Bill > HB1502

This bill establishes a Municipal Port Assistance Program to aid smaller municipalities with populations under 10,000 that operate port facilities, by creating a priority allocation or set-aside within existing programs like the Mississippi Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) and the Ports Grant Program. These funds are intended for capital improvements, planning, design, and infrastructure upgrades at eligible municipal ports, provided the municipality can demonstrate a need related to economic development, freight movement, or public safety, and the funds will be used for project costs, not routine maintenance. The bill also allows for flexibility in matching fund requirements for these smaller municipalities and mandates that the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Mississippi Development Authority develop rules and guidelines for administering this new program, which will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1502.xml