Bill > HB498

This bill allows county boards of supervisors to remove personal property from properties that have been officially declared a menace to public health and safety, after providing proper notice to the owner. If the property is removed, the county must store it and post public notices describing the items. The owner can reclaim their property by paying any cleanup costs and demonstrating they can store it properly. If the property is not claimed within 21 days, the county can sell it at a public auction after posting sale notices. The proceeds from the sale will first cover sale costs, then the cleanup assessment and any penalties, with any remaining money returned to the owner or deposited into the county treasury if the owner is unknown. If the property doesn't sell at auction, the county can then dispose of it as surplus property according to existing laws, specifically referencing Section 17-25-25, which outlines procedures for selling or disposing of county property. This amendment also clarifies that Section 17-25-25 does not restrict the county's authority to handle unsold personal property removed from menaced properties as outlined in the new provisions.

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https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB0498.xml