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Bill > HB15
MS HB15
MS HB15Public Trust Tidelands; clarify authority of Secretary of State to approve leases on unrelated to gaming.
summary
Introduced
01/07/2026
01/07/2026
In Committee
01/07/2026
01/07/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/03/2026
02/03/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An Act To Define State Jurisdiction Over Public Trust Tidelands And The Authority Of The Secretary Of State To Approve Leases Located On Public Trust Tidelands; To Amend Sections 7-11-11, 29-1-107, 29-15-1, 29-15-3, 29-15-5, 29-15-9, 29-15-10 And 29-15-13, Mississippi Code Of 1972, And To Codify Section 29-15-2, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Declare Legislative Intent Relative To Public Trust Tidelands, To Clarify The Requirement Of A Separate Lease From The Secretary Of State To Rent Land On Public Trust Tidelands Property, To Clarify That The Lease Needed To Move On Shore Is One With The State Or The State Port At Gulfport, To Revise Definitions, To Provide That State-held Tidelands Subject To Public Trust Are Prescribed In Tidelands Maps And Boundary Agreements And Court Orders Confirming The Maps, To Confirm All Authority Over Tidelands In The State Unless Specifically Severed Or Given To A Specific State Agency Or Political Subdivision, To Confirm Authority, Management And Administrative Control Over Tidelands In The Secretary Of State, To Clarify That Only Specific Action By The Legislature Can Divest The Secretary Of State Of Such Management And Control; To Amend Sections 59-7-405 And 59-15-1, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Amend Sections 75-76-67, 87-1-5, 97-33-1, 97-33-7, 97-33-17, 97-33-25 And 97-33-27, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Define And Clarify The Authority Of The Mississippi Gaming Commission In Determining Legal Gaming Sites And Preliminary Site Approval And To Clarify Areas Authorized For Gaming Casino Operations And The Authority Of The Commission To Regulate Minimum Size, Minimum Improvements And Other Project Requirements; And For Related Purposes.
AI Summary
This bill clarifies that the Secretary of State has the authority to manage and lease "Public Trust Tidelands," which are lands owned by the state and held in trust for its citizens, including submerged lands and tidelands up to the mean high-water line. It specifies that the Secretary of State retains this authority unless the Legislature explicitly grants it to another state agency or political subdivision. The bill also revises definitions related to tidelands and establishes that leases for these lands, particularly those involving gaming operations, require approval from the Secretary of State. Additionally, it outlines specific requirements for gaming establishments, including minimum facility sizes and a determination from the Secretary of State that proposed projects align with the public purpose of the tidelands. The bill also makes conforming changes to laws related to gaming site approvals and clarifies that certain on-shore gaming operations must be located on property that extends to the mean high-water line and meets minimum improvement standards. Finally, it adjusts regulations regarding the distance of gaming operations from the mean high-water line, considering rights-of-way and easements, and allows municipalities or specific counties operating harbors to sublease leased property for higher public purposes.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Died In Committee (on 02/03/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0015.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/HB/0001-0099/HB0015IN.htm |
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