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2021 Mississippi legislative session

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2021 Mississippi legislative session
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General information
Session start:    January 5, 2021

Session end:    April 1, 2021

Leadership
Senate President
Delbert Hosemann (R)

House Speaker
Philip Gunn (R)
Majority Leader
None
Minority Leader
None

Elections
Next Election:    November 7, 2023

Last Election:    November 5, 2019

Previous legislative sessions
2020 • 2019 • 2018
Other 2021 legislative sessions


In 2021, the Mississippi State Legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2021, and adjourn on April 1, 2021.

The legislators serving in this session took office following the 2019 elections. Republicans won a 36-16 majority in the Senate and a 75-46 majority in the House. The party also controlled the governorship, creating a Republican state government trifecta. At the start of the 2021 session, Mississippi was one of 28 state legislatures where neither party had a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers.

The Mississippi State Legislature is responsible for redistricting following each census. Legislators were expected to address redistricting as part of the 2021 legislative session. As of the 2020 Census, Mississippi was one of 37 states where legislators were responsible for redistricting.

At the beginning of the 2021 legislative session:
  • Republicans held a majority in the Mississippi state House and state Senate.
  • Mississippi was one of 22 Republican state government trifectas.
  • Mississippi's governor was Republican Tate Reeves.

    • Leadership in 2021

    Mississippi State Senate

    Mississippi House of Representatives

    Partisan control in 2021

    See also: State government trifectas

    Mississippi was one of 22 Republican state government trifectas at the start of 2021 legislative sessions. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.

    Mississippi was also one of 28 state legislatures where neither party had a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers. Veto overrides occur when a legislature votes to reverse a veto issued by an executive such as a governor or the president. If one party has a majority in a state legislature that is large enough to override a gubernatorial veto without any votes from members of the minority party, it is called a veto-proof majority or, sometimes, a supermajority. To read more about veto-proof supermajorities in state legislatures, click here.

    The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Mississippi State Legislature in the 2021 legislative session.

    Mississippi State Senate

    Party As of January 2021
         Democratic Party 16
         Republican Party 36
    Total 52

    Mississippi House of Representatives

    Party As of January 2021
         Democratic Party 46
         Republican Party 75
    Total 122

    Regular session

    The following widget shows up to 25 pieces of legislation in the 2021 legislative session that most recently passed both chambers of the legislature, were signed by the governor, or were approved by the legislature in a veto override. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation met these criteria in 2021. This information is provided by BillTrack50.

    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Mississippi after the 2020 census

    Mississippi's four United States representatives and 174 state legislators are all elected from political divisions called districts. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. Federal law stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.

    Congressional districts
    Litigation over congressional redistricting in Mississippi after the 2020 census has concluded.

    Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed the state's congressional redistricting plan—House Bill 384—on January 24, 2022. The state House of Representatives approved the plan, 75-44, on January 6, 2022, with 73 Republicans, one Democrat, and one independent voting in favor and 41 Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent voting against. The state Senate approved the new congressional map, 33-18, on January 12, 2022, with all votes in favor by Republicans and 16 Democrats and two Republicans voting against.[1] The Mississippi Joint Legislative Committee on Redistricting approved the proposal on December 15, 2021.[2]

    Click here for more information.

    Legislative districts
    Litigation over state legislative redistricting in Mississippi after the 2020 census is ongoing.

    On December 20, 2022, the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP and a group of voters filed a lawsuit alleging that the state legislative maps drawn after the 2020 census violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of the state's Black voters.[3] A three-judge district court panel ruled in July 2024 that the House and Senate maps did not contain enough majority-Black districts and ordered the state to redraw the maps.[4] The legislature passed new House and Senate maps on March 5, 2025, and a hearing was scheduled for April 8, 2025.[5] A three-judge panel approved revised maps from the Mississippi Election Commission on May 7, 2025, and special elections in the affected districts were scheduled for November 4, 2025.[6] The state filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on July 3, 2025, which the state said would not affect the special elections.[7]

    Click here for more information.

    See the sections below for further information on the following topics:

    1. Summary: This section provides summary information about the drafting and enacting processes.
    2. Apportionment and release of census data: This section details the 2020 apportionment process, including data from the United States Census Bureau.
    3. Drafting process: This section details the drafting process for new congressional and state legislative district maps.
    4. Enactment: This section provides information about the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
    5. Court challenges: This section details court challenges to the enacted congressional and state legislative district maps.
    6. Background: This section summarizes federal and state-based requirements for redistricting at both the congressional and state legislative levels. A summary of the 2010 redistricting cycle in Mississippi is also provided.

    To learn more about the redistricting process in Mississippi after the 2020 census, click here.

    Standing legislative committees

    See also: Standing committee and List of committees in Mississippi state government


    A standing committee of a state legislature is a committee that exists on a more-or-less permanent basis, from legislative session to session, that considers and refines legislative bills that fall under the committee's subject matter.

    At the beginning of the 2021 legislative session, there were 91 standing committees in Mississippi's state government, including 2 joint legislative committees, 43 state Senate committees, and 46 state House committees.

    Joint legislative committees

    Senate committees

    House committees

    Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods by which the Mississippi Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XV of the Mississippi Constitution and Laws governing the initiative process in Mississippi

    Note on Mississippi:

    Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001. As a result, the process remains part of the state constitution but cannot be carried out in practice.[8]


    Mississippi Constitution
    Seal of Mississippi.jpg
    Preamble
    Articles
    1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15

    The Mississippi Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process and a legislative process. Mississippi requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

    Initiative

    See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

    An indirect initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are two states – Massachusetts and Mississippi – that allow citizens to initiate indirect constitutional amendments.

    While a direct initiated constitutional amendment is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiated constitutional amendment is first presented to the state legislature, which has various options depending on the state.

    In Mississippi, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to at least 12% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial general election immediately preceding the signature deadline—not necessarily the gubernatorial election immediately preceding the targeted election date. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

    Beginning with the day the sponsor receives the ballot title and summary, proponents have one year to circulate petitions and receive certification from the county circuit clerks. Signatures must be submitted to the secretary of state at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the regular session—which begins in the first week of January.

    Once it is determined that proponents of a measure have collected enough signatures, the measure is filed with the Mississippi State Legislature on the first day of the legislative session. The legislature must act on the measure within four months of that date. The legislature may choose to adopt the measure by a majority vote in each house. Whether the legislature adopts or rejects the measure, the proposed amendment proceeds to the ballot. The legislature may also choose to approve an amended alternate version of the measure. In this case, both measures appear on the ballot together.

    An initiative must receive a majority of the total votes cast for that particular initiative and must also receive more than 40% of the total votes cast in that election.

    Note on Mississippi:

    Mississippi has an initiated constitutional amendment process, including a signature distribution requirement based on five congressional districts. However, the requirements cannot be met, according to the Mississippi Supreme Court, because the state has four congressional districts following reapportionment in 2001. As a result, the process remains part of the state constitution but cannot be carried out in practice.[9]

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Mississippi State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 77 votes in the Mississippi House of Representatives and 35 votes in the Mississippi State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The absolute number of those voting in favor must be equal to at least a majority of the members elected to each house. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.


    Historical partisan control

    The table below depicts the historical trifecta status of Mississippi.

    Mississippi Party Control: 1992-2025
    Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R[10] D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

    Historical Senate control

    Between 1991 and 2019, partisan control of the Mississippi State Senate shifted from being heavily Democratic to a Republican majority. Democrats went from having a 26-seat advantage following the 1991 elections to being at a 20-seat disadvantage after the 2019 elections. The rapid partisan change in the chamber coincided with the American South's shift from over a century of Democratic control to being solid Republican in the early 21st century. The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi State Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Mississippi State Senate election results: 1991-2019

    Party 91 95 99 03 07 11 15 19
    Democrats 39 34 34 27 28 21 20 16
    Republicans 13 18 18 24 24 31 32 36
    Other 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

    From 1991 to 2006, Senate Democrats controlled the Mississippi State Senate. Democrats had their largest majority following the 1991 election when Democrats had a 26-member majority. In 2007, two Democratic members switched their party affiliation to Republican, giving Republicans a 27-25 majority. This was their first majority in the Senate since Reconstruction.[11] Democrats saw gains in the 2007 elections and held a 28-24 majority until state Sen. Nolan Mettetal switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in 2008. This gave Democrats a 27-25 majority.[12][13]

    Prior to the 2011 elections, state senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Ezell Lee switched their party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in 2010 and 2011, respectively. This gave Republicans a 27-25 majority heading into the 2011 election. Republicans picked up four seats in the 2011 election and won a 31-21 majority. The Republican gains in 2011 and 2015 were in line with a national trend toward Republican state legislatures during the presidency of Barack Obama (D). From 2009 to 2017, Democrats experienced losses in state legislative elections, totaling 968 seats altogether.

    Following the 2019 elections, Republicans had a 36-16 majority.

    Historical House control

    Between 1991 and 2019, partisan control of the Mississippi House of Representatives shifted from being heavily Democratic to a Republican majority. Democrats went from having a 66-seat advantage following the 1991 elections to being at a 29-seat disadvantage after the 2019 elections. The rapid partisan change in the chamber coincided with the American South's shift from Democratic control to being solid Republican in the early 21st century. The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi House of Representatives following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Mississippi House of Representatives election results: 1991-2019

    Party 91 95 99 03 07 11 15 19
    Democrats 93 86 86 75 75 58 49 46
    Republicans 27 33 33 47 47 64 73 75
    Other 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 1

    From 1992 to 2011, House Democrats held large majorities in the chamber, the largest following the 1991 election when Democrats held a 66-seat advantage. In every election between 1991 and 2007, Democrats either lost seats or gained no seats. From 1991 to 2003, House Democrats had more than the 82 seats required to override gubernatorial vetoes.

    Republicans took control of the Mississippi House of Representatives in the 2011 elections. Before the 2011 election, the last time that Republicans controlled the state House was during Reconstruction.[14] Republicans picked up 10 seats in that election and won a 64-58 majority. The Republican gains in 2011 and 2015 were in line with a national trend toward Republican state legislatures during the presidency of Barack Obama (D). From 2009 to 2017, Democrats experienced losses in state legislative elections, totaling 968 seats altogether.

    Following the 2019 elections, Republicans had a 75-46 majority with one independent member.

    See also

    Elections Mississippi State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Regular Session, "House Bill 384," accessed January 24, 2022
    2. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Redistricting committee finalizes Mississippi congressional map proposal, expanding 2nd District," December 15, 2021
    3. ↑ In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Northern Division, "Case 3:22-cv-00734-DPJ-FKB Document 1," December 20, 2022
    4. ↑ Associated Press, "New Mississippi legislative maps head to court for approval despite DeSoto lawmakers’ objections," March 6, 2025
    5. ↑ Democracy Docket, "Mississippi Legislative Redistricting Challenge," accessed March 31, 2025
    6. ↑ Mississippi Today, "Federal court approves Mississippi legislative redistricting. Special elections will proceed," May 9, 2025
    7. ↑ Clarion Ledger, "Mississippi to appeal legislative redistricting case to US Supreme Court," July 3, 2025
    8. ↑ Mississippi Supreme Court, "In Re Initiative Measure No. 65: Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler V Michael Watson, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Mississippi," May 14, 2021
    9. ↑ Mississippi Supreme Court, "In Re Initiative Measure No. 65: Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler V Michael Watson, in His Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Mississippi," May 14, 2021
    10. ↑ Republicans gained a majority in 2007 when two Democratic state senators switched their party affiliation. Democrats regained the majority as a result of the 2007 elections.
    11. ↑ Google Books, "Crossing the Aisle: Party Switching by U.S. Legislators in the Postwar Era," accessed February 16, 2021
    12. ↑ Jackson Free Press, "Dems Bolster Power in Legislature," November 14, 2007
    13. ↑ Natchez Democrat, "State Sen. Mettetal joins Republican Party," January 30, 2008
    14. ↑ The Dispatch, "Brown chosen as No. 2 in Senate," January 3, 2012
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