HB 918 Mississippi House · 2025 Regular Session

MS Community Heritage Preservation Grant Fund; transfer administration from DFA to Archives and History.

HB 918 transfers administration of Mississippi's Community Heritage Preservation Grant Fund from the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to the Department of Archives and History. The fund provides grants to county governments, municipalities, school districts, nonprofits, and state agencies for preserving historic properties like courthouses, school buildings, and museums. Specific allocations include $61.05 million for general preservation grants (with requirements to match federal funds and designate properties as "Mississippi Landmark") and targeted amounts for projects in Amory, Jacinto, Oxford, Columbus, and other communities. This change streamlines oversight while maintaining the fund’s purpose of supporting historic preservation efforts across the state.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Mar 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed the lower → Current version · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill title was updated to reflect its current status as sent to the Governor for final approval, indicating it has passed the House and is awaiting the Governor's signature. This change is purely procedural and does not alter the bill's substantive content or policy.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from 'As Passed the House' to 'As Sent to Governor' to reflect its current legislative status.

As Introduced → As Passed the lower · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers administration of the Mississippi Community Heritage Preservation Grant Fund from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Department of Archives and History. It consolidates multiple specific grant allocations into a single comprehensive list, adds new grant recipients, and establishes new administrative procedures for project selection and oversight.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by adding new specific grant allocations for various counties, municipalities, and organizations that were not included in the original version, while also adding new administrative requirements for project approval and consultant oversight.

ADMINISTRATION

Transfer of fund administration authority from Department of Finance and Administration to Department of Archives and History, including the Board of Trustees of Archives and History now managing grant recommendations and approvals.

FISCAL

Added new specific grant allocations for Oxford-Lafayette County Heritage Foundation ($425,000), City of Columbus ($1,425,000), Town of Wesson ($1,000,000), Town of Shubuta ($250,000), City of Okolona ($250,000), Tallahatchie County ($100,000), Wayne County ($250,000), Winterville Indian Mounds ($300,000), City of Kosciusko ($500,000), Jefferson County ($100,000), Tate County ($400,000), and Humphreys County ($400,000).

Removed specific grant allocations for Jacinto Foundation, Inc. and the Amory Regional Museum that were in the original version, replacing them with the new consolidated allocations listed above.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that all consultants, planners, architects, and other professionals hired by grant recipients must be approved by the Board of Trustees before employment.

Added requirement that plans and specifications for all projects must be approved by the Board of Trustees before contracts are awarded, and that Mississippi Landmark properties must follow Secretary of the Interior's Standards.

Added new provision allowing reimbursement of up to 3% of bond proceeds for administrative costs directly related to grant projects, with required accounting maintained by the Department.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility provision for Fiscal Year 2023 monies to assist with relocation and restoration of one-room school buildings without matching fund requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement that the Department of Finance and Administration must take necessary actions to effectuate the transfer of fund monies to the Department of Archives and History.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House Feb 6, 2025

How they voted

49–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2025

D Democratic16

15 Yea 1

93% Yea

R Republican35

34 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

executive

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

Jan 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations A

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors