2026 Mississippi legislative session
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| 2026 Mississippi legislative session |
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| General information |
| Scheduled session start: Jan. 6, 2026 Scheduled session end: May 5, 2026 |
| Leadership |
| Senate President Delbert Hosemann (R) House Speaker |
| Elections |
| Next Election: November 2, 2027 Last Election: November 7, 2023 |
| Previous legislative sessions |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
| Other 2026 legislative sessions |
In 2026, the Mississippi State Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 6, 2026, and adjourn on May 5, 2026.
The legislators serving in this session took office following the 2023 elections. Republicans won a 36-16 majority in the Senate and a 79-41 majority with two independents in the House. The party also controlled the governorship, creating a Republican state government trifecta. At the start of the 2026 session, Mississippi was one of 23 state legislatures where neither party had a veto-proof supermajority in both chambers.
Leadership in 2026
Mississippi State Senate
- Senate president: Delbert Hosemann (R)
- Majority leader: N/A
- Minority leader: Derrick Simmons (D)
Mississippi House of Representatives
- Speaker of the House: Jason White (R)
- Majority leader: N/A
- Minority leader: Robert Johnson III (D)
Partisan control in 2026
- See also: State government trifectas
Mississippi was one of 23 Republican state government trifectas at the start of 2026 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 23 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 2026 legislative session.
Mississippi State Senate
| As of February 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 18 | |
| Republican | 34 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 52 | |
Mississippi House of Representatives
| As of February 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 42 | |
| Republican | 78 | |
| Other | 2 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 122 | |
Regular session
The list below shows up to 25 pieces of legislation in the 2026 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 has met these criteria yet in 2026. This information is provided by BillTrack50.
Standing legislative committees
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 2026 legislative session, there were 90 standing committees in Mississippi's state government, including 41 state Senate committees and 49 state House committees.
Senate committees
- Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency Committee
- Business and Financial Institutions Committee
- Economic and Workforce Development Committee
- Elections Committee
- Environmental Protection, Conservation and Water Resources Committee
- Finance Committee
- Government Structure Committee
- Highways and Transportation Committee
- Housing Committee
- Interstate and Federal Cooperation Committee
- Judiciary, Division A Committee
- Judiciary, Division B Committee
- Labor Committee
- Local and Private Committee
- Ports and Marine Resources Committee
- Public Health and Welfare Committee
- Senate Agriculture Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Constitution Committee
- Senate Corrections Committee
- Senate County Affairs Committee
- Senate Drug Policy Committee
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Energy Committee
- Senate Enrolled Bills Committee
- Senate Ethics Committee
- Senate Executive Contingent Fund Committee
- Senate Forestry Committee
- Senate Gaming Committee
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Senate Investigate State Offices Committee
- Senate Medicaid Committee
- Senate Municipalities Committee
- Senate Public Property Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
- Senate State Library Committee
- Senate Technology Committee
- Senate Tourism Committee
- Senate Universities and Colleges Committee
- Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee
- Veterans and Military Affairs Committee
House committees
- Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Committee
- Apportionment and Elections Committee
- Appropriations A Committee
- Appropriations B Committee
- Appropriations C Committee
- Appropriations D Committee
- Appropriations E Committee
- Banking and Financial Services Committee
- Business and Commerce Committee
- Conservation and Water Resources Committee
- House Agriculture Committee
- House Constitution Committee
- House Corrections Committee
- House County Affairs Committee
- House Drug Policy Committee
- House Education Committee
- House Energy Committee
- House Enrolled Bills Committee
- House Ethics Committee
- House Executive Contingent Fund Committee
- House Forestry Committee
- House Gaming Committee
- House Insurance Committee
- House Investigate State Offices Committee
- House Medicaid Committee
- House Municipalities Committee
- House Public Property Committee
- House Rules Committee
- House State Library Committee
- House Tourism Committee
- House Universities and Colleges Committee
- House Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee
- Housing Committee
- Interstate Cooperation Committee
- Judiciary A Committee
- Judiciary B Committee
- Local and Private Legislation Committee
- Management Committee
- Marine Resources Committee
- Military Affairs Committee
- Ports, Harbors and Airports Committee
- Public Health and Human Services Committee
- Public Utilities Committee
- State Affairs Committee
- Technology Committee
- Transportation Committee
- Ways and Means Committee
- Workforce Development Committee
- Youth and Family Affairs Committee
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:
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.[1]
| Mississippi Constitution |
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| 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.[2]
Legislature
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: 1992-2026
Four years of Democratic trifectas • Fifteen 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 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R[3] | D | D | D | R | 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 | R |
Historical Senate control
Republicans won control of the Mississippi State Senate in 2011. In 2023, they won a 36-16 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2023. 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: 1991-2023
| Party | 91 | 95 | 99 | 03 | 07[4] | 11 | 15 | 19 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 39 | 34 | 34 | 27 | 28 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| Republicans | 13 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 31 | 32 | 36 | 36 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Historical House control
Republicans won control of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2011. In 2023, they won a 79-41-2 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Mississippi House 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: 1991-2023
| Party | 91 | 95 | 99 | 03 | 07 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 93 | 86 | 86 | 75 | 75 | 58 | 49 | 46 | 41 |
| Republicans | 27 | 33 | 33 | 47 | 47 | 64 | 73 | 75 | 79 |
| Other | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Analysis
Adopted legislation, 2011-2024
In 2024, Ballotpedia released analysis of bills enacted in each state in the preceding decade. The charts and table below detail legislation passed each year by party sponsorship.
See also
| Elections | Mississippi State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
