Public Property committee advances five bills on grant administration, demolitions, namings, maintenance and a land swap

The Public Property committee reported five House bills out of committee on measures ranging from administrative changes for grant distribution to a county land swap, the committee’s presiding member said.

The measures advance House Bill 1085, 556, 1167, 1199 and 1436; each motion was approved by voice vote and the bills were reported out of committee for further action.

The committee’s action matters because the bills change where state property or administrative authority sits (including a transfer of grant administration to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History), authorize demolition and reuse of private property for public parking, clarify maintenance authority for certain state sites, memorialize facility names at the State Fire Academy, and allow a county land swap involving an underused 9.6-acre tract.

House Bill 1085: grant administration moved to MDAH

House Bill 1085 transfers the administrative function for a Main Street grant program to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). The committee’s presiding member said the program was created two years ago to let Main Street programs package and submit grants; the bill moves the distribution of those dollars to MDAH and, he said, MDAH leadership has indicated support for administering the payments. The motion on the bill was "title sufficient, do pass" and it was reported out by voice vote.

House Bill 556: demolition of…