Gold Star Father's Day; designate November 9th as., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Carpenter

House Bill 653

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3-3-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO
DESIGNATE NOVEMBER 9TH AS GOLD STAR FATHER'S DAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 3-3-7,
Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

3-3-7.  (1)
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the following
are declared to be legal holidays, viz:  the first day of January (New Year's
Day); the third Monday of January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.'s birthday); the third Monday of February (Washington's
birthday); the last Monday of April (Confederate Memorial Day); the last Monday
of May (National Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis' birthday); the fourth day of
July (Independence Day); the first Monday of September (Labor Day); the
eleventh day of November (Armistice or Veterans' Day); the day fixed by
proclamation by the Governor of Mississippi as a day of Thanksgiving, which
shall be fixed to correspond to the date proclaimed by the President of the
United States (Thanksgiving Day); and the twenty-fifth day of December
(Christmas Day).  In the event any holiday hereinbefore declared legal shall
fall on Sunday, then the next following day shall be a legal holiday.

(2)  In lieu of any one (1)
legal holiday provided for in subsection (1) of this section, with the
exception of the third Monday in January (Robert E. Lee's birthday and
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday) and the eleventh day of November (Armistice
or Veterans' Day), the governing authorities of any municipality or county may
declare, by order spread upon its minutes, Mardi Gras Day or any one (1) other
day during the year, to be a legal holiday.

(3)  August 16 is declared
to be Elvis Aaron Presley Day in recognition and appreciation of Elvis Aaron
Presley's many contributions, international recognition and the rich legacy
left to us by Elvis Aaron Presley.  This day shall be a day of recognition and
observation and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(4)  May 8 is declared to be
Hernando de Soto Day in recognition, observation and commemoration of Hernando
de Soto, who led the first and most imposing expedition ever made by Europeans
into the wilds of North America and the State of Mississippi, and in further
recognition of the Spanish explorer's 187-day journey from the Tombigbee River
basin on our state's eastern boundary, westward to the place of discovery of
the Mississippi River on May 8, 1541.  This day shall be a day of
commemoration, recognition and observation of Hernando de Soto and European
exploration and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(5)  Armistice Day (Veterans'
Day) shall be observed by appropriate exercises in all the public schools in
the State of Mississippi.  The superintendent of schools of each public school
district is authorized to provide for the appearance of uniformed military
personnel, uniformed veterans or the families of fallen military
personnel/veterans at such public school exercises in honor of Armistice (Veterans')
Day.  The superintendent of schools is also authorized to permit the school
band and its director(s) at any public school in the district to perform at
Armistice (Veterans') Day exercises in the school district upon the request of
public officials or veterans associations without loss of any program credit by
participating students and without loss of leave by participating school
personnel.

(6)  The month of March is
declared to be "Mississippi Musicians Month" to recognize and
celebrate the state's rich musical heritage and to encourage the world to join
Mississippi in honoring our musicians and their contributions.

(7)  In recognition of the
service, courage and sacrifice of the valiant service members of the Tuskegee
Airmen who served during World War II, the fourth Thursday of March is
designated as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Mississippi.  This should be a day of
recognition and observation and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

(8)  November 9th is
declared to be Gold Star Father's Day in recognition, observation and
commemoration of fathers of fallen or permanently disabled service members,
ensuring that the sacrifice of Gold Star Fathers is appropriately honored.
Gold Star Father's Day shall be a day of commemoration, recognition and observation
and shall not be recognized as a legal holiday.

SECTION 2.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.