House Bill 945

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 67-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF A COUNTY REQUIRED FOR A PETITION TO HAVE AN ELECTION TO PROHIBIT OR AUTHORIZE THE TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, SALE, DISTRIBUTION, RECEIPT OR MANUFACTURE OF BEER, LIGHT WINE AND LIGHT SPIRIT PRODUCT IN A COUNTY; TO AMEND SECTION 67-3-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF A MUNICIPALITY REQUIRED FOR A PETITION TO HAVE AN ELECTION TO PROHIBIT OR AUTHORIZE THE TRANSPORTATION, STORAGE, SALE, DISTRIBUTION, RECEIPT OR MANUFACTURE OF BEER, LIGHT WINE AND LIGHT SPIRIT PRODUCT IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 67-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-3-7. (1) If any county, at an election held for the purpose under the election laws of the state, shall by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election determine that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine, light spirit product and beer shall not be permitted in such county, then the same shall not be permitted therein except as authorized under Section 67-9-1 and as may be otherwise authorized in this section. An election to determine whether such transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of such beverages shall be excluded from any county in the state, shall, on a petition of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified electors of such county, be ordered by the board of supervisors of the county, for such county only. No election on the question shall be held in any one (1) county more often than once in five (5) years.

In counties which have elected, or may elect by a majority vote of the duly qualified electors voting in the election, that the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of wine, light spirit product or beer shall not be permitted in the county, an election may be held in the same manner as the election hereinabove provided on the question of whether or not the transportation, storage, sale, distribution, receipt and/or manufacture of said beverages shall be permitted in such county. Such election shall be ordered by the board of supervisors of such county on a petition of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified electors of such county. No election on this question can be ordered more often than once in five (5) years.

(2) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to possess beer, light spirit product or light wine, as defined herein.

(3) Nothing in this section shall make it unlawful to:

(a) Sell, distribute and transport light wine, light spirit product or beer to a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5;

(b) Sell light wine, light spirit product or beer at a qualified resort area as defined in Section 67-1-5 if such light wine, light spirit product or beer is sold by a person with a permit to engage in the business as a retailer of light wine, light spirit product or beer;

(c) Transport beer of an alcoholic content of more than eight percent (8%) by weight if it is being transported to another state for legal sale in that state;

(d) Transport legally purchased light wine, light spirit product or beer in unopened containers; however, this paragraph shall not apply to a retailer unless the retailer has purchased the light wine, light spirit product or beer from a wholesaler or distributor for the designated sales territory in which the retailer is located and the retailer has in his possession an invoice from the wholesaler or distributor for the light wine, light spirit product or beer; or

(e) Transport homemade beer as authorized in Section 67-3-11.

SECTION 2. Section 67-3-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

67-3-9. Any city in this state, having a population of not less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) according to the latest federal decennial census; or any city in this state having a population of not less than one thousand five hundred (1,500) according to the latest federal decennial census and located within three (3) miles of a city or county that permits the sale, receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer, light spirit product or light wine; or any city or town in this state having a population of not less than one thousand (1,000) according to the latest federal decennial census and located in a county that has no city or town with a population of more than two thousand five hundred (2,500); or any city, town or village that is a county seat and has voted to come out from under the dry law under Section 67-1-14; at an election held for the purpose, under the election laws applicable to such city, may either prohibit or permit, except as otherwise provided under Section 67-9-1, the sale and the receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of beer, light spirit product and light wine. An election to determine whether such sale shall be permitted in cities wherein its sale is prohibited by law shall be ordered by the city or town council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body of such city or town for such city or town only, upon the presentation of a petition for such city or town to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1,500), whichever number is the lesser, of the duly qualified voters of such city or town asking for such election. In like manner, an election to determine whether such sale shall be prohibited in cities wherein its sale is permitted by law shall be ordered by the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing board of such city for such city only, upon the presentation of a petition to such governing board containing the names of twenty percent (20%) of the duly qualified voters of such city asking for such election. No election on either question shall be held by any one (1) city more often than once in five (5) years.

Thirty (30) days' notice shall be given to the qualified electors of such city or town in the manner prescribed by law upon the question of either permitting or prohibiting such sale, and the notice shall contain a statement of the question to be voted on at the election. The tickets to be used in the election shall have the following words printed thereon: "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than four percent (4%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight"; and the words "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than four percent (4%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," next below. In making up his or her ticket the voter shall make a cross (X) opposite the words of his choice.

If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "For the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than four percent (4%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," then the city or town council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order permitting the legal sale of such light wine, light spirit product and beer in such city or town. If in the election a majority of the qualified electors voting in the election shall vote "Against the legal sale of light wine of an alcoholic content of not more than five percent (5%) by weight, light spirit product of an alcoholic content of not more than four percent (4%) by weight, and beer of an alcoholic content of not more than eight percent (8%) by weight," then the city council or mayor and board of aldermen or other governing body shall pass the necessary order prohibiting the sale of such light wine, light spirit product and beer in such city.

All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this section are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict only, this section being cumulative and supplementary.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.