HB 1086 authorizes the University of Mississippi to lease specific campus properties (including Kincannon, West Row, South Parking Lot, and other designated areas) to private partners for 45 years (with renewal options) to develop academic buildings, housing, dining, parking, and retail spaces. All lease proceeds must be deposited into a special fund exclusively for the university’s use, and the properties must revert to the university at lease end. The bill requires approval from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and preserves the state’s mineral rights. The bill died on the calendar in March 2025 and was never enacted.
HB 332 allocates $15 million from the State General Fund to Coahoma Community College's Board of Trustees for constructing a new 200-bed dormitory on campus. This appropriation, effective July 1, 2025, covers costs associated with the dormitory project during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the college by providing funding for infrastructure development, specifically to expand student housing capacity. As a procedural funding measure, it does not establish new policy but authorizes a specific expenditure.
HB 273 creates a two-year pilot program at Coahoma Community College and Jones County Junior College to provide job training and education for low-income youth who have not finished high school. The program requires each college to apply for federal grant funding (with Mississippi’s Department of Human Services providing a 25% match) to support construction training focused on rehabilitating housing for low-income families and special needs populations. Participants will spend half their time in classroom instruction (including leadership development and job skills) and half on hands-on construction work. The bill mandates specific services, including housing rehabilitation, and requires a 2028 report on the program’s effectiveness before the legislature.
HB 1944 appropriates $20.55 million from the state general fund to the Jackson Redevelopment Authority for fiscal year 2026. The funds directly support specific projects in Jackson, including revitalizing disinvested areas (like the Infill Housing Program and demolition of the old Atmos building), enhancing public safety (parking structure upgrades and Convention Center improvements), and advancing economic development (downtown business loans and Civic Arena planning). The bill outlines exact allocations for each project category but does not create new policies or change existing laws. It is a funding measure, not a substantive legislative change.
HB 1879 creates the "City of Jackson Revitalization Act" to incentivize redevelopment of abandoned or deteriorated properties in Jackson, Mississippi. It establishes a refundable income tax credit for developers who renovate blighted properties into owner-occupied homes or commercial buildings, with excess credits carryable forward for up to 10 years. The bill also exempts building materials from sales tax for these projects and authorizes state bonds to fund city infrastructure improvements and demolition of blighted properties. Revenue from additional gaming license fees will finance a new City of Jackson Development Fund, which will provide loans and grants for business development and property revitalization. The law directly affects developers, the City of Jackson, and businesses seeking to expand or establish operations in the city.
HB 72 appropriates $2 million from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the City of Jackson for acquiring, demolishing, or removing deteriorated buildings (blighted properties) during fiscal year 2026. The funds are intended to help Jackson's Department of Planning and Development address property deterioration, directly affecting the city's efforts to improve neighborhoods. The bill requires Jackson to verify all spending complies with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) guidelines and ensures funds are not double-reimbursed through insurance or other sources. It also mandates adherence to federal audit and internal control standards for all expenditures.
HB 1181 shortens the review timeline for wastewater system approvals in new subdivisions. It requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to make feasibility determinations for centralized systems and suitability determinations for individual on-site systems within 20 days of receiving complete applications from developers. This directly affects housing developers who need these approvals to proceed with subdivision construction. The bill does not change the technical requirements for wastewater systems, only the deadline for the department's review process.
SB 2929 appropriated $68.1 million from Mississippi's General Fund to Jackson State University (JSU) for the design, development, and construction of new student housing. The funding, intended for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026), directly supports JSU in expanding campus housing infrastructure. The bill specified that state funds would cover associated costs through standard state budget processes. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.
SB 3080 appropriates $1,000,000 from Mississippi's General Fund for the Delta Housing Development Corporation to cover costs related to self-help housing projects in the Sarah Coleman subdivision, Bolivar County, for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly affects low-income residents in that specific subdivision by funding housing initiatives where residents contribute labor toward building their homes. The bill establishes a direct state funding mechanism, requiring the State Treasurer to disburse funds upon proper requisitions. The bill was referred to committee in February 2025 but died there without further action.
HB 431 creates a pilot program providing low-interest loans (1% annual interest) to homeowners in Mississippi's 10 poorest counties, as defined by U.S. Census data. Eligible applicants must have a household income under $30,000 annually, own the property they wish to repair or build on, and have been denied conventional loans in the past year. The program is funded by $3 million in state bonds, repaid through new fees collected when recording property deeds and deeds of trust, which will be deposited into a dedicated sinking fund. The Mississippi Development Authority will administer the program and establish rules for implementation.
