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HB474 • 2026

Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program Act of 2026; establish for students in Lee and Monroe counties.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CAMP PILOT PROGRAM ACT OF 2026 FOR STUDENTS IN LEE AND MONROE COUNTIES; TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM ADMINISTERED JOINTLY BY THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS OF LEE AND MONROE COUNTIES; TO REQUIRE THE BOARDS TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO RECEIVING FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so it is uncertain if the program will ever start.

Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program for Lee and Monroe Counties

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to teach students in Lee and Monroe counties about natural resources and environmental conservation.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program for students in Lee and Monroe counties.
  • Requires the boards of supervisors from both counties to run the program together.
  • Teaches students about soil, water, plants, animals, air, and land ownership.
  • Needs funding from the state legislature or donations to start and continue.
  • Asks the boards of supervisors to give yearly reports on how the program is doing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Students in Lee and Monroe counties
  • Boards of supervisors in Lee and Monroe counties

Terms To Know

Pilot Program
A small-scale test run to see if a program works well before making it bigger.
Legislature
The group of people who make laws for the state.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was stopped in committee.
  • It is unclear if the program will receive enough funding to start.
  • Details about how the program will be taught are not provided.

Bill History

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

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/12 (H) Referred To Conservation and Water Resources;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program Act of 2026; establish for students in Lee and Monroe counties.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 474 *HR43/R262* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R262
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Conservation and Water
Resources; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Thompson, Crosby

HOUSE BILL NO. 474

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NATURAL RESOURCE CAMP PILOT PROGRAM 1
ACT OF 2026 FOR STUDENTS IN LEE AND MONROE COUNTIES; TO PROVIDE 2
THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE A 3
THREE-YEAR PROGRAM ADMINISTERED JOINTLY BY THE BOARDS OF 4
SUPERVISORS OF LEE AND MONROE COUNTIES; TO REQUIRE THE BOARDS TO 5
SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PROGRAM TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO 6
PROVIDE THAT THE PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO RECEIVING FUNDS 7
APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the 10
"Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program Act of 2026." 11
SECTION 2. (1) There is established for the students of Lee 12
and Monroe counties a Natural Resource Camp pilot program. The 13
program shall be for the purpose of teaching students the 14
importance of the soil, water, plants, animals and air; the need 15
to maintain a healthy environment; and the importance of land 16
ownership and the wealth that is obtained through owning property. 17
(2) The program shall be administered jointly by the boards 18
of supervisors of Lee and Monroe counties. 19
(3) The program shall be implemented within sixty (60) days 20
after the effective date of this act and shall continue for three 21
H. B. No. 474 *HR43/R262* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R262
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)
ST: Natural Resource Camp Pilot Program Act of
2026; establish for students in Lee and Monroe
counties.
(3) years, subject to the availability of funds appropriated by 22
the Legislature for that purpose, or funds received by the 23
counties as a gift, donation or bequest for such purposes. 24
SECTION 3. By July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter for the 25
duration of the pilot program, the boards of supervisors of Lee 26
and Monroe counties shall prepare and submit to the Legislature a 27
report of the data collected on the status of the program. The 28
report shall include: 29
(a) The number of students involved in the program; 30
(b) The number of staff required to implement and 31
operate the program; 32
(c) The cost of operating the program; 33
(d) An analysis of the effectiveness of the program; 34
(e) Recommendations to improve the program; and 35
(f) Projections as to the cost of implementing and 36
expanding the pilot program to a permanent program to meet the 37
needs of the entire state. 38
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 39
and after July 1, 2026. 40