Jackson State University; create fund for construction of new football stadium.

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To: Universities and
Colleges; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Newman, Foster

HOUSE BILL NO. 1121

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TO PLAN, DESIGN, 1
CONSTRUCT, OWN AND OPERATE A FOOTBALL STADIUM AT A LOCATION 2
SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL 3
STADIUM PROPERTY; TO REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY TO RAISE A MINIMUM 4
AMOUNT OF PRIVATE OR NONSTATE FUNDS AS A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO 5
STATE PARTICIPATION IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE 6
APPROPRIATION; TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE, LEASE AND USE OF ADVERTISING 7
AND NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE STADIUM AND STADIUM PROPERTY; TO CREATE 8
THE JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY STADIUM CONSTRUCTION FUND AND PROVIDE 9
FOR THE DEPOSIT AND EXPENDITURE OF CERTAIN FUNDS THEREIN; TO AMEND 10
SECTIONS 55-23-1, 55-23-5, 55-23-6, 55-23-7 AND 55-23-19, 11
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PRECEDING 12
PROVISIONS, TO REVISE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, PROVIDE FOR THE 13
TRANSITION AND DISSOLUTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL 14
STADIUM COMMISSION UPON COMPLETION OF A JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY 15
STADIUM, PROVIDE FOR THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY, POWERS AND DUTIES 16
RELATING TO THE MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM PROPERTY, 17
AUTHORIZE AND REGULATE THE DEMOLITION OF VETERANS MEMORIAL 18
STADIUM, ASSIGN EXCLUSIVE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEMOLITION 19
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER WITHOUT USE OF 20
STATE GENERAL FUND MONIES, AND PROVIDE FOR CERTIFICATION AND 21
FISCAL SAFEGUARDS; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 55-23-8 AND 55-23-11, 22
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF CONTINUITY; AND FOR 23
RELATED PURPOSES. 24
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 25
SECTION 1. (1) Jackson State University is authorized to 26
plan, design, construct, own and operate a football stadium, which 27
may be located upon the university's campus or a separate and 28
independent site, excluding its current location within 29
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Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Property, which has been 30
deemed, by the university with approval of the Board of Trustees 31
of State Institutions of Higher Learning, to be logistically 32
suitable and economically feasibly for the construction of a 33
football stadium that serves the best interest of the university's 34
student population and the residents of the community within its 35
immediate and adjacent vicinities without causing undue harm. 36
(2) Jackson State University shall raise not less than Ten 37
Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) in private or nonstate funds for 38
capital construction costs associated with the stadium within five 39
(5) years from the effective date of this act. Upon certification 40
that the funding requirement of this section has been met, the 41
State of Mississippi shall be responsible for funding the 42
remaining construction costs, subject to legislative 43
appropriation. Failure to meet the requirement in this subsection 44
within the prescribed period shall render the authorization in 45
this section null and void unless extended by act of the 46
Legislature. 47
SECTION 2. (1) Jackson State University may allow a 48
federal, state or local governmental entity, or a public, private, 49
commercial or charitable entity to use, publish or advertise the 50
entity's name on football stadium property. Furthermore, subject 51
to approval by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of 52
Higher Learning, the university may lease to any public, private, 53
commercial or charitable entity, for a term not to exceed twenty 54
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(20) years, naming rights for the football stadium or property, 55
including, but not limited to, new construction, improvements, 56
grounds and/or objects located on property where the stadium is 57
constructed in return for consideration benefitting the 58
university. The lessee shall pay the cost of erecting, 59
maintaining and removing signage related to the property. 60
(2) Any funds received from the advertising or lease of 61
naming rights shall be deposited into the Jackson State University 62
Stadium Construction Fund created in Section 3 of this act and 63
expended for the construction and subsequent improvements to the 64
football stadium and for marketing and promotion programs for 65
events at the football stadium upon appropriation by the 66
Legislature. The university shall not enter into any such 67
agreement with any vendor whose products are illegal for 68
participation in or use by persons eighteen (18) years of age and 69
under. 70
SECTION 3. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a 71
special fund to be designated as the "Jackson State University 72
Stadium Construction Fund." The fund shall consist of naming 73
rights proceeds, private donations, grants, gifts and any other 74
funds designated by the Legislature. Monies in the fund shall be 75
expended solely for planning, design, construction and related 76
capital costs of the Jackson State University football stadium, 77
upon legislative appropriation. Monies in the fund shall not 78
lapse into the State General Fund. 79
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SECTION 4. Section 55-23-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 80
amended as follows: 81
55-23-1. The Legislature hereby finds and determines: 82
(a) * * * Veterans Memorial Stadium has served the 83
State of Mississippi for decades as a venue for athletic and civic 84
events; 85
(b) * * * The long-term public interest is best served 86
by requiring Jackson State University to develop and maintain a 87
stadium owned and operated by the university, supported by private 88
fundraising and state capital participation subject to 89
appropriation; 90
(c) The University of Mississippi Medical Center has an 91
institutional need for property suitable for expansion and related 92
public purposes; 93
(d) It is necessary and proper to authorize the 94
demolition of Veterans Memorial Stadium and to require that the 95
University of Mississippi Medical Center bear the full and 96
exclusive financial responsibility for such demolition, without 97
reliance upon the State General Fund; and 98
(e) It is further necessary to provide for the orderly 99
transition of property interests and governmental responsibilities 100
under this chapter upon completion and commissioning of a Jackson 101
State University stadium. 102
SECTION 5. Section 55-23-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 103
amended as follows: 104
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55-23-5. (1) There is hereby created a commission to be 105
known as "The Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission," 106
hereinafter sometimes referred to as the commission, which shall 107
consist of six (6) members as follows: 108
(a) One (1) member shall be appointed by the Mayor of 109
the City of Jackson, Mississippi; 110
(b) One (1) member shall be selected by the Board of 111
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning from among the 112
membership of the board or shall be some other person designated 113
by the board; 114
(c) Two (2) members shall be appointed by the Governor 115
from the state at large outside of Hinds County, Mississippi, and 116
one (1) member shall be appointed by the Governor from Hinds 117
County, Mississippi. The appointee from Hinds County may be 118
selected from a list of three (3) persons submitted by the Hinds 119
County Board of Supervisors to the Governor; 120
(d) One (1) member shall be the President of Jackson 121
State University, or his or her designee. 122
(2) Terms of members shall begin on May 1, 1987, as follows: 123
Of the members appointed by the Governor, one (1) shall serve for 124
a term of one (1) year, one (1) for a term of two (2) years and 125
one (1) for a term of three (3) years; the member appointed by the 126
Mayor of the City of Jackson shall serve for a term of four (4) 127
years; and the member representing the Board of Trustees of State 128
Institutions of Higher Learning shall serve for a term of five (5) 129
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years. Upon the expiration of the foregoing terms, members shall 130
serve for terms of five (5) years each. The appointing authority 131
shall fill any vacancy in the above terms by appointment of a 132
member for the unexpired term. Members shall be eligible for 133
reappointment. An appointed member serving on the commission on 134
April 30, 1987, shall be eligible for appointment to the 135
commission for a term beginning May 1, 1987, of either one (1), 136
two (2), three (3), four (4) or five (5) years, if such member is 137
otherwise qualified. One (1) member of the commission appointed 138
by the Governor shall be a person knowledgeable in marketing with 139
at least three (3) years actual experience therein and one (1) 140
member appointed by the Governor shall be a person of recognized 141
ability in a trade or business with at least five (5) years actual 142
experience therein. From and after May 1, 1987, the name of the 143
commission shall be the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 144
Commission" and any references in Sections 55-23-3 through 145
55-23-11 to the Mississippi Memorial Stadium Commission or 146
commission shall mean the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 147
Commission unless the context clearly indicates a different 148
meaning. From and after May 1, 1987, the stadium shall be known 149
as the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium." The commission is 150
authorized to accept donations of money, property or services from 151
any public or private source to accomplish any physical 152
replacement or alterations of stadium property necessary to 153
accomplish the renaming of the stadium. 154
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(3) The members of the commission shall serve without 155
compensation except that members shall be paid their actual and 156
necessary expenses in connection with the performance of their 157
duties as members of the commission, including mileage, as 158
authorized in Section 25-3-41, Mississippi Code of 1972, plus a 159
per diem as is authorized by Section 25-3-69, Mississippi Code of 160
1972, while engaged in the performance of their duties. The 161
expenses, mileage and per diem allowance shall be paid out of the 162
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Fund. 163
(4) The commission shall elect from its membership a 164
chairman who shall preside over meetings and a vice chairman who 165
shall preside in the absence of the chairman. Three (3) members 166
of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 167
any and all business of the commission. 168
(5) The powers of the commission shall be exercised by a 169
majority of the members thereof, but it may delegate to one or 170
more of its members, or to its agents and employees, such powers 171
and duties as it may deem proper, and may adopt rules and 172
regulations for the conduct of its business and affairs. The 173
commission shall contract with a certified public accounting firm 174
to conduct audits of concession and novelty sales by vendors at 175
the stadium. The commission shall, as far as is practicable, 176
provide that the cost of such audits shall be paid by the vendor 177
of such concessions or novelties, or both. 178
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(6) The commission shall appoint a director who shall have 179
at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or 180
college. The director shall have the responsibility for insuring 181
the marketing of tickets to events conducted in the stadium, in 182
addition to such other duties as the commission may designate. 183
Before entering upon the duties of his office, the director shall 184
give bond to the State of Mississippi in the sum of Fifty Thousand 185
Dollars ($50,000.00), and said bond shall be conditioned upon the 186
faithful discharge and performance of his official duty. The 187
principal and surety on said bond shall be liable thereunder to 188
the state for double the amount of value of any money or property 189
which the state may lose, if any, by reason of any wrongful or 190
criminal act of said director. Said bond, when approved by the 191
commission, shall be filed with the Secretary of State, and the 192
premium thereon shall be paid from the Mississippi Veterans 193
Memorial Stadium Fund. 194
(7) The Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission 195
shall continue to exercise the powers and duties provided in this 196
chapter until the occurrence of the transition event described in 197
subsection (8). 198
(8) Upon completion and commissioning of a football stadium 199
owned and operated by Jackson State University, and upon the 200
certification described in Section 55-23-6(4), the commission 201
shall be dissolved and all remaining powers and duties of the 202
commission shall cease. 203
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(9) Upon dissolution, all records, contracts, accounts and 204
property of the commission shall be transferred as provided in 205
Section 55-23-6 and any other applicable provision of this 206
chapter. 207
SECTION 6. Section 55-23-6, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 208
amended as follows: 209
55-23-6. (1) From and after March 16, 2011: 210
(a) (i) The Department of Finance and Administration 211
as managing agency for the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 212
upon consultation with Jackson State University and the Department 213
of Health, shall transfer the operational, administrative and 214
managing powers and duties over the Mississippi Veterans Memorial 215
Stadium to Jackson State University, subject to an agreement 216
reached by the Department of Finance and Administration, Jackson 217
State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 218
(ii) The Department of Finance and Administration 219
as managing agency for the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 220
upon consultation with Jackson State University, the University of 221
Mississippi Medical Center and the Department of Health, shall 222
transfer the real property located in Hinds County, Mississippi, 223
generally known as the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 224
Property," being any property under the jurisdiction of the 225
Department of Finance and Administration as of July 1, 2008, and 226
any other state-owned property located in the area bounded on the 227
north by Taylor Street, on the west by North West Street, on the 228
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south by Woodrow Wilson Avenue and on the east by North State 229
Street used as part of or in connection with the Mississippi 230
Veterans Memorial Stadium, to Jackson State University and the 231
University of Mississippi Medical Center in accordance with the 232
provisions of this section and Sections 55-23-8 and 55-23-9 and 233
subject to an agreement reached by the Department of Finance and 234
Administration, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and 235
the developer of the property with whom the Department of Finance 236
and Administration entered into a development lease agreement on 237
July 13, 1993, as amended by an agreement on August 19, 1994, less 238
and except any portion of real property excluded from the 239
development agreement pursuant to a settlement agreement issued in 240
the Circuit Court of Hinds County, Mississippi, on September 16, 241
2009, better described as Parcel B recorded in Book 4216, page 242
330, at Hinds County Courthouse, First Judicial District, Jackson, 243
Mississippi; 244
(b) (i) The property that is the subject of the 245
development agreement entered into on July 13, 1993, as amended by 246
an agreement on August 19, 1994, less and except any portion of 247
real property excluded from the development agreement pursuant to 248
a settlement agreement issued in the Circuit Court of Hinds 249
County, Mississippi, on September 16, 2009, better described as 250
Parcel B recorded in Book 4216, page 330, at Hinds County 251
Courthouse, First Judicial District, Jackson, Mississippi, shall 252
be transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center; 253
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(ii) The remainder of the Mississippi Veterans 254
Memorial Stadium Property shall be transferred from the Department 255
of Finance and Administration to Jackson State University, until 256
such time as Jackson State University relocates its home football 257
games to another venue. Once Jackson State University relocates 258
its home football games to another venue, the portion of 259
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Property conveyed to Jackson 260
State University under this subsection (1) shall be transferred to 261
the University of Mississippi Medical Center. From and after 262
March 16, 2011, and at the point Jackson State University assumes 263
possession of an operation of the real property transferred in 264
this paragraph, Jackson State University shall have a three-year 265
option to transfer said property back to the State of Mississippi; 266
(c) All necessary records, property, funds and other 267
assets of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium shall be 268
transferred from the Department of Finance and Administration to 269
Jackson State University and/or the University of Mississippi 270
Medical Center as applicable, in proportion to the interests that 271
each such entity retains in the real property transferred under 272
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection; and 273
(d) Unless otherwise provided in the provisions of this 274
section and Sections 55-23-8 and 55-23-9, any personal service, 275
management or other contracts of like nature entered into by the 276
Department of Finance and Administration, as such may apply to the 277
properties transferred under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this 278
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subsection, shall be transferred to, acknowledged and complied 279
with by Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi 280
Medical Center as applicable to the interests that each such 281
entity retains in the real property transferred under paragraphs 282
(a) and (b) of this subsection. 283
(2) Any agreement reached by the Department of Finance and 284
Administration, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and 285
the current developer shall comply with all requirements of this 286
section and Sections 55-23-8 and 55-23-9. 287
(3) From and after March 16, 2011, wherever the term 288
"Department of Finance and Administration," the term "Mississippi 289
Veterans Memorial Stadium Commission" or the term "commission," 290
when referring to the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 291
Commission, appears in the laws of the state, the terms shall mean 292
"Jackson State University" or the "University of Mississippi 293
Medical Center," which shall be applicable to the interests that 294
each such entity retains in the property transferred under 295
subsection (1)(b) as stipulated in any agreement entered into by 296
the Department of Finance and Administration, Jackson State 297
University, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the 298
developer of the property for the transfer of such property and 299
the administration and operations relating thereto. 300
(4) (a) The transfer of property, powers and duties 301
provided in this section from the Department of Finance and 302
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Administration to Jackson State University shall remain in effect 303
except as otherwise provided in this section. 304
(b) Upon completion and commissioning of a football 305
stadium owned and operated by Jackson State University at another 306
venue separate and independent of the Mississippi Veterans 307
Memorial Stadium Property, the real property commonly known as the 308
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Property, together with any 309
appurtenances and interests associated therewith, shall be 310
transferred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 311
institutional use, as required under Section 55-23-6(b)(ii). 312
(c) The Department of Finance and Administration, on 313
behalf of the State of Mississippi, shall execute and deliver all 314
instruments necessary to effectuate the transfer authorized by 315
paragraph (b) of this subsection. 316
(d) The transfer authorized by paragraph (b) of this 317
subsection shall occur only after Jackson State University 318
certifies in writing to the Department of Finance and 319
Administration and the Legislative Budget Office that the Jackson 320
State University stadium has been completed and placed into 321
service. 322
SECTION 7. Section 55-23-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 323
amended as follows: 324
55-23-7. (1) Any construction, renovation, repair and 325
reconstruction to the facilities and property of the Mississippi 326
Veterans Memorial Stadium shall be carried on under the direction 327
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of the commission, which is authorized to make and enter into such 328
contracts, agreements and undertakings as may be necessary to 329
effect this purpose. The commission may take any action 330
authorized in Section 55-23-8 relating to the facilities and 331
property of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. 332
(2) In addition to any other authority provided in this 333
chapter, the demolition of Veterans Memorial Stadium is authorized 334
as a component of reconstruction and redevelopment of the site. 335
(3) The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall be 336
responsible for executing or procuring the demolition, including 337
planning, engineering, environmental assessments, permitting, 338
asbestos abatement, demolition, debris removal, site remediation 339
and post-demolition stabilization. 340
(4) Demolition shall not commence until the fiscal 341
certification and acceptance requirements set forth in Section 342
55-23-19(5) through (7) have been satisfied. 343
SECTION 8. Section 55-23-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 344
amended as follows: 345
55-23-19. (1) Prior to July 1, 1989, the commission shall 346
contract with the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 347
provision by the medical center of funds in an amount reasonable 348
and necessary to provide the following maintenance of parking 349
facilities at the stadium: 350
(a) Adequate lighting; 351
(b) Routine care of the parking surface; 352
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(c) Long-term resurfacing of any parking area utilized 353
by medical center employees, students and patients; and 354
(d) Security. 355
(2) In consideration of the funds provided by the medical 356
center, the University of Mississippi Medical Center students, 357
employees, patients and visitors, and all other state employees, 358
will be exempt from payment of any fees imposed by the commission 359
for the use of the parking facilities at the Mississippi Veterans 360
Memorial Stadium when there are no special events being held on 361
the stadium grounds. 362
(3) Jackson State University shall: 363
(a) Continue to provide such maintenance and support 364
for the Veterans Memorial Stadium facility as required under the 365
authority of Section 55-23-9 until demolition is commenced; and 366
(b) Assume full and exclusive financial responsibility 367
for the demolition of Veterans Memorial Stadium. 368
(4) All costs associated with demolition, including but not 369
limited to planning, engineering, environmental assessments, 370
permitting, asbestos abatement, demolition, debris removal, site 371
remediation and post-demolition stabilization, shall be paid 372
solely from funds legally available to UMMC. 373
(5) No funds appropriated from the State General Fund, nor 374
any funds appropriated to another state agency or institution of 375
higher learning, shall be used, transferred, encumbered, or 376
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obligated for any purpose related to the demolition of Veterans 377
Memorial Stadium. 378
(6) Prior to commencement of demolition, UMMC shall certify 379
in writing to the Department of Finance and Administration and the 380
Legislative Budget Office that sufficient non-General Fund 381
resources are available and have been obligated to fully fund the 382
demolition project. 383
(7) Demolition activities shall not commence until the 384
certification required under subsection (6) has been reviewed and 385
accepted by the Department of Finance and Administration for 386
fiscal sufficiency. 387
(8) Failure to provide the certification required under this 388
section shall not create any obligation, express or implied, on 389
the State of Mississippi to provide substitute funding for 390
demolition. 391
SECTION 9. Section 55-23-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 392
brought forward as follows: 393
55-23-8. (1) Jackson State University and the University of 394
Mississippi Medical Center shall comply fully with the terms of 395
any lease agreement entered into by the Department of Finance and 396
Administration with any public or private entity for that portion 397
of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Property transferred 398
to and under its jurisdiction as provided in Section 55-23-6, 399
including the existing lease agreement between the Department of 400
Finance and Administration and the University of Mississippi 401
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Medical Center entered into on February 23, 2009, as amended from 402
time to time, unless and except that public or private entity 403
breaches the terms of the lease agreement or defaults on lease 404
payments or upon an agreement of the parties to terminate. 405
(2) The University of Mississippi Medical Center may enter 406
into agreements with any developer for the property conveyed to 407
the University of Mississippi Medical Center under Section 408
55-23-6, or any lessee or lessees (or any designee of any such 409
lessee or lessees), which agreements may extend over any period of 410
time not exceeding the term of such lease (including renewals and 411
extensions), pursuant to which the state shall be obligated to 412
purchase contractual rights and/or improvements constructed on 413
such property and/or any residual rights in connection with such 414
improvements upon terms and for a purchase price, not to exceed 415
Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). 416
(3) The University of Mississippi Medical Center, in its 417
discretion, is authorized to enter into all other agreements as 418
may be necessary or appropriate in connection with any financing 419
by any lessee or lessees (or any designee of any such lessee or 420
lessees) of any improvements to be constructed on property leased 421
from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. 422
(4) Any lease, renewal thereof, or other agreement entered 423
into by the University of Mississippi Medical Center under this 424
section shall not be valid unless approved by the Board of 425
Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. 426
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(5) Any lessee or lessees (or any designee of any such 427
lessee or lessees) of property leased from the University of 428
Mississippi Medical Center under this section shall not be 429
considered as being the state, any political subdivision of the 430
state or any officer or servant of the state for the purposes of 431
any liability that may be waived under Section 11-46-1 et seq. 432
(6) The University of Mississippi Medical Center, or the 433
Department of Finance and Administration, acting on behalf of the 434
state or any state agency, is authorized to perform any additional 435
steps and necessary duties to fully implement the provisions of 436
this section and Sections 55-23-6 and 55-23-9, as the exercise of 437
such authority relates to the negotiation or renegotiation of 438
certain leases or acquiring rights in any property under any 439
existing lease with the Department of Finance and Administration. 440
(7) In addition to the requirement imposed upon the 441
University of Mississippi Medical Center and Jackson State 442
University to fully comply with the terms of all lease agreements 443
entered into concerning the "Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium 444
Property," the process of eminent domain shall not be used to 445
acquire possession of any property interest leased under the 446
provision of any existing development lease entered into on the 447
property at any time before the expiration of the term of the 448
original lease or any amendment made thereto. 449
SECTION 10. Section 55-23-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 450
brought forward as follows: 451
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ST: Jackson State University; create fund for
construction of new football stadium.
55-23-11. The commission shall promulgate rules and 452
regulations governing the use of the lands and facilities under 453
its supervision. The commission may take any action authorized in 454
Section 55-23-8 relating to the property described in such 455
section. 456
SECTION 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from 457
and after July 1, 2026. 458