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H. B. No. 709 *HR26/R1913* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Roberson
HOUSE BILL NO. 709
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-501, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH MONIES IN THE ECONOMIC 2
DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND MAY BE USED; AND FOR RELATED 3
PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 57-1-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
57-1-501. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a 8
special fund to be designated as the "Economic Development and 9
Infrastructure Fund." The special fund shall consist of monies 10
deposited into the fund from any source that is designated for 11
deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund 12
at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General 13
Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in 14
the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund. Monies in 15
the fund shall be used by the Mississippi Development Authority 16
for the purposes authorized in subsection (2) of this section. 17
(2) (a) The Mississippi Development Authority shall 18
establish a program to provide grants: 19
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(i) To assist with construction and repair of 20
infrastructure in counties in this state where legal gaming is 21
being conducted or is authorized and for structures designed to 22
promote the gaming and entertainment industry in such 23
counties * * * ; 24
(ii) To aid in increasing commercial air service at 25
existing commercial service airports in counties in this state in 26
which legal gaming is being conducted or is authorized by offering 27
to assist Part 121 carriers through the following air service 28
development methods: revenue guaranty, seat guaranty, seat cost 29
mitigation, ground handling and marketing * * *; and 30
(iii) To aid in increasing commercial air service 31
at existing commercial service airports in this state, including 32
any existing Federal Aviation Administration-certificated Part 139 33
commercial service airport within the State of Mississippi, by 34
offering to assist Part 121 air carriers through air service 35
development methods, including revenue guaranty, seat guaranty, 36
seat cost mitigation, ground handling, marketing, and other 37
incentive or risk-mitigation mechanisms authorized by rule, for 38
the purpose of initiating, sustaining, or expanding new direct or 39
nonstop commercial air service that supports economic development, 40
workforce access, tourism, business retention, and business 41
recruitment within the metropolitan area and the surrounding 42
region. 43
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(b) The Mississippi Development Authority shall 44
establish a procedure for accepting and reviewing applications for 45
grants under this section. In addition to any such procedure, the 46
Mississippi Development Authority may consider the anticipated 47
economic development impact to the municipal area, regional 48
connectivity, and return on investment to the state, when 49
reviewing applications for grants for purposes described in 50
paragraph (a)(iii) of this subsection. 51
(c) If funds are available in the fund created under 52
this section, not less than Two Million Five Hundred Thousand 53
Dollars ($2,500,000.00) shall be used annually for grants provided 54
for under paragraph (a)(ii) of this subsection (2). Thereafter, 55
the funds may be used for grants provided for under paragraphs 56
(a)(i) and (a)(iii) of this subsection (2). In addition, from 57
monies deposited into the Economic Development and Infrastructure 58
Fund during Fiscal Year 2027, not less than One Hundred Fifty 59
Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) shall be used for grants provided 60
for under paragraph (a)(iii) of this subsection (2). 61
(3) The Mississippi Development Authority shall have all 62
powers necessary to implement and administer the program 63
established under this section, and the Mississippi Development 64
Authority shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance 65
with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for 66
the implementation of this section. 67
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ST: Economic Development Infrastructure Fund;
revise purposes for which monies in may be
used.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 68
and after its passage. 69