Alcorn State University; authorize reclassification of property used as the president's dwelling to residential property.

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To: Universities and
Colleges
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Harness, Holloway
(76th), Denton, Butler-Washington, Faulkner,
Gibbs (36th), Jackson (45th), James-Jones,
Thompson, Williams

HOUSE BILL NO. 920

AN ACT TO RECLASSIFY THE STATUS OF THE PRESIDENT'S 1
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING ON THE CAMPUS OF ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY FROM 2
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, FOR PURPOSES OF 3
ALLOWING PERSONS AND ENTITIES' LICENSED AS RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS TO 4
BE PROCURED FOR CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS 5
THEREON; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-59-1 AND 73-59-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE 6
OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. With the approval of the Board of Trustees of 9
State Institutions of Higher Learning, the real property and 10
structural improvements situated thereon, located upon the campus 11
of Alcorn State University, designated for use as the residential 12
dwelling of the university's president shall be classified as 13
residential and not as a commercial property, for purposes of 14
allowing any corporation, partnership or individual licensed under 15
Chapter 59, Title 73, Mississippi Code of 1972, as a residential 16
builder to procure contracts for residential construction or 17
residential improvements, as defined in Section 73-59-1, upon such 18
real property of the university, notwithstanding the limitations 19
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on height and square footage parameters of the residential 20
dwelling's floorplan stipulated in Section 73-59-19. 21
SECTION 2. Section 73-59-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 22
amended as follows: 23
73-59-1. For the purposes of this chapter, the following 24
words shall have the meanings ascribed herein: 25
(a) "Board" means the State Board of Contractors 26
created in Section 31-3-3, Mississippi Code of 1972. 27
(b) "Residential builder" means any corporation, 28
partnership or individual who constructs a building or structure 29
for sale for use by another as a residence or who, for a fixed 30
price, commission, fee, wage or other compensation, undertakes or 31
offers to undertake the construction, or superintending of the 32
construction, of any building or structure which is not more than 33
three (3) floors in height, to be used by another as a residence, 34
when the total cost of the undertaking exceeds Fifty Thousand 35
Dollars ($50,000.00), except as otherwise provided under Section 1 36
of this act. 37
(c) "Remodeler" means any corporation, partnership or 38
individual who, for a fixed price, commission, fee, wage or other 39
compensation, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction, 40
or superintending of the construction, of improvements to an 41
existing residence when the total cost of the improvements exceeds 42
Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). 43
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(d) "Residential construction" means any undertaking 44
described in paragraph (b) of this section performed by a 45
residential builder. 46
(e) "Residential improvement" means any undertaking 47
described in paragraph (c) of this section performed by a 48
remodeler. 49
(f) "Active licensee" means any builder or remodeler 50
licensed under this chapter and engaged in building and 51
remodeling. 52
(g) "Inactive licensee" means any builder or remodeler 53
licensed under this chapter and not engaged in building or 54
remodeling. 55
(h) "Construction manager" means any person or entity, 56
other than a residential builder, remodeler or owner, who has a 57
contract or agreement with the owner of the property for 58
residential construction or residential improvement, no matter if 59
that owner himself is the general contractor or a holder of a 60
building permit. 61
(i) "Residential solar contractor" means any person or 62
entity who installs, modifies, maintains, and repairs thermal and 63
photovoltaic solar energy systems. 64
SECTION 3. Section 73-59-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 65
amended as follows: 66
73-59-19. Except as otherwise provided in Section 1 of this 67
act, any residential builder licensed pursuant to the provisions 68
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ST: Alcorn State University; authorize
reclassification of property used as the
president's dwelling to residential property.
of this chapter may, without being required to obtain an 69
additional license under any other law of this state, construct, 70
improve, repair, remodel or renovate any commercial structure, 71
provided the prescribed contract job does not exceed seven 72
thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet. 73
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 74
and after its passage. 75