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SB2370 • 2026

Abandoned vehicles; authorize airport authorities to take possession and dispose of.

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 61-3-66, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE AIRPORT AUTHORITIES TO TAKE POSSESSION, OBTAIN THE TITLE AND DISPOSE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES LEFT UPON AIRPORT PROPERTY; TO SET FORTH NOTICE REQUIREMENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE, DISPOSAL OR RETENTION OF VEHICLES FOR AIRPORT USE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Fillingane
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
Passage

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide detailed information about what happens if an airport authority cannot find the car's owner, or how remaining funds are handled after ninety days.

Abandoned Vehicles at Airports

This bill allows airport authorities to take possession of abandoned vehicles left on their property, sell them, or use them for official purposes.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows airport authorities to take control of abandoned cars left on their property.
  • Requires airport authorities to give notice to the car's owner before taking action.
  • Permits airport authorities to sell abandoned cars at public auctions or dispose of them in a reasonable way.
  • Gives airport authorities the option to keep abandoned vehicles for official use, like maintenance and security.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Airport authorities who manage airports in Mississippi.
  • Owners of abandoned vehicles left on airport property.

Terms To Know

Abandoned vehicle
A car that has been left without an owner for a long time and is not being used.
Airport authority
The group responsible for managing and operating airports in Mississippi.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during the session it was introduced.
  • It does not specify what happens if an airport authority cannot find the car's owner.
  • The bill only applies to abandoned vehicles on property owned, operated or controlled by airport authorities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/12 (H) Referred To Ports, Harbors and Airports

  3. 2026-02-10 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/10 (S) Transmitted To House

  4. 2026-02-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/09 (S) Passed

  5. 2026-01-30 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/30 (S) Title Suff Do Pass

  6. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Ports and Marine Resources

Official Summary Text

Abandoned vehicles; authorize airport authorities to take possession and dispose of.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2370 *SS26/R792* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS26/R792
PAGE 1 (ab\kr)

To: Ports and Marine
Resources
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Fillingane

SENATE BILL NO. 2370

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 61-3-66, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO AUTHORIZE AIRPORT AUTHORITIES TO TAKE POSSESSION, OBTAIN THE 2
TITLE AND DISPOSE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES LEFT UPON AIRPORT 3
PROPERTY; TO SET FORTH NOTICE REQUIREMENTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE, 4
DISPOSAL OR RETENTION OF VEHICLES FOR AIRPORT USE; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 8
61-3-66, Mississippi Code of 1972: 9
61-3-66. (1) Any airport authority created pursuant to 10
Section 61-3-1 et seq. is authorized and empowered to take 11
possession of any motor vehicle that has been abandoned and left 12
upon property owned, operated or controlled by the airport 13
authority, when the owner of the motor vehicle cannot be located 14
or after proper notice as provided for in this section, has been 15
given. 16
(2) Before taking the title of an abandoned motor vehicle as 17
allowed by this section, the airport authority shall provide 18
notice of the intent to sell or dispose of the abandoned motor 19
vehicle by: 20
S. B. No. 2370 *SS26/R792* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R792
PAGE 2 (ab\kr)

(a) Making reasonable efforts to determine the name and 21
address of the last registered owner of the abandoned motor 22
vehicle and any identifiable lienholder(s) of record; 23
(b) If the last registered owner or lienholder(s) can 24
be located, then the airport authority shall send written notice, 25
by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known 26
address of the registered owner and any lienholder(s), advising 27
that the motor vehicle has been deemed abandoned, is subject to 28
sale and will be disposed of unless claimed and all towing, 29
storage and related charges are paid within ninety (90) days of 30
the date of the issued notice. 31
The notice required by this paragraph shall also contain a 32
detailed and accurate description of the motor vehicle to be sold, 33
and set forth the date, time and place that such sale is to be 34
conducted, and provide the name of the person who is to make the 35
sale, as designated by the airport authority; and 36
(c) In addition to giving the notice required in 37
paragraph (b) when the last registered owner or lienholder(s) can 38
be located, or in lieu of the above notice requirement when the 39
last registered owner or lienholder(s) cannot be located, the 40
airport authority must post notice of the intent to sell the 41
abandoned vehicle in three (3) public places in the county where 42
the airport is located, at least ten (10) days preceding the date 43
of such sale. At least ten (10) days before the date of the sale 44
or other disposition, the airport authority must also issue a 45
S. B. No. 2370 *SS26/R792* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R792
PAGE 3 (ab\kr)

notice of abandonment to be published once in a newspaper of 46
general circulation in the county where the vehicle is located. 47
The notice required by this paragraph shall also contain a 48
detailed and accurate description of the motor vehicle to be sold, 49
and shall be addressed to the unknown owners or other persons 50
interested in the property to be sold. Additionally, the notice 51
shall set forth the date, time and place that such sale is to be 52
conducted, and provide the name of the person who is to make the 53
sale, as designated by the airport authority. 54
(3) If the vehicle is not claimed and all charges are not 55
paid within the required time, the title to the vehicle shall vest 56
in the airport authority, and the authority may: 57
(a) Sell the vehicle at public auction to the highest 58
and best bidder for cash; 59
(b) Dispose of the vehicle in a commercially reasonable 60
manner; or 61
(c) Retain the vehicle for official airport use, 62
including, but not limited to, airfield maintenance, security, 63
operations or other authorized governmental purposes. 64
(4) The proceeds of any sale under this section shall be 65
applied: 66
(a) First, to the cost of towing, storage, notice and 67
sale of the motor vehicle; and 68
(b) Then, any remaining balance shall be held for the 69
owner of record for ninety (90) days. If after ninety (90) days 70
S. B. No. 2370 *SS26/R792* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS26/R792
PAGE 4 (ab\kr)
ST: Abandoned vehicles; authorize airport
authorities to take possession and dispose of.
lapses, and the balance remains unclaimed, the balance shall be 71
deposited into the general operating fund of the airport 72
authority. 73
(5) The authority granted under this section is supplemental 74
to, and does not limit, any other rights or remedies available to 75
airport authorities under state law for the removal or disposition 76
of abandoned vehicles. 77
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 78
and after its passage. 79