House Bill 1159 Summary

• Requires separate elections in both the municipality and the territory proposed for annexation when 20% of qualified electors in the proposed territory petition for a vote within 60 days of the annexation ordinance adoption.

• Annexation is approved only if majorities in both the municipality and the proposed territory vote in favor; if either rejects it, the ordinance fails and the municipality cannot propose annexation of the same territory for 5 years.

• Removes municipal annexation proceedings from chancery court by eliminating court approval requirements for annexations that proceed without a petition for election.

• Retains chancery court proceedings only for municipal boundary contractions, which still require court ratification based on public convenience and necessity.

• Requires municipalities to file certified copies of effective annexation ordinances with the Secretary of State; contractions still require filing of court decrees.