Energy (Oil & Gas)

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.

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.

SB 2231 defines which energy sources count as "clean" for local government requirements on public utilities. It explicitly lists 18 permissible sources, including solar, wind, nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, waste-to-energy, and geothermal, ensuring local governments (like cities or counties) cannot restrict utilities to only specific types. The bill applies to any political subdivision imposing clean energy rules on utilities, requiring them to accept any of the listed sources. It would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee in February 2025.

Mississippi HB 214 creates income tax credits for businesses and homeowners who install clean fuel infrastructure for motor vehicles. It provides a 50% credit (capped at $2,500) for residential natural gas fueling systems or vehicle modifications, and a 75% credit for commercial fueling stations (per location). Unused credits can be carried forward to offset future tax bills for up to five years. The bill specifically covers natural gas, propane, and electric vehicle fueling equipment meeting defined safety and installation standards.