Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB970: Counties and municipalities; authorize to adjudicate property with a riparian owner as a menace under certain circumstances.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-19-11 AND 19-5-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY MUNICIPAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY AND ANY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY DETERMINE WHETHER PROPERTY THAT HAS A RIPARIAN OWNER IS A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PROPERTY MAY BE ASSESSED CERTAIN FEES AND PENALTIES, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THE CLEANING OF SUCH PROPERTY IF THE PROPERTY IS ADJUDICATED A MENACE BY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPALITY OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF A COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to amend sections 21-19-11 and 19-5-105, mississippi code of 1972, to provide that any municipal governing authority and any county board of supervisors may determine whether property that has a riparian owner is a menace to the public health, safety and welfare of the community; to provide that such property may be assessed certain fees and penalties, under certain circumstances, for the cleaning of such property if the property is adjudicated a menace by the governing authority of a municipality or the board of supervisors of a county; and for related purposes.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 21-19-11 AND 19-5-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY MUNICIPAL GOVERNING AUTHORITY AND ANY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY DETERMINE WHETHER PROPERTY THAT HAS A RIPARIAN OWNER IS A MENACE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PROPERTY MAY BE ASSESSED CERTAIN FEES AND PENALTIES, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THE CLEANING OF SUCH PROPERTY IF THE PROPERTY IS ADJUDICATED A MENACE BY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF A MUNICIPALITY OR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF A COUNTY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Section 21-19-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 21-19-11. (1) To determine whether property or parcel of land, or property or parcel of land that has a riparian owner, located within a municipality is in such a state of uncleanliness as to be a menace to the public health, safety and welfare of the community, a governing authority of any municipality shall conduct a hearing, on its own motion, or upon the receipt of a petition signed by a majority of the residents residing within four hundred (400) feet of any property or parcel, or any property or parcel that has a riparian owner, of land alleged to be in need …