Public Property

HB 1716 revises Mississippi's Main Street Revitalization Grant Program to clarify eligibility and funding rules. It affects Mississippi communities with Main Street programs (including designated communities, cities, counties, and business improvement districts) seeking grants for downtown revitalization projects. Key changes include adjusting matching fund requirements: cities with over 10,000 residents must cover 20% of project costs locally, while smaller cities pay 10% for the first $100,000 and 20% thereafter. Grants are capped at $500,000 per community annually and can fund historic preservation, downtown economic initiatives, and land improvements. The bill also establishes a dedicated state fund for these grants, managed by the Mississippi Development Authority with input from the Mississippi Main Street Association.

HB 1731 authorizes the state of Mississippi to sell a warehouse property at 1286 Gluckstadt Road in Gluckstadt, currently used by the Department of Revenue for alcohol beverage control operations. The Department of Finance and Administration (acting for Revenue) may transfer the land and building to a buyer after negotiations, while retaining all mineral rights. Proceeds from the sale must be deposited into a special fund for the Department of Revenue’s use, as approved by the Legislature. This is a property transfer bill with no direct impact on residents or businesses beyond the state’s management of its assets.

HB 1732 authorizes the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration to sell a state-owned property in Lauderdale County (specifically the Highway Safety Patrol's Troop H headquarters and Driver Service Bureau facility at 910 Highway 11/80 in Meridian) to Compass DataCenters JAN I LLC. The bill requires the sale price to be at least the fair market value, determined by two appraisals - one selected by the Department of Public Safety - ensuring the state receives full market value. Compass DataCenters will pay all closing costs associated with the transaction. This bill directly affects the state government (as the seller) and Compass DataCenters (as the buyer), with no broader public impact.

HB 1520 authorizes Mississippi's Department of Archives and History to donate and transfer ownership of the Dancing Rabbit Creek Treaty property to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). The 28.3-acre property, historically significant to the MBCI, is described in the bill as being located in Noxubee County. The transfer would formally transfer title from the state to the tribe, with the bill taking effect on July 1, 2026. This is a procedural land transfer bill, not a new policy.

HB 1041 authorizes Mississippi's Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River in Yazoo County. The bill allows the Commission to handle construction, environmental protections, and land acquisition, and to contract with local governments for maintenance up to 99 years or transfer the project to the federal government. This directly affects Yazoo County residents by potentially improving flood protection along the river. The Commission must follow existing rules for funding and environmental compliance, as outlined in the amended Section 69-27-13.