Senate Bill 2426

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 23-15-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CODIFY THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENCY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 23-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972:

23-15-9. (1) For the purpose of the Mississippi Election Code:

(a) "Residency" shall be synonymous with domicile.

(b) "Residency" shall also mean the address that is the principal physical location that is occupied by a person in Mississippi. A person establishes residency in a location where the person lives and has the intent to remain. This intent can be evidenced by the address a person uses for Homestead exemption purposes, a person's address on his or her driver's license or other identification issued by the Mississippi Driver Service Bureau, a person's voter registration, legal documents where a person swears by penalty or perjury of law of the address of their residence, and/or a person's address on an automobile registration.

(2) A person has changed his or her residency if he or she:

(a) Has abandoned his or her prior home; and

(b) Has established a new home, has a present intent to make that place his or her home, and has no present intention to leave that place.

(3) A spouse may establish a separate domicile.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.