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HB1997 • 2026

Appropriation; MDA to establish Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program.

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A RURAL BROADBAND PILOT GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST SMALL TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING BROADBAND SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.

Budget
Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Crosby
Last action
2026-02-25
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass in the session it was introduced.

Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program

This bill would provide $10 million to the Mississippi Development Authority for a Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program to assist small towns and municipalities with broadband implementation costs in fiscal year 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides $10 million from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) for a Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program.
  • Allows MDA to give grants to eligible towns and municipalities for broadband infrastructure, including fiber or wireless technologies.
  • Requires applicants to show they need better broadband service and provide at least 10% of project costs locally.
  • Lets MDA make rules and guidelines for the grant program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Mississippi Development Authority
  • Small towns and municipalities with populations under 10,000

Terms To Know

Broadband
High-speed internet service that allows for fast data transfer.
Grant Program
A program where money is given to support specific projects or activities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
  • It only applies for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-25 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/25 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/17 (H) Referred To Appropriations E;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Appropriation; MDA to establish Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1997 *HR26/R2071* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2
26/HR26/R2071
PAGE 1 (RKM\KW)

To: Appropriations E;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Crosby

HOUSE BILL NO. 1997

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT 1
AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A RURAL BROADBAND PILOT 2
GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST SMALL TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH COSTS 3
ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING BROADBAND SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL 4
YEAR 2027. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be 7
necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General 8
Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Mississippi Development 9
Authority for the purpose of establishing, implementing and making 10
grants under a Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program consistent with 11
the provisions of Section 2 of this act for the fiscal year 12
beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................. 13
................................................ $ 10,000,000.00 14
SECTION 2. (1) Eligible uses of the funds appropriated by 15
this act include, but are not limited to: 16
(a) Broadband infrastructure construction and 17
deployment, including fiber, fixed wireless or other qualifying 18
technologies; 19
H. B. No. 1997 *HR26/R2071* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2071
PAGE 2 (RKM\KW)

(b) Engineering, design, planning and feasibility 20
studies; 21
(c) Make-ready costs and construction-related expenses; 22
(d) Equipment and materials directly related to 23
broadband deployment; and 24
(e) Any other costs determined by the Mississippi 25
Development Authority to be reasonable and necessary for the 26
completion of an approved broadband project. 27
(2) Funds appropriated by this act must be awarded on a 28
competitive grant basis to towns and municipalities meeting 29
eligibility criteria established by the Mississippi Development 30
Authority, which criteria must require an applicant to: 31
(a) Be a town or municipality with a population under 32
ten thousand (10,000); 33
(b) Demonstrate the absence of adequate broadband 34
service within all or part of the municipality; and 35
(c) Provide a local match equal to not less than ten 36
percent (10%) of the total project cost, which may include cash, 37
in-kind services, or other nonstate funds, as approved by the 38
Mississippi Development Authority. 39
(3) The Mississippi Development Authority may promulgate 40
rules, guidelines and application procedures necessary to 41
administer the Rural Broadband Pilot Grant Program. The 42
Mississippi Development Authority shall coordinate awards made 43
under this act with available federal broadband funding to avoid 44
H. B. No. 1997 *HR26/R2071* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R2071
PAGE 3 (RKM\KW)
ST: Appropriation; MDA to establish Rural
Broadband Pilot Grant Program.
duplication and maximize the efficient use of state and federal 45
resources. 46
SECTION 3. The money appropriated by this act shall be paid 47
by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund 48
not otherwise appropriated, upon warrants issued by the State 49
Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue the 50
warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or 51
officers in the manner provided by law. 52
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 53
and after July 1, 2026. 54