Surface mining and reclamation; revise provisions relating to.

HB 1759 would have transferred regulatory authority for surface mining and reclamation operations from the Mississippi Department of Natural Resources to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). This change would have placed all oversight - including permit decisions, bond releases, and reclamation requirements - under the DEQ's management, with the DEQ Executive Director authorized to assign responsibilities within the department. The bill directly affected mining operators and landowners in Mississippi by shifting their regulatory oversight to the DEQ. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.