MississippiSB 30712026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Appropriation; Gulf Coast Restoration Funds to the Mississippi Development Authority.

Sponsored By: W. Briggs Hopson III (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Appropriations DAppropriations AAppropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

23 provisions identified: 23 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Coastal arts and park projects retain funding

Ocean Springs retains up to $700,000 for Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Arts Center renovations and signs. The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Arts retains $204,002 to complete its campus. Lucedale retains $191,769 for its Municipal Park Stage project. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Each allocation is limited to its unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Coastal museums and historic sites get funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the LaPointe-Krebs Foundation gets $900,000 for a new interpretive center. The Lucedale-George County Historical Society gets $150,000 for its history museum. The law renews up to $565,650 for Walter Anderson Museum Phases 3–4 and $366,299 for Creative Complex Phase I and the start of Phase II. It also renews up to $386,969 for Long Beach’s Quarles House, which must meet Mississippi Code Section 57-119-9 criteria. The Creative Complex must have Development Authority recommendation or meet those criteria. All renewed spending is limited to June 30, 2026, balances and original purposes.

Gulfport retains Forest Heights flood funding

Gulfport retains up to $1.09211 million for flood control or drainage at the Forest Heights Project. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Spending cannot exceed the unused June 30, 2026 balance and must serve the original purpose. The provision does not quantify household protection or provide personal payments.

Harrison County police academy gets upgrades

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law provides Harrison County’s Sheriff’s Department $3.5 million for Law Enforcement Training Academy Improvements Phase II. The money is available through June 30, 2027, and is restricted to that project. The appropriation does not create new household duties or provide resident payments.

Coastal healthcare facilities and training get funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Memorial Hospital Foundation gets $3 million for Memorial Multispecialty Center construction. Singing River Health System gets $675,000 for Healthcare Academy Expansion Initiative Phase II. Both allocations are restricted to the named projects. The law does not define patient services, eligibility, or household payments.

Coastal airports get hangar and incentives

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $2 million for Stennis International Airport’s Site 1 hangar. The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission receives that project funding. The Mississippi Development Authority also gets renewed authority to spend up to $2.5 million on Gulfport/Biloxi air-service incentives. Renewed spending cannot exceed balances left on June 30, 2026, and must keep the original purpose. The law does not promise lower airfares or household payments.

Coastal business parks keep development funding

Pearl River County retains up to $1.091552 million for industrial park infrastructure and $1.581664 million for Technology Park Phase I and site development. The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission retains $1.633756 million for Stennis Airport technology park and site development. The Jackson County Economic Development Foundation retains $2 million for Sunplex Light Industrial Park improvements and Trent Lott Airport. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Each allocation remains limited to its unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Coastal cities keep road project funding

The law renews up to $4.6 million for Gulfport's Daniel Boulevard extension between Highway 49 and Canal Road. It renews $2.039952 million for Biloxi's Popp's Ferry Extension and $1.752394 million for Moss Point's Interstate 10 frontage roads. Moss Point's Point of Connection Road gets up to $200,000; Bay St. Louis's Court Street Parking improvements get $13,208. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Each allocation is limited to its unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Coastal communities retain local redevelopment funding

Diamondhead retains up to $1.479246 million for its Commercial District Transformation Project; Pascagoula retains $1.879495 million for downtown revitalization. Moss Point retains $930,500 for downtown revitalization and a separate $2 million for Magnificent Mile 2.0. Ocean Springs retains $2 million for public works redevelopment and relocation, plus a separate $2 million for city or redevelopment authority projects. Ocean Springs Collective Projects retain $20,678; the supplied provisions do not identify those projects or the separate city projects. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, limited to each allocation's unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Coastal community redevelopment gets continued funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Diamondhead gets $2 million for Commercial District Transformation Phase IV. The law renews up to $410,731 for Long Beach development and revitalization, subject to Mississippi Code Section 57-119-9 criteria. It also renews up to $1 million for the Mississippi Development Authority’s Quality of Place Incentives Program. Both renewed allocations cannot exceed balances left on June 30, 2026, and must keep their original purposes. These allocations do not create direct household payments.

Coastal performance venues get expansion funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum gets $5.476 million for expansion. The Mississippi Songwriters Alliance gets $1 million for exhibit design and improvements at its Performing Arts Center. The money is restricted to those projects. The law does not provide direct payments to residents.

Coastal shipbuilding and rail get funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law provides $5 million for Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding bulkhead repairs. The money goes through the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation. It renews up to $6.6 million for Pascagoula’s North Rail Connector and $100,942 for the Mississippi Export Railroad Enviva Project assisting George County. Both renewed rail allocations must meet Gulf Coast Restoration Fund criteria in Mississippi Code Section 57-119-9. Renewed spending cannot exceed balances left on June 30, 2026, or change the original project purposes.

Coastal waterfront and harbor get improvements

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Waveland gets $750,000 for waterfront improvements. Long Beach Harbor gets $1.5 million for Harbor Complex restoration. Both allocations are restricted to their named projects. They fund local facilities rather than direct household payments.

Coastal waterfronts and harbors retain funding

Long Beach retains separate allocations of up to $3.5 million and $1 million for Harbor Complex restoration. Pass Christian retains $2.375293 million for waterfront redevelopment; Waveland retains $2 million for Marina Phase I. Bay St. Louis retains $1.357438 million for a downtown boardwalk accessible to people with disabilities. Gulf Hills Resort retains $156,032 for 2,000 feet of Blueway waterfront with public marina access; Pinchers Seafood retains $3.6 million for a working waterfront. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, limited to each allocation's unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Gulf Coast industrial parks get funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the law funds three county industrial park projects. Pearl River County gets $4 million for a building to attract future tenants. George County gets $1.029 million to expand its industrial park water system. Stone County gets $2.548 million for the Inda Industrial Park land and sewer project. Each allocation is restricted to its named project, not household payments.

Gulfport downtown projects keep investment funding

The Gulfport Redevelopment Commission retains up to $8 million for a mixed-use downtown project's second and final phase, including public-use parts. A separate $2.5 million allocation supports Phase I of a planned three-phase downtown project for public use. Both aim to attract public and private investment. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Each allocation is limited to its unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Lucedale streets and coastal services get funding

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, Lucedale gets $1.764 million for Cowart Street improvements. The law also renews up to $306,607 for Lucedale’s Ventura Drive improvements. Ventura Drive spending cannot exceed balances left on June 30, 2026, and must keep its original purpose. Ocean Springs gets $1.5 million for public works redevelopment and relocation, Phases I and II. These funds support the named city projects, not direct payments to residents.

Moss Point gets gas pipeline funding

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law provides Moss Point $2.8 million for the Highway 63/Escatawpa natural gas pipeline installation. The money is available through June 30, 2027, and is restricted to that project. The law does not set household gas rates or guarantee individual service benefits.

Moss Point retains gas pipeline funding

Moss Point retains up to $1.75 million for Highway 63/Escatawpa natural gas pipeline installation. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Spending cannot exceed the unused June 30, 2026 balance and must serve the original purpose. This funding does not provide direct household payments.

Railroads and mill access retain funding

The law renews separate allocations of up to $1.5 million and $617,058 for Pascagoula's Rail Line Development Plan. It renews $3.5 million for Mississippi Export Railroad projects. Stone County's Piney Wood Pellet Mill road, rail, and bypass work gets $2.420723 million. George County's Grain Elevator/River Road rehabilitation gets $27,019. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, limited to each allocation's unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Coastal colleges retain specialized project funding

The University of Southern Mississippi retains up to $1.483802 million for its Visualization and Digital Multimedia Center of Excellence. Its Ocean Enterprise retains $3.406543 million. Pearl River Community College's Aviation Aerospace Academy retains $42,232. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, limited to each allocation's unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose. These allocations do not create student payments or new benefit eligibility.

Coastal students get funded campus facilities

For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, William Carey University gets $1.5 million for Tradition Campus student housing. The law renews up to $2.990575 million for Institute for Marine Mammal Studies classrooms and dorms. It renews up to $1.444556 million for the University of Southern Mississippi’s Ocean Enterprise Phase I. The institute must meet Mississippi Code Section 57-119-9 criteria; Ocean Enterprise needs Development Authority recommendation or must meet those criteria. Renewed spending cannot exceed June 30, 2026, balances or change original purposes. The funding does not itself set student eligibility or provide household payments.

Mississippi Cyber Center keeps project funding

Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation retains up to $10.678017 million for Mississippi Cyber Center design and construction. A separate $912,165 allocation supports continued development of the center. Funds are available July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. Each allocation is limited to its unused June 30, 2026 balance and original purpose.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

W. Briggs Hopson III
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Kevin Blackwell
Republican • Senate
Dennis DeBar, Jr.
Republican • Senate
Michael McLendon
Republican • Senate
Rita Potts Parks
Republican • Senate
Sarita Simmons
Democratic • Senate
Brice Wiggins
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 338 • No: 1

House vote • 3/30/2026

Conference Report Adopted

Yes: 117 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 3/30/2026