HB867 • 2026

Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund; authorize expenditures for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention activites.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 51-9-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ROSS BARNETT RESERVOIR DREDGING FUND AND AUTHORIZE THE FUND TO BE EXPENDED FOR SHORELINE MAINTENANCE AND EROSION PREVENTION ACTIVITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Powell
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Law
Effective date: Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that the fund will be used for 'cleaning the reservoir bottom'. It only mentions dredging and other related activities to remove sediments and debris.

Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund Changes

This law changes the name of a fund for cleaning up Ross Barnett Reservoir and allows money to be used for keeping the shoreline healthy.

What This Bill Does

Changes the name of the Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund to include maintenance activities.
Allows the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Board to spend up to $200,000 each year from lease payments and fees on cleaning the reservoir bottom and protecting the shoreline.
Keeps any leftover money in the fund instead of moving it to another account.

Who It Names or Affects

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Board
People who live near Ross Barnett Reservoir

Terms To Know

Dredging: Removing dirt and debris from the bottom of a lake or river.
Shoreline: The area where land meets water, like along a beach or lakeshore.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much money will be available for each activity.
Only applies to fiscal years starting in 2022 and later.

Bill History

2026-03-17 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/17 Approved by Governor
2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/11 (S) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/11 (H) Enrolled Bill Signed
2026-03-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/10 (S) Returned For Enrolling
2026-03-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/09 (S) Passed
2026-02-27 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/27 (S) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (S) Referred To Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/10 (H) Passed
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/16 (H) Referred To State Affairs

Official Summary Text

Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund; authorize expenditures for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention activites.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 867 *HR43/R1621.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1621.1
PAGE 1 (RF\KP)

To: State Affairs
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Powell

HOUSE BILL NO. 867

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 51-9-165, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ROSS BARNETT RESERVOIR DREDGING FUND AND 2
AUTHORIZE THE FUND TO BE EXPENDED FOR SHORELINE MAINTENANCE AND 3
EROSION PREVENTION ACTIVITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. Section 51-9-165, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 6
amended as follows: 7
51-9-165. (1) There is created in the State Treasury a 8
special fund to be known as the Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging 9
and Maintenance Fund. The fund shall consist of the monies 10
deposited into the fund as provided in subsection (2) of this 11
section and any other monies appropriated or otherwise made 12
available for the fund by the Legislature. The fund shall be 13
administered and expended by the Board of Directors of the Pearl 14
River Valley Water Supply District, upon appropriation by the 15
Legislature, for dredging and other related activities to remove 16
sediments and debris from the bottom of the Ross Barnett 17
Reservoir, and for shoreline maintenance and other related 18
activities to prevent or mitigate erosion of the shoreline. 19
H. B. No. 867 *HR43/R1621.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1621.1
PAGE 2 (RF\KP)
ST: Ross Barnett Reservoir Dredging Fund;
authorize expenditures for shoreline maintenance
and erosion prevention activites.
(2) During fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter, 20
the Board of Directors of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply 21
District may deposit not more than Two Hundred Thousand Dollars 22
($200,000.00) of the lease payments, fees and other funds received 23
by the district during the fiscal year into the Ross Barnett 24
Dredging and Maintenance Fund. 25
(3) Unexpended amounts remaining in the Ross Barnett 26
Dredging and Maintenance Fund at the end of a fiscal year shall 27
not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or 28
investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to 29
the credit of the fund. 30
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 31
and after its passage. 32