Counties and municipalities; authorize to adjudicate property with a riparian owner as a menace under certain circumstances.

HB 970 allows Mississippi municipalities and counties to declare property with a riparian owner (adjacent to waterways) a public health and safety hazard if unclean. If deemed a "menace" after a hearing with notice to the owner, local governments can clean the property - removing debris, abandoned structures, or hazardous water obstructions - and charge the owner fees or penalties up to $1,500 or 50% of cleaning costs. These costs become a civil debt or property assessment, and authorities may re-enter the property up to six times yearly for maintenance without additional hearings. The law directly affects riparian property owners who fail to maintain their land.