HB622 • 2026

Transportation funding; authorize public-private partnerships to include naming rights.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OR A MUNICIPALITY OF THE STATE MAY FORM A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR A HIGHWAY, ROAD, BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET IMPROVEMENT BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR MUNICIPALITY MAY NEGOTIATE FOR PRIVATE FUNDING ASSISTANCE TOWARD A HIGHWAY, ROAD, BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET IMPROVEMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR NAMING RIGHTS OF THE SECTION OF HIGHWAY, ROAD, BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET FOR WHICH THE PRIVATE FUNDING ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED; TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSION FROM APPROVING AND THE DEPARTMENT FROM ENTERING INTO ANY AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY WHOSE PRODUCTS ARE ILLEGAL FOR USE BY MINORS; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDS DERIVED FROM SUCH AGREEMENTS FOR NAMING RIGHTS MAY BE USED; TO CREATE A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH FUNDS TO BE RETAINED AND MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor: Steverson
Last action: 2026-02-12
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not explicitly mention approval by the Mississippi Transportation Commission, though it is implied in the context of public-private partnerships.

Transportation Funding Act

This bill allows the Mississippi Department of Transportation to form partnerships with private companies for highway improvements and gives these companies naming rights in exchange for funding.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Mississippi Department of Transportation, political subdivisions, or municipalities to create public-private partnerships for transportation projects.
Prohibits agreements with entities whose products are illegal for minors.
Establishes a special fund in the state treasury to hold money from these partnerships and use it for capital improvements to rest areas, visitor centers, and welcome centers.

Who It Names or Affects

The Mississippi Department of Transportation
Political subdivisions and municipalities of Mississippi
Private companies interested in funding transportation projects

Terms To Know

Public-private partnership: A collaboration between a government agency and a private company to fund or manage a project.
Naming rights: The right to name a public asset, such as a highway or bridge, in exchange for funding it.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during the session.
It does not specify how unspent funds should be managed beyond stating they do not lapse into the State General Fund.

Bill History

2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Died On Calendar
2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/29 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/29 (H) DR - TSDP: AP To TR
2026-01-21 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/21 (H) DR - TSDP: TR To AP
2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/13 (H) Referred To Transportation;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Transportation funding; authorize public-private partnerships to include naming rights.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 622 *HR43/R484* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R484
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Transportation;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Steverson

HOUSE BILL NO. 622

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF 1
TRANSPORTATION, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OR A 2
MUNICIPALITY OF THE STATE MAY FORM A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 3
FOR A HIGHWAY, ROAD, BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET IMPROVEMENT BY WHICH 4
THE DEPARTMENT, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR MUNICIPALITY MAY 5
NEGOTIATE FOR PRIVATE FUNDING ASSISTANCE TOWARD A HIGHWAY, ROAD, 6
BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET IMPROVEMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR NAMING RIGHTS OF 7
THE SECTION OF HIGHWAY, ROAD, BRIDGE OR OTHER ASSET FOR WHICH THE 8
PRIVATE FUNDING ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED; TO PROHIBIT THE 9
COMMISSION FROM APPROVING AND THE DEPARTMENT FROM ENTERING INTO 10
ANY AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY WHOSE PRODUCTS ARE ILLEGAL FOR USE BY 11
MINORS; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDS DERIVED FROM 12
SUCH AGREEMENTS FOR NAMING RIGHTS MAY BE USED; TO CREATE A SPECIAL 13
FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH FUNDS TO BE 14
RETAINED AND MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS 15
ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 16
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 17
SECTION 1. (1) The Mississippi Department of 18
Transportation, a political subdivision of the state or a 19
municipality of the state may form a public-private partnership 20
for a highway, road, bridge or other asset by which the 21
department, political subdivision or municipality may negotiate 22
for private funding assistance toward a highway, road, bridge or 23
other asset improvement in exchange for naming rights of the 24
section of highway, road, bridge or other asset improvement for 25
H. B. No. 622 *HR43/R484* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R484
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)

which the private funding assistance was provided, which such 26
public-private partnership agreements shall be subject to the 27
approval of the Mississippi Transportation Commission. The 28
Mississippi Department of Transportation shall adopt rules and 29
regulations necessary for the department to utilize such 30
public-private partnerships. 31
(2) The commission shall not approve, nor shall the 32
department enter into any public-private partnership agreement 33
with any entity whose products are illegal for participation in or 34
use by persons eighteen (18) years of age and under. 35
(3) Any funds received by the department from an entity with 36
whom it has entered a public-private partnership agreement under 37
the authority of subsection (1) for the purposes specified 38
therein, shall be retained by the department and deposited into a 39
special fund managed by the department to be used for capital 40
improvements to rest areas and visitor centers and welcome centers 41
throughout the state. 42
(4) (a) There is established in the State Treasury a 43
special fund for the department for the monies collected under 44
this section. 45
(b) Unexpended monies remaining in the fund at the end 46
of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and 47
any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund 48
shall be deposited into the fund. 49
H. B. No. 622 *HR43/R484* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R484
PAGE 3 (DJ\KP)
ST: Transportation funding; authorize public-
private partnerships to include naming rights.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 50
and after July 1, 2026. 51