Senate Bill 2054

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-5-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO STANDARDIZE REMOVAL PETITION SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY SUPERVISORS, JUSTICE COURT JUDGES AND CONSTABLES TO 30% OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY HE OR SHE REPRESENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-5-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-5-7. Before the Governor shall consider the removal from a county office of any elective county officer, there shall be first filed with him or her a petition signed by not less than thirty percent (30%) of the qualified electors of said county demanding the removal of said officer. Such petition shall contain a general statement, in not more than two hundred (200) words, of the ground or grounds on which such removal is demanded, which statement shall be for the information of the officer involved, for the information of the council hereinafter provided, and for the information of the qualified electors of the county.

All removal petitions with reference to * * * ~~only~~ supervisors, justice court judges and constables must be signed by at least * * * ~~fifty‑one percent (51%)~~ thirty percent (30%) of the qualified electors of the beat or district from which they were originally elected.

Upon the request of any qualified elector, it shall be the duty of the county and district prosecuting attorney to advise such person as to the provisions of Sections 25-5-3 through 25-5-37 and how to comply with the same.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.