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HB684 • 2026

MS Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force; create.

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI MENHADEN PROCESSING PLANT ODOR ELIMINATION TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Fondren
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

Uncertainty about whether the bill will be reintroduced in future sessions.

Mississippi Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Task Force

This bill creates a task force to study and recommend ways to reduce odors and toxic air pollution from menhaden processing plants in Mississippi.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Mississippi Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force to review and make recommendations on how to eliminate odor and toxic air pollution produced by menhaden processing plants on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
  • Includes members from state departments, the House of Representatives, and the Senate who represent districts near the coast.
  • Requires the task force to meet monthly and provide reports on their findings and recommendations.
  • Sets a deadline for the task force to submit a final report by December 1, 2026, after which it will be dissolved.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People living near menhaden processing plants in Mississippi who are affected by odors and air pollution.
  • State agencies like the Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality.
  • Members of the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate representing coastal districts.

Terms To Know

Menhaden
A type of fish commonly processed in plants along the coast that can produce strong odors and air pollution.
Task Force
A group created to address a specific issue, often with members from different organizations or government agencies.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • It does not specify funding for the task force's activities beyond mileage and actual expenses.
  • The effectiveness of the recommendations made by the task force is uncertain until implemented.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/12 (H) Died On Calendar

  2. 2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/28 (H) Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

  3. 2026-01-14 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/14 (H) Referred To Marine Resources

Official Summary Text

MS Menhaden Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force; create.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 684 *HR26/R301* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R301
PAGE 1 (ENK\KW)

To: Marine Resources
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Fondren

HOUSE BILL NO. 684

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI MENHADEN PROCESSING PLANT 1
ODOR ELIMINATION TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE 2
TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR 3
RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Mississippi Menhaden 6
Processing Plant Odor Elimination Task Force to review and make 7
recommendations on how to eliminate the odor and toxic air 8
pollution produced by the menhaden processing plants on the 9
Mississippi Gulf Coast. 10
(2) The task force shall be composed of the following 11
members: 12
(a) The Executive Director of the Department of Marine 13
Resources, or his or her designee; 14
(b) The Executive Director of the Department of 15
Environmental Quality, or his or her designee; 16
(c) Two (2) members of the Mississippi House of 17
Representatives who represent districts on the Mississippi Gulf 18
H. B. No. 684 *HR26/R301* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 2 (ENK\KW)

Coast, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 19
Representatives; 20
(d) Two (2) members of the Mississippi Senate who 21
represent districts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, to be appointed 22
by the Lieutenant Governor; 23
(3) The duties of the task force shall include the 24
following: 25
(a) Identify how much of the air quality on the 26
Mississippi Gulf Coast is affected by the odors and toxic 27
pollution produced by the menhaden processing plant; 28
(b) Determine what measures, if any, have been put into 29
place by the menhaden processing plant to reduce the odor being 30
emitted; 31
(c) Determine what changes need to be made at the 32
menhaden processing plant to reduce the odor being emitted; and 33
(d) Determine what state law changes need to be made to 34
prevent the menhaden processing plant from producing odors and 35
toxic pollution. 36
(4) (a) Appointments to the task force shall be made within 37
thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. Within 38
fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by 39
the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Lieutenant 40
Governor, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from 41
its membership a chair and a vice chair. The vice chair shall 42
also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all 43
H. B. No. 684 *HR26/R301* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 3 (ENK\KW)

records of the task force. Four (4) of the members of the task 44
force shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers 45
and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative 46
vote of a majority of the task force shall be required. All 47
members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, and those 48
notices shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days before the date 49
on which a meeting is to be held. 50
(b) The task force shall meet at least once each month 51
and provide monthly reports to the Legislature on its activities. 52
(c) The task force shall make a final report of its 53
findings and recommendations, including any recommended 54
legislation, to the Legislature not later than December 1, 2026, 55
at which time the task force will be dissolved. 56
(5) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation 57
for their service on the task force, but may receive reimbursement 58
for mileage and actual expenses as provided in Section 25-3-41, to 59
the extent that funds are available for that purpose. 60
(6) The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources shall 61
provide the staff and other support necessary for the task force 62
to perform its duties. 63
(7) To effectuate the purposes of this act, any department, 64
division, board, bureau, committee, institution or agency of the 65
state, or any political subdivision thereof, shall, at the request 66
of the chairman of the task force, provide the facilities, 67
H. B. No. 684 *HR26/R301* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 4 (ENK\KW)
ST: MS Menhaden Processing Plant Odor
Elimination Task Force; create.
assistance, information and data needed to enable the task force 68
to carry out its duties. 69
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 70
and after its passage. 71