Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Standard; revise penalty that may be assessed against public utility for violation of.

HB 1297 updates Mississippi's penalty structure for public utilities violating natural gas pipeline safety rules. It revises the maximum civil fine to align with the federal maximum penalty set under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 C.F.R. § 190.223, instead of a separate state limit. This directly affects natural gas pipeline operators regulated by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The change ensures state penalties match federal standards without altering safety requirements or creating new obligations.