MS HB814

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

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

Makes election results the final decision on annexation or removal unless the municipal authorities appeal to chancery court, which requires the municipality to pay all attorney's fees and court costs.

Allows the chancellor to consider election results as evidence when reviewing appeals and to modify the proposed annexation or removal by decreasing the territory involved.

Repeals the prior requirement for municipalities to file enlargement or contraction petitions directly in chancery court, replacing it with the mandatory election process.