Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi HB1062: Public Trust Tidelands; revise various provisions related to.
Status: Failed, February 3, 2026
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 29-1-107, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A LEASE FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ANY USE OF THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS FOR ANY USE BY A GAMING OPERATION; TO CLARIFY THAT A GAMING USE IS SEPARATE FROM COMMERCIAL USE; TO CLARIFY THAT THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS LEASE NEEDED TO MOVEON SHORE AND PAY THE STATUTORY ASSESSMENT IS A LEASE WITH THE STATE OR THE STATE PORT AT GULFPORT FOR A GAMING OPERATION; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 29-15-1.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE LEGISLATIVE INTENT REGARDING THE STATE CONTROL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 29-15-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL AND AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS LEASE WITH THE STATE THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS REQUIRED FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS, INCLUDING THOSE BY STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE USE OF PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS FOR ANY GAMING PURPOSE REQUIRES A PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS LEASE FROM THE STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL EXISTING AND PROPOSED USES OF OR PROJECTS ON PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS BY ANY COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY SHALL REQUIRE A PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS LEASE FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS LEGAL FEES AND LOST AD VALOREM TAXES, WITH LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, TO BE PAID OUT OF THE PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-10, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO AMEND SECTION 29-15-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE NEED FOR A PUBLIC TRUST TIDELANDS LEASE EVEN IF PUBLIC USE OR PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM RENTAL OR LEASE FEES; TO AMEND SECTION 59-15
What the bill says
An act to amend section 29-1-107, mississippi code of 1972, 2 to require a lease from the state through the secretary of state 3 for any use of the public trust tidelands for any use by a gaming 4 operation; to clarify that a gaming use is separate from 5 commercial use; to clarify that the public trust tidelands lease 6 needed to moveon shore and pay the statutory assessment is a lease 7 with the state or the state port at gulfport for a gaming 8 operation; to amend section 29-15-1, mississippi code of 1972, to 9 provide certain definitions…