HB 1850 creates a property tax exemption for Mississippi homeowners and property owners whose assessed value increases by more than 5% in a single year starting in 2026. Specifically, the portion of a property's value exceeding a 5% annual increase is exempt from ad valorem (property) taxes, but this exemption does not apply to value increases from construction, renovations, or improvements - except those enhancing energy efficiency, safety, or access. It also excludes the first year when a property's use or classification changes (e.g., from residential to commercial). The bill applies to all property types and adds this exemption to existing tax breaks without altering how property value is calculated.
SB 3273 expands the Sebastopol Natural Gas District to include specific sections of land across Scott, Newton, Leake, and Neshoba counties in Mississippi. It authorizes county boards of supervisors to join the district through formal resolutions, with Scott County leading the district's formation. The bill creates a temporary six-member board of commissioners (including county supervisors and appointed residents) to oversee the district's natural gas service expansion. This change directly affects residents in the newly defined geographic area by enabling the district to provide natural gas infrastructure and services to those communities. The legislation establishes the district as a local utility authority to carry out this purpose.
HB 1874 authorized Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund winterization (insulating homes against cold weather) for low-income homeowners in Gulfport's central city neighborhood known as "The Quarter." The bill would have provided state funds to cover the costs of these energy efficiency improvements. The bonds would have been repaid using state general funds, with the proceeds directed solely to this winterization project. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 1894 authorizes Mississippi to issue $20 million in state bonds for higher education campus improvements, $10 million for the ACE Fund, and additional funds for business incentives, port/airport revitalization, and infrastructure projects. It increases bond limits for existing programs like the Mississippi Business Investment Act by $25 million and expands the Industry Incentive Fund by $20 million. The bill also sunsetted certain tax credits and incentives for alternative energy jobs and business expansions after 2025. This legislation died in conference on March 29, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 2246 would have revised Mississippi's rules for leasing "sixteenth section lands" (school-owned lands reserved for township school funding) to oil, gas, mineral, and clay exploration. It set minimum lease prices ($1 per acre bonus), minimum royalties (e.g., 3/16 of oil/gas value, 50¢ per ton for sulfur), required public newspaper notices in the county, and updated bidding procedures. The bill specifically affected school districts (as landowners), oil/gas/mining companies (as lessees), and local communities (through notice requirements). The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
HB 1921 appropriates $300 million ($100 million to each) to Mississippi's three HBCUs - Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Mississippi Valley State - for repairing and upgrading campus buildings and infrastructure. The funds cover specific projects like restoring historic structures, modernizing electrical/plumbing systems, improving student housing, creating new academic spaces, enhancing safety systems, and supporting energy efficiency. Each university must submit a detailed plan for approval and provide annual progress reports to the legislature on how the money is spent.
SB 2252 directs the Mississippi Home Corporation to establish a Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Program (NHRP) using federal funds (like ARPA and CDBG) to assist low-income homeowners. The program prioritizes owner-occupied properties in municipalities, focusing on correcting health/safety issues, improving energy efficiency, fixing lead paint, and bringing homes up to building codes. It creates a revolving fund in the state treasury to ensure unspent funds remain available for future use, with annual reports to the legislature. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.
HB 1873 would have allocated $300,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to the City of Gulfport for winterization projects in "The Quarter," a low-income neighborhood in central Gulfport. The funds were intended to cover home repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, and other improvements to help residents better withstand winter weather during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specified that "winterization" includes necessary repairs and upgrades to existing homes, not new construction. The measure was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 2964 would have allocated $4.3 million from Mississippi's General Fund for the fiscal year 2026 to support the Sustainable Energy Partnership Program between Jackson State University (JSU) and Entergy Mississippi. The program, specifically involving JSU's College of Science, Engineering and Technology, aims to advance sustainable energy initiatives through collaboration with the utility company. This appropriation would have provided funding for research, development, or educational activities under this partnership. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 3239 appropriates $10 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) for costs related to future nuclear development during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds are intended to cover expenses associated with planning or advancing nuclear energy projects, though the bill does not specify particular projects or timelines. The appropriation requires payment through standard state fiscal procedures, with funds to be disbursed upon proper requisitions. This bill directly affects the MDA as the recipient of the funding, with no broader public or industry impact outlined in the text.
