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Bill > SB2396
MS SB2396
MS SB2396Authority of Secretary of State to approve leases located on Public Trust Tidelands; clarify.
summary
Introduced
01/19/2026
01/19/2026
In Committee
01/19/2026
01/19/2026
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 Provide That The Local Governing Authority Shall Not Lease, Sublease, Rent Or Provide Access For Any Gaming Purposes Under This Authority; 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 approve leases for Public Trust Tidelands, which are lands owned by the state and held in trust for its citizens, and that any gaming operations on these tidelands require a lease from the Secretary of State. It also revises definitions related to tidelands, specifies that state-held tidelands are identified on official maps and boundary agreements, and confirms the Secretary of State's control over these lands unless specifically transferred by the legislature. Furthermore, the bill prohibits local governing authorities from leasing tidelands for gaming purposes and establishes new minimum requirements for gaming facilities, including hotel rooms, restaurants, and casino floor size, for licenses approved after December 31, 2023, while also clarifying the proximity requirements for gaming sites to the mean high-water line.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
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/SB/SB2396.xml |
| BillText | https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/SB/2300-2399/SB2396IN.htm |
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