MS HB1277

Establishes a statewide special election on November 6, 2018, to determine whether Mississippi voters want to remove the Confederate Battle emblem from the state flag.

The Secretary of State provides ballots to each county; state bears ballot printing costs while counties bear all other election costs.

If a majority votes "Yes" to remove the emblem, a 17-member Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag is created, with members appointed by the Speaker of the House (3), Lieutenant Governor (3), and Governor (11).

The commission must submit a new flag design to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2020, with the requirement that the redesigned flag cannot include the Confederate Battle Flag emblem.

Commission members receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for mileage and actual expenses; the current state flag remains in use until the Legislature acts on the commission's recommendation.