House Concurrent Resolution 8

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 36, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING IN 2024, and in each legislative session held in every EVEN year thereafter, only bills appropriating funds OR TRANSFERRING MONIES FROM ONE FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO ANOTHER SHALL BE CONSIDERED DURING SUCH SESSION; TO PROVIDE THAT BEGINNING IN 2025, and in each legislative session held in every ODD year thereafter, THE REQUEST FOR DRAFTING AND THE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF BILLS OTHER THAN THOSE APPROPRIATING FUNDS OR TRANSFERRING MONIES FROM ONE FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY TO ANOTHER SHALL BE LIMITED TO REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OCCURRING IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

Amend Section 36, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 36. (1) The Legislature shall meet at the seat of government in regular session on the Tuesday after the first Monday of January of the year A.D., 1970, and annually thereafter, unless sooner convened by the Governor; provided, however, that such sessions shall be limited to a period of one hundred twenty-five (125) calendar days for regular 1972 session and every fourth year thereafter, but ninety (90) calendar days for every other regular session thereafter. Provided further that the House of Representatives, by resolution with the Senate concurring therein, and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting in each house, may extend such limited session for a period of thirty (30) days with no limit on the number of extensions to each session.

(2) Beginning with the regular session held in 2024 and in each regular session held in every even year thereafter, only bills appropriating funds or bills transferring monies from one (1) fund in the State Treasury to another shall be considered during such session.

(3) Beginning with the regular session held in 2025, and in each regular session held in every odd year thereafter, the request for drafting and the introduction and consideration of bills other than those provided in subsection (2) of this section shall be limited to regular legislative sessions occurring in odd-numbered years."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2023 as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "Beginning in 2024, bills appropriating funds or transferring monies from one fund in the State Treasury to another shall be limited to regular legislative sessions occurring in even-numbered years. Beginning in 2025, the request for drafting and the introduction and consideration of bills other than those appropriating funds or transferring monies from one fund in the State Treasury to another shall be limited to regular legislative sessions occurring in odd-numbered years."