Mississippi legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Mississippi SB2610: Alcorn State University biotechnology building; rename the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building."
Status: Failed, March 30, 2026
AN ACT TO RENAME THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING, LOCATED IN LORMAN, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, THE "WILLIE L. SIMMONS BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING"; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE OR HAVE PREPARED A DISTINCTIVE PLAQUE TO PLACE WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT STATES THE BACKGROUND, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE OF WILLIE L. SIMMONS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY, TO ERECT THE PROPER LETTERING OR SIGNAGE ON THE OUTDOOR FACADE OF THE BUILDING DISPLAYING THE OFFICIAL NAME; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
What the bill says
An act to rename the alcorn state university biotechnology building, located in lorman, jefferson county, mississippi, the "willie l. simmons biotechnology building"; to require the department of finance and administration to prepare or have prepared a distinctive plaque to place within the building that states the background, accomplishments and service of willie l. simmons; to require the department of finance and administration, in conjunction with the university, to erect the proper lettering or signage on the outdoor facade of the building displaying the official name…
From the introduced text:
AN ACT TO RENAME THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING, LOCATED IN LORMAN, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, THE "WILLIE L. SIMMONS BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING"; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO PREPARE OR HAVE PREPARED A DISTINCTIVE PLAQUE TO PLACE WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT STATES THE BACKGROUND, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SERVICE OF WILLIE L. SIMMONS; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY, TO ERECT THE PROPER LETTERING OR SIGNAGE ON THE OUTDOOR FACADE OF THE BUILDING DISPLAYING THE OFFICIAL NAME; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning and upon the retirement of Willie L. Simmons as a member of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, the Alcorn State University Biotechnology Building, located at 1000 ASU Drive in Lorman, Jefferson County, Mississippi, shall be renamed the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building." At such time, the Department of Finance and Administration shall prepare or have prepared a distinctive plaque, to be placed in a prominent place within the building, that states the PAGE 2 building; rename the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building."