexation or removal.