MS HB371

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

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

Removes municipal annexation disputes from chancery court proceedings and instead uses the election process; if ordinance is rejected in elections, the municipality cannot propose annexation of the same territory for 5 years.

Retains chancery court jurisdiction only for municipal contraction (boundary reduction) and requires the Secretary of State to receive certified copies of annexation ordinances and any court decrees regarding boundary changes.

Effective date of July 1, 2022.