MS HB61

Amends municipal annexation procedures to require separate elections in both the municipality and the territory proposed to be annexed if 20% of qualified electors in the proposed territory petition for a vote within 60 days of the ordinance adoption.

Elections must be held within 60 days of petition certification with notice published weekly for three consecutive weeks; annexation requires majority approval from voters in both the municipality and the proposed territory.

If voters reject the annexation ordinance in either election, the municipality cannot propose annexing the same territory again for five years.

Removes annexation disputes from chancery court proceedings for enlargements, while retaining court review only for municipal boundary contractions.

Requires the Secretary of State to maintain certified copies of all annexation ordinances and boundary contraction decrees as permanent records; effective July 1, 2017.