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HB1502 • 2026

Municipal Port Assistance Program; establish for certain municipalities.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TARGETED MUNICIPAL PORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPALITIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 10,000; TO PROVIDE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND PORTS GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL PORT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Crosby
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so the exact details of how funds will be allocated are uncertain.

Municipal Port Assistance Program for Small Towns

This bill establishes a program to provide special consideration within the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program and Ports Grant Program for local port infrastructure needs in municipalities with populations under 10,000.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a Municipal Port Assistance Program for municipalities with populations under 10,000 that operate ports.
  • Within the Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program and Ports Grant Program, establishes a priority allocation to support capital improvements at eligible municipal ports.
  • Requires funds to be used exclusively for capital project costs and not for routine maintenance.
  • Allows for reduced or waived matching requirements for small municipalities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Municipalities with populations under 10,000 that operate port facilities.
  • The Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Mississippi Development Authority.

Terms To Know

Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program
A program that provides funding for transportation projects in Mississippi.
Ports Grant Program
A grant program that supports port infrastructure improvements in the state of Mississippi.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • Details on how the funds will be allocated are left to future rules and guidelines by the Department of Transportation and Development Authority.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Municipal Port Assistance Program; establish for certain municipalities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1502 *HR26/R2055* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R2055
PAGE 1 (OM\KW)

To: Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Crosby

HOUSE BILL NO. 1502

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A TARGETED MUNICIPAL PORT ASSISTANCE 1
PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPALITIES WITH POPULATIONS UNDER 10,000; TO 2
PROVIDE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION 3
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND PORTS GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOCAL PORT 4
INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. In addition to other provisions of law governing 7
the Mississippi Multimodal Transportation Improvement Program 8
(MTIP) and the Ports Grant Program under Section 57-1-731, 9
Mississippi Code of 1972, the Department of Transportation and the 10
Mississippi Development Authority shall develop and administer a 11
Municipal Port Assistance Program for municipalities with 12
populations under ten thousand (10,000) that operate port 13
facilities. 14
SECTION 2. Within the Multimodal Transportation Improvement 15
Program and Ports Grant Program, a priority allocation or 16
set-aside shall be established to support capital improvements, 17
preconstruction engineering, planning, design, and infrastructure 18
upgrades at eligible municipal ports, provided that: 19
H. B. No. 1502 *HR26/R2055* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2055
PAGE 2 (OM\KW)
ST: Municipal Port Assistance Program;
establish for certain municipalities.
(a) The municipality demonstrates a port infrastructure 20
need related to economic development, freight movement, or public 21
safety; 22
(b) Funds shall be used exclusively for capital project 23
costs and not for routine maintenance; 24
(c) Port projects may include roadway access, dock 25
improvements, bulkhead work, utilities, and multimodal freight 26
connections; and 27
(d) Matching requirements may be waived or reduced for 28
eligible municipalities under 10,000 in population. 29
SECTION 3. The Mississippi Department of Transportation and 30
Mississippi Development Authority, jointly or separately, shall 31
promulgate rules and guidelines necessary to administer the 32
Municipal Port Assistance Program, including criteria, reporting 33
requirements, and compliance expectations. 34
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 35
and after July 1, 2026. 36