[6] On June 9, 2020, lawmakers gathered votes and started drafting legislation to change the state flag.

The bill instructed the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to develop a plan for the removal of the 1894 flag from public buildings across the state and provide administrative support for the commission.

[19] The act stipulated that any design proposed by the commission must include the words "In God We Trust" and must not contain the Confederate battle flag.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Reuben V. Anderson, who serves as president of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, was unanimously elected as the commission's chairman at its first meeting on July 22.

[20] The proposed design would be subject to a referendum to be held concurrently with the general election on November 3, 2020.

The legislation stated that further referendums could then be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a year in which the commission makes a new recommendation until a "yes" vote is achieved.

[21] The Mississippi Department of Archives and History invited the public to submit designs for a new state flag on July 13.

[19] In accordance with the rules imposed by House Bill 1796, designs would only be accepted if they contained the words "In God We Trust" and not include the Confederate battle flag.

The commission also added that suggestions would need to be unique and adhere to principles of the North American Vexillological Association: that the design should use only two or three basic colors, be simple enough for a child to draw, and have meaningful symbolism.

Slight modifications were made to the original design, including making the text bolder and the red and gold bars thicker.

[37] The Satanic Temple has threatened to sue the State of Mississippi if the phrase "In God We Trust" is included on the flag.

The group reached their goal of 5000 volunteers and have sent wording for their referendum to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office for approval.