House Bill 260

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT IF A LOCAL AND PRIVATE BILL PROPOSES TO IMPOSE, INCREASE OR EXTEND A TAX OF ANY KIND WITHIN A SPECIFIC GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, LOCALITY OR AREA, THEN A DIRECT REFERENDUM SHALL BE HELD ON THE QUESTION OF IMPOSING, INCREASING OR EXTENDING THE TAX; TO PROVIDE THAT THE REFERENDUM SHALL BE HELD AT THE SAME TIME AS THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTION IN THE AREA; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. If a local and private bill proposes to impose, increase or extend a tax of any kind within a specific governmental entity or entities, locality or area, then a direct referendum shall be held in the affected governmental entity, locality or area on the question of imposing, increasing or extending the tax. Such a referendum shall be held at the same time as the next regularly scheduled election in the governmental entity or entities, locality or area.

SECTION 2. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.