HB 628 prohibits commercial fishing for menhaden (a small fish used for bait and fish oil) within one mile of the southern shoreline of Mississippi's coastal barrier islands. This directly affects commercial fishing operations using purse seines or other gear in that zone, including companies operating near the islands. The bill amends Mississippi law to explicitly ban menhaden catch in this area, with violations punishable under existing fishing penalties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, following legislative approval.
SB 2408 authorizes Mississippi's Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and maintain a levee system along the Yazoo River in Yazoo County, using federal funding. The bill grants the Commission authority to handle all construction activities, including environmental mitigation and land acquisition, and to contract with local governments or private entities for project execution. It also allows the Commission to partner with political subdivisions for levee maintenance over up to 99 years, with local entities optionally contributing funds. This directly affects Yazoo County residents by enhancing flood protection along the Yazoo River.
HB 684 creates the Mississippi Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force to address odor and toxic air pollution from Gulf Coast processing plants. The task force, composed of state environmental agency leaders and coastal legislators, will investigate current pollution levels, review existing odor-reduction measures, and recommend solutions and potential policy changes. It must submit a final report with findings and legislative recommendations to the state legislature by December 1, 2026, after meeting monthly and conducting investigations. This bill directly affects Gulf Coast residents impacted by air quality issues and requires state agencies to support the task force's work.
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.
HB 12 creates the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience (C-PACER) program, enabling commercial property owners (including agricultural, industrial, and multifamily properties with five or more units) to access long-term financing for qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and storm resilience upgrades. Local governments may establish voluntary C-PACER programs that allow property owners to repay financing through special assessments added to property taxes, with private lenders providing the initial funds. Qualifying projects include permanent improvements like solar panels, water-saving systems, flood barriers, or energy storage, subject to local government approval. The bill defines key terms, requires application reviews, and permits local governments to administer programs directly or through third parties.
HB 1243 is a procedural bill that reorganizes Mississippi's code by moving specific sections related to mineral leasing on state-owned lands (including offshore areas) to new code sections. It preserves existing provisions that restrict offshore drilling near oyster reef leases (e.g., no drilling within one mile of such leases) and require royalty payments to the Education Trust Fund and a Gulf and Wildlife Protection Fund. The bill does not change current policy but updates the code structure for clarity and accessibility, affecting how the state manages mineral leases on coastal lands and waters.
SB 2264 creates a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) to develop and annually update a comprehensive coastal conservation and restoration plan for Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The TAB, composed of state agency representatives, university officials, environmental groups, and legislators, will establish priorities and goals for projects involving storm protection, habitat restoration, and water quality improvement. State agencies like the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) must follow this plan when selecting and funding future projects. The bill requires an annual report tracking progress toward the plan's goals and limits TAB administrative costs to 1% of related funds.
HB 734 amends Mississippi Code sections 49-15-27 and 49-15-36 to clarify regulations for leasing oyster reefs. It designates specific historical reefs (like Pass Christian Tonging and Henderson Point) as state-owned public reefs, while opening others (such as Telegraph Reef) for leasing under new rules. The bill requires lessees to be Mississippi residents or state-organized entities, limits leases to 1-2,500 acres, and prioritizes applications based on oyster cultivation experience, FDA shellfish registration, and financial capability. Lessees must actively cultivate oysters, submit annual reports, and pay prorated annual rent for 15-year leases with renewal options. This directly affects oyster farmers, shellfish businesses, and the state’s management of coastal marine resources.
