Mississippi State Legislature
General information
Type:	State legislature
Term limits:	None
Session start:	January 6, 2026
Website:	Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:	Delbert Hosemann (R)
House Speaker:	Jason White (Mississippi) (R)
Structure
Members:	52 (Senate), 122 (House)
Length of term:	4 years (Senate),4 years (House)
Authority:	Art V, Mississippi Constitution
Salary:	$23,500/year + per diem
Elections
Last election:	November 7, 2023
Next election:	November 2, 2027
Redistricting:	Mississippi Legislature has control

TheMississippi State Legislature is thestate legislature of the state ofMississippi. Thebicameral legislature is composed of thelowerMississippi House of Representatives, with 122 members, and theupperMississippi State Senate, with 52 members. Both Representatives and Senators serve four-year terms withoutterm limits.

The Legislature convenes at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.

The rights, responsibilities, privileges and expectations of the state legislature are defined inArticle 4 of theMississippi Constitution.

Mississippi has a Republicantrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

See also:Mississippi House of Representatives,Mississippi State Senate,Mississippi Governor

Senate

The Mississippi Senate is the upper house of the Mississippi Legislature. The Senate is composed of 52 Senators representing an equal amount of constituent districts.

As of the 2020 Census, Mississippi state senators represented an average of56,998 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented57,274 residents.

Senators serve four-year terms with noterm limits.

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the federal U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

According to the currentMississippi Constitution, the Senate is to be composed of no more than 52 members elected for four-year terms. Elections to the Senate are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during the state general elections.^[1]

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi State Legislature. According to the stateconstitution of 1890, this body is to have no more than 122 members elected for four-year terms (Section 34). To qualify as a member of the house candidates must (a) be at least 21 years old, (b) have been a resident of Mississippi for at least four years, and (c) have resided in the district in which he/she is running for at least two years (Sections 41,44 and45). Current state law provides for the maximum number of members. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.^[3]

As of the 2020 Census, Mississippi state representatives represented an average of24,294 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented24,412 residents.

The Constitution also specifies that the legislature shall meet for 125 days every four years and 90 days in all other years (Section 36 of Article 4).^[4]

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2011. In2023, they won a 79-41-2 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi House following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Elections

2027

See also:Mississippi State Senate elections, 2027 andMississippi House of Representatives elections, 2027

Elections for theMississippi State Senate will take place in 2027. The general election is onNovember 2, 2027.

Elections for theMississippi House of Representatives will take place in 2027. The general election is onNovember 2, 2027.

2023

See also:Mississippi State Senate elections, 2023 andMississippi House of Representatives elections, 2023

Elections for theMississippi State Senate took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was August 8, 2023, and a primary runoff was August 29, 2023. The filing deadline was February 1, 2023.

Elections for theMississippi House of Representatives took place in 2023. The general election was on November 7, 2023. A primary was August 8, 2023, and a primary runoff was August 29, 2023. The filing deadline was February 1, 2023.

2019

See also:Mississippi State Senate elections, 2019 andMississippi House of Representatives elections, 2019

Elections for theMississippi State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on August 6, 2019, the primary runoff was on August 27, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 1, 2019.

Elections for theMississippi House of Representatives took place in 2019. The primary was on August 6, 2019, the primary runoff was on August 27, and the general election was on November 5. The filing deadline for candidates was March 1, 2019.

2015

See also:Mississippi State Senate elections, 2015 andMississippi House of Representatives elections, 2015

Elections for theMississippi State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015, and the general election was held onNovember 3, 2015. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.^[5]

Elections for theMississippi House of Representatives took place in 2015. A primary election was held on August 4, 2015. The general election took place onNovember 3, 2015. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 27, 2015.^[6]

2011

See also:Mississippi State Senate elections, 2011 andMississippi House of Representatives elections, 2011

Elections for the office of Mississippi State Senate took place in 2011. The primary election was held on August 2, 2011, and the general election was held onNovember 2, 2011. Candidates wishing to run for theMississippi State Senate were required to file theirnominating signatures or candidate filing fees by June 1, 2011.

Elections for the office of Mississippi House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 2, 2011, and a general election onNovember 8, 2011. Candidates wishing to run for theMississippi House of Representatives were required to file theirnominating signatures or candidate filing fees by June 1, 2011.

Sessions

Article IV of the Mississippi Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to meet. Section 36 of Article IV states that the legislature is to convene in regular session on the Tuesday following the first Monday in January of each year. Section 36 limits the length of regular sessions to ninety calendar days, except for once every four years when the regular session can last up to one hundred twenty-five calendar days. Longer regular sessions have taken place in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

Section 36 also allows the Legislature to extend its sessions for thirty days by a two-thirds vote of both legislative houses. There is no limit on the number of times a session can be extended in this way. In 2010, the Legislature extended its session once, moving the date of adjournment from April 3rd to May 3rd.

Article V of the Mississippi Constitution gives theGovernor of Mississippi the power to call the Legislature into extraordinary session. Section 121 of Article V enumerates this power.^[7]

2025

See also:2025 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2025, and adjourn on April 3, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also:2024 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2024, and adjourn on May 4, 2024. 2023 See also:2023 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on April 1, 2023. 2022 See also:2022 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2022, and adjourn on April 5, 2022. 2021 See also:2021 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2021, and adjourn on April 1, 2021. 2020 See also:2020 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2020, and adjourn on October 10, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also:Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. TheMississippi State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 18, 2020. The suspension was originally set to expire April 1, 2020. It was subsequently extended to May 18, 2020, but the legislature reconvened earlier, on May 7, 2020.[8][9][10][11] 2019 See also:2019 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 8, 2019, through March 29, 2019. 2018 See also:2018 Mississippi legislative session andDates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2018, through March 28, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, clickhere. 2017 See also:Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2017, through March 29, 2017. The legislature will begin a special session on June 5. 2016 See also:Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 5 through April 21. A one-day legislative special session on February 4, 2016, called byMississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) resulted in the largest economic development announcement in a single day in the state’s history, according to the governor. Legislators approved millions in state aid for a shipyard project and for a tire plant projected to be the largest such facility in North America. Lawmakers estimated that a total of 3,500 jobs could be created by the package of loans, tax breaks, and other incentives.[12] 2015 See also:Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 6 through April 2. Major issues in 2015 Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included education funding, tax relief, and contract reform.[13] 2014 See also:Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 7 through April 2.[14] Major issues in 2014 Major issues in the 2014 legislative session includedCommon Core, Medicaid expansion, teachers' pay, and prison sentences.[15][16] 2013 See also:Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 8 to April 7.[17] Major issues in 2013 Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included creating a budget,charter schools, and Medicaid expansion.[18] 2012 See also:Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 3 through May 3.[19] 2011 In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 4 through April 7.[20] 2010 In 2010, the legislature was originally scheduled to be in session from January 5th to April 3rd. However, the session was extended to May 3rd. Additionally, a special session was held from April 22nd to April 23rd.[21]

Role in state budget

See also:Mississippi state budget and finances

Mississippion

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[22]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inJune of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inAugust.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature byNovember 15. This deadline is extended toJanuary 31 for a newly elected governor.
4. The legislature typically adopts a budget inMarch or April. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.

Mississippi is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[22][23]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.^[22]

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in Mississippi

In Mississippi, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by thestate legislature. Congressional district lines are approved as regular legislation and are thus subject to veto by thegovernor. State legislative district boundaries are approved as a joint resolution; as such, they are not subject to gubernatorial veto.^[24]

If the legislature cannot approve a state legislative redistricting plan, a five-member commission must draw the lines. This commission comprises the chief justice of theMississippi Supreme Court, theattorney general, thesecretary of state, and the majority leaders of theMississippi State Senate and theMississippi House of Representatives.^[24]

TheMississippi Constitution requires that state legislative district boundaries be contiguous. State statutes further require that state legislative districts "be compact and cross political boundaries as little as possible."^[24]

2020

See also:Redistricting in Mississippi after the 2020 census

On July 3, 2025, the state filed a notice of appeal to theU.S. Supreme Court of part of a May 7, 2025, federal three-judge panel decision that led to redrawn districts and special elections. The state said the appeal would not affect the special elections.^[25]

A legal challenge to the state legislative maps had resulted in a three-judge panel ordering the state to add two new majority-Black Senate districts and one new majority-Black House district by the end of the 2025 legislative session.^[26] The legislature approved the new maps on March 5, 2025.^[27] On April 15, 2025, a three-judge panel ordered the legislature to redraw the Senate district in DeSoto County and gave the State Board of Election Commissioners seven days to submit a new map.^[28] The panel approved revised maps from the Mississippi Election Commission on May 7, 2025, and special elections in the affected districts were scheduled for November 4, 2025.^[29]

Mississippi enacted new state legislative district boundaries on March 31, 2022, when both legislative chambers approved district maps for the other chamber.^[30] Legislative redistricting in Mississippi is done via a joint resolution and did not require Gov.Tate Reeves' (R) approval.^[30] Emily Wagster Pettus of theAssociated Press wrote that "Republican legislative leaders said the redistricting plans are likely to maintain their party's majority in each chamber."^[31] Pettus also wrote that "Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby of Pearl said the Senate redistricting plan keeps the same number of Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning districts as now."^[31]

Redistricting of thestate Senate was approved by the Senate on March 29, 2022, by a vote of 45-7, with 31 Republicans and 14 Democrats in favor and five Republicans and two Democrats voting against.^[32] Thestate House approved the Senate's district boundaries on March 31, 2022, by a vote of 68-49. Sixty-two Republicans, three Democrats, and three independents voted in favor and 35 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted against.^[33]

New district boundaries for theMississippi House of Representatives were approved by the House on March 29, 2022, by an 81-38 vote. Seventy-three Republicans, five Democrats, and three independents voted to enact the new map and 36 Democrats and two Republicans voted against it.^[34] TheMississippi Senate approved the House map—41 to 8—on March 31, 2022, with 34 Republicans and seven Democrats voting in favor and all eight votes against by Democrats.^[35]

2010

See also:Redistricting in Mississippi after the 2010 census

Mississippi received its local census data on February 3, 2011. The state's population grew 4.3 percent, with several of its cities (Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi) losing as much as 13 percent. Most of the state's population loss was in the north-central region and along the western edge.

Republicans controlled the Legislature and governorship at the time of redistricting. Because Mississippi holds legislative elections in odd-numbered years, the legislature was given a tight deadline -- June 1, 2011 -- for redistricting in time for the2011 elections while allowing 60 days of review by the Department of Justice, as required at the time by theVoting Rights Act. The deadline passed without a plan, meaning any new maps would not take effect until 2015. Elections were held with the previous maps, and the House passed a new map in April 2012, with the Senate following in May.^[36] The House plan included five two-incumbent races.

Legislators

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

Swearing in dates

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

Mississippi legislators assume office the first day of the regular session of the year following election. The constitution requires the legislature to convene yearly on the Tuesday after the first Monday in January.^[38]

District maps

State Senate

State House

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Mississippi are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

Authority:Article IV, Section 72 of theMississippi Constitution.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Mississippi

Partisan breakdown of the Mississippi legislature from 1992-2013

Mississippi State Senate:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Mississippi State Senate for 18 years while Republicans were the majority for four years. The Mississippi State Senate is 1 of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final three years of the study showed a shift in the Mississippi Senate to the Republican Party with the last two years being Republicantrifectas.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Mississippi House of Representatives:From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Mississippi House of Representatives for the first 20 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last two years. The Mississippi State House of Representatives is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final three years of the study depicted a shift not only in the Mississippi House but in the entire state government to the Republican Party with the last two years being Republicantrifectas.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Mississippi, theMississippi State Senate and theMississippi House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on theState Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, clickhere.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Mississippi state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Mississippi has consistently ranked in the bottom-2 of the SQLI ranking regardless of a trifecta or a divided government. The state has been ranked in the last place for fifteen separate years and ranked 49th six separate years. Mississippi had two trifectas, both Democratic and Republican, between 2000 and 2004 and in 2012, respectively.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 49.75
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 50
• SQLI average with divided government: 49.69

Chart displaying the partisanship of Mississippi government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Joint legislative committees

See also:Public policy in Mississippi

• Compilation, Revision and Publication Committee, Mississippi State Legislature
• Enrolled Bills Committee, Mississippi State Legislature
• Investigate State Offices Committee, Mississippi State Legislature
• Legislative Budget Committee, Mississippi State Legislature
• Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review Committee, Mississippi State Legislature
• State Library Committee, Mississippi State Legislature

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Mississippi Constitution can be amended:

See also:Article XV of the Mississippi Constitution andLaws governing the initiative process in Mississippi

Mississippi Constitution
Preamble
Articles
1 •2 •3 •4 •5 •6 •7 •8 •9 •10 •11 •12 •13 •14 •15

TheMississippi Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process and a legislative process. Mississippi requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also:Initiated constitutional amendment

Anindirect initiated constitutional amendment is acitizen-initiated ballot measure that amends astate's constitution. There are two states –Massachusetts andMississippi – that allow citizens to initiate indirect constitutional amendments.

While a directinitiated constitutional amendment is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiated constitutional amendment is first presented to the state legislature, which has various options depending on the state.

In Mississippi, thenumber of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to at least 12% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial general election immediately preceding the signature deadline—not necessarily the gubernatorial election immediately preceding the targeted election date. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Beginning with the day the sponsor receives the ballot title and summary, proponents have one year to circulate petitions and receive certification from the county circuit clerks. Signatures must be submitted to the secretary of state at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the regular session—which begins in the first week of January.

Once it is determined that proponents of a measure have collected enough signatures, the measure is filed with theMississippi State Legislature on the first day of the legislative session. The legislature must act on the measure within four months of that date. The legislature may choose to adopt the measure by a majority vote in each house. Whether the legislature adopts or rejects the measure, the proposed amendment proceeds to the ballot. The legislature may also choose to approve an amended alternate version of the measure. In this case, both measures appear on the ballot together.

An initiative must receive a majority of the total votes cast for that particular initiative and must also receive more than 40% of the total votes cast in that election.

Legislature

See also:Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

Atwo-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for theMississippi State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 77 votes in theMississippi House of Representatives and 35 votes in theMississippi State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The absolute number of those voting in favor must be equal to at least a majority of the members elected to each house. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

Elections	Mississippi State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Mississippi elections, 2023 Mississippi elections, 2019 Mississippi state legislative special elections, 2017 Mississippi elections, 2015	Mississippi State Senate Mississippi House of Representatives Governor of Mississippi Mississippi Supreme Court	State legislative elections:2024,2023,2022,2021,2020,2019, and2018	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• Mississippi Legislature

Footnotes