MS HB52

Requires county boards of supervisors to hold elections in any territory proposed for annexation or removal within 60 days of municipal ordinance passage, with only residents of the affected area eligible to vote.

Repeals the requirement that municipalities file enlargement or contraction petitions in chancery court and establishes election results as the final decision unless municipal authorities appeal to chancery court.

Requires municipal authorities to pay all attorney's fees and court costs when appealing election results to chancery court.

Allows chancellors to consider election results as evidence when ruling on annexation appeals and changes the standard from "shall" to "may" approve annexations, placing burden on municipalities to prove reasonableness and public necessity.

Applies similar election requirements to municipal consolidations under Section 21-1-43 and makes the act effective July 1, 2017.