MS HB649

Requires an election to be held in any territory proposed for annexation or removal within 60 days of an ordinance's passage, with only residents of the affected area eligible to vote.

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

Election results are binding unless municipal authorities appeal to chancery court, in which case they must pay all attorney's fees and court costs associated with the appeal.

Repeals the requirement for municipalities to file enlargement or contraction petitions in chancery court and allows the chancellor to consider election results as evidence when deciding appeals.

Applies the same election procedures to municipal consolidation under Section 21-1-43 and takes effect July 1, 2025.