In historic vote, Mississippi House passes bill to change state flag
Published 3:30 pm Sunday, June 28, 2020
The Mississippi House approved a bill Sunday afternoon that would change the state flag. The bill now moves to the Senate for approval.
House Bill 1796 was passed 91-23, just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
The historic move would, if passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, remove the Confederate symbol from the Mississippi state flag.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Saturday, for the first time, that he would sign the bill into law, if lawmakers send the bill to him.
The Senate is expected to take up the measure later this afternoon.
The bill requires a committee to put forth a single design to be approved or disapproved by a statewide November ballot. The bill prohibits the Confederate symbol from being included in the flag’s design, and requires that the phrase “In God We Trust” be included.