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HB1658 • 2026

Gospel Music Trail; require MDA Divison of Tourism to create.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF TOURISM OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE MISSISSIPPI "GOSPEL MUSIC TRAIL" INFRASTRUCTURE TO OFFER TO TOURISTS AND TARGETED GROUPS A STRUCTURED TOUR OF MISSISSIPPI GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORICAL SITES AND PERFORMANCE VENUES; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION TO DESIGNATE AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MISSISSIPPI GOSPEL MUSIC TRAIL HISTORICAL MARKERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Hood
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on specific sites or funding allocations for the Gospel Music Trail infrastructure.

Mississippi Gospel Music Trail Act

This bill requires the Mississippi Development Authority's Division of Tourism to create a statewide 'Gospel Music Trail' infrastructure for tourists and targeted groups, including historical markers at gospel music sites.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Division of Tourism to make an inventory of gospel music assets in Mississippi that can be used for tourism and investment opportunities.
  • Establishes a statewide 'Mississippi Gospel Music Trail' infrastructure offering tours of gospel music historical sites and performance venues.
  • Authorizes the division to designate specific sites for markers related to the Gospel Music Trail, which must be approved by the division before being erected and maintained by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development Authority
  • Tourists interested in gospel music history
  • Targeted groups visiting Mississippi for gospel music tours

Terms To Know

Gospel Music Trail
A structured tour of historical sites and performance venues related to gospel, Christian, praise and worship music, and the culture that created it.
Historical markers
Signs or plaques placed at specific locations to inform visitors about significant events or places in gospel music history.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not enacted into law.
  • It is unclear how much funding would be allocated for the creation of the Gospel Music Trail infrastructure.
  • Details on specific sites to be included in the trail are not provided in the bill.

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 Tourism

Official Summary Text

Gospel Music Trail; require MDA Divison of Tourism to create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1658 *HR43/R1579* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1579
PAGE 1 (BS\KP)

To: Tourism
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Hood

HOUSE BILL NO. 1658

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DIVISION OF TOURISM OF THE MISSISSIPPI 1
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE MISSISSIPPI "GOSPEL 2
MUSIC TRAIL" INFRASTRUCTURE TO OFFER TO TOURISTS AND TARGETED 3
GROUPS A STRUCTURED TOUR OF MISSISSIPPI GOSPEL MUSIC HISTORICAL 4
SITES AND PERFORMANCE VENUES; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION TO 5
DESIGNATE AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MISSISSIPPI GOSPEL MUSIC TRAIL 6
HISTORICAL MARKERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. (1) The Division of Tourism of the Mississippi 9
Development Authority shall do the following: 10
(a) Make an inventory of assets making up the gospel 11
music culture that could be developed into a program for domestic 12
and international tourism and opportunities for investment. 13
(b) Establish a statewide Mississippi "Gospel Music 14
Trail" infrastructure to offer to tourists and targeted groups a 15
structured tour of Mississippi gospel music historical sites and 16
performance venues. 17
(c) Designate specific sites for the erection of 18
appropriate Mississippi Gospel Music Trail markers to offer to 19
tourists and targeted groups a structured tour of Mississippi 20
H. B. No. 1658 *HR43/R1579* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1579
PAGE 2 (BS\KP)

gospel music historical sites and performance venues. The text 21
for the Mississippi Gospel Music Trail markers must be approved by 22
the division. The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall 23
cooperate with the division by erecting and maintaining the 24
markers that have been approved by the division. 25
(d) Coordinate the Mississippi Gospel Music Trail 26
program with organizations and other entities in order to share 27
resources and information to ensure a comprehensive approach to 28
marketing the gospel music and gospel music culture in 29
Mississippi. 30
(e) Coordinate the Mississippi Gospel Music Trail 31
marketing plan with any existing state historic preservation 32
program in order to identify and preserve gospel music historic 33
properties and determine the eligibility of such properties for 34
listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and prepare 35
nominations of such sites. 36
For purposes of this section, the term "gospel music" means 37
gospel, Christian, praise and worship, and related music genres 38
and the culture that created it. 39
(2) The Division of Tourism of the Mississippi Development 40
Authority shall submit a report, including any proposed 41
legislation, to the Governor and to the Legislature before the 42
convening of the 2027 Regular Session. The report must include a 43
comprehensive state plan for marketing gospel music history as 44
specifically provided for in this section. 45
H. B. No. 1658 *HR43/R1579* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1579
PAGE 3 (BS\KP)
ST: Gospel Music Trail; require MDA Divison of
Tourism to create.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 46
and after its passage. 47