MS HB555

Requires county board of supervisors to hold an election in territory proposed for annexation or removal within 60 days after municipality passes an ordinance, with only residents of the affected area eligible to vote.

Election notice must be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the proposed territory once weekly for three consecutive weeks, with first publication at least 21 days before the election date.

Repeals the requirement that enlargement or contraction petitions be filed in chancery court, making the election results 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 chancellor to consider election results as evidence when deciding whether proposed enlargement or contraction is required by public convenience and necessity, and changes approval standard from "shall" to "may" approve enlargement or contraction.

Applies same election procedures to municipal consolidations under Section 21-1-43.

Effective July 1, 2020.