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H. B. No. 1715 *HR26/R1028* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Public Property;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Crawford
HOUSE BILL NO. 1715
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE UNIVERSAL CHANGING TABLES 1
INSTALLATION INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM ACT FOR THE PURPOSES OF 2
CREATING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL 3
ENTITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO INSTALL 4
UNIVERSAL CHANGING TABLES WITHIN THE RESTROOM OF FACILITIES UNDER 5
THEIR CONTROL; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF 6
REHABILITATION SERVICES SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE 7
THAT GRANTS SHALL BE FUNDED FROM MONIES APPROPRIATED BY THE 8
LEGISLATURE AND ANY OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE 9
DEPARTMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GRANTS SHALL BE 10
AWARDED SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE FUNDING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 11
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 12
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and cited as the 13
"Universal Changing Tables Installation Incentive Grant Program 14
Act." 15
SECTION 2. (1) There is established the Universal Changing 16
Tables Installation Incentive Grant Program for the purpose and 17
intent of providing financial assistance to public and private or 18
commercial entities located within the State of Mississippi to 19
install universal changing tables in one or more restrooms in 20
existing or proposed facilities under its control. 21
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(2) Any state agency, department, municipal or county 22
governing authority exercising ownership and control over any 23
public facility or the owner of any private or commercial building 24
which is accessible to the public, may be entitled to receive 25
grants up to a maximum amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) 26
for each universal changing table installed in one or more 27
restrooms in existing or proposed facilities under its control. 28
Based upon a determination by the Mississippi Department of 29
Rehabilitation Services, relative to the funds made available for 30
the awarding of grants for the purpose specified in this act, the 31
department may increase or decrease the number of grants awarded 32
accordingly under the authority prescribed in Section 3 of this 33
act. 34
(3) Grants shall be funded from monies appropriated by the 35
Legislature to the department for that purpose, or any other 36
source of funding made available to the department for purposes of 37
this act. Grants shall be awarded on the basis of available funds 38
on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that grant 39
applicants satisfy the criteria established by the department for 40
the awarding of grants. 41
(4) To cover the costs of administering the grant program in 42
accordance with this act, the Department of Rehabilitation 43
Services may receive up to one percent (1%) of any annual 44
appropriation received by the department for the awarding of 45
grants. 46
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SECTION 3. (1) The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation 47
Services shall administer the Universal Changing Tables 48
Installation Incentive Grant Program and shall have the following 49
powers and duties: 50
(a) Receiving applications for grants under the grant 51
program; 52
(b) Determining the eligibility of applicants and 53
paying the grants from any funds available; 54
(c) Adopting and enforcing appropriate rules and 55
regulations regarding forms designed to be used by applicants for 56
grants and the eligibility of applicants; 57
(d) Developing criteria for evaluating the growing need 58
for the installation of universal changing tables, including, but 59
not be limited to: 60
(i) The percentage of the state's population 61
living with a physical disability; and 62
(ii) The number of existing public and private or 63
commercial facilities currently equipped with a universal changing 64
table; 65
(e) Developing the administrative policy for the grant 66
program; 67
(f) Promulgating rules and regulations pertaining to 68
the implementation and operation of the grant program; 69
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(g) Establishing a budget to support the activities of 70
the program and periodically reviewing and, if appropriate, 71
revising the amount of the grants offered through the program; 72
(h) Any other rules and regulations as the department 73
may deem necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and 74
intent of the grant program; and 75
(i) Collaborating with the Department of Archives and 76
History and the Department of Finance and Administration to ensure 77
that the integrity of facilities designated as historic landmarks 78
is not compromised by the installation of a universal changing 79
table within such facilities. 80
(2) When reviewing applications for grant awards, the 81
department shall give priority to applicants whose applications 82
specify that in the installation of the universal changing table, 83
the table is: 84
(a) Powered and height-adjustable, for safety of the 85
person and caregiver assisting; 86
(b) Placed in single occupancy restrooms, universal to 87
gender; 88
(c) Placed in a room with a minimum size of at least 89
ten (10) feet by fourteen and six-tenths (14.6) feet, which allows 90
for a turning radius of sixty (60) inches for the wheelchair in 91
the middle of the room and thirty-six (36) inches of space at one 92
(1) end of the table; and 93
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ST: "Universal Changing Tables Installation
Incentive Grant Program Act"; create to provide
incentives for installation of in public
buildings.
(d) Made known to the visitors by the placement of 94
clearly visible signage at the entrance of the building. 95
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 96
and after July 1, 2026. 97