Board to pursue statutory amendments, flags change in SB 2300 that would remove architects from evaluation committees

The Mississippi State Board of Architecture reviewed legislation on April 16 and authorized staff to pursue strategies to amend state licensure statutes in 2026.

Andrew Kilpatrick and Executive Director John Cothron briefed members on a slate of bills and a budget appropriation. Members authorized Mr. Kilpatrick to explore strategies to obtain passage of amendments to Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-1-19 and 73-2-5 in 2026; the meeting notes record a state appropriation of $363,967 as passed.

The board discussed several measures: SB 3019 (listed), HB 669 (died in committee in the Senate), HB 924 (allows PEER Committee review of selected newly adopted rules — passed), SB 2248 (amend Fresh Start Act — died on calendar), HB 608/SB 2422 (amend Engineers & Surveyors law — died in both chambers), HB 1166 (high-rise SFMO review — died in the House), SB 2275 (State Task Force for Agency Reorganization — died in the House), and SB 2300 (amends public purchasing law as it relates to design/build — passed).

Board members flagged SB 2300 because it removes the statutory requirement that at least one member of a public-evaluation committee be an architect or engineer. "I will contact the American Council of Engineering Companies of Mississippi (ACEC-MS) about this legislation," Cothron said, and Kilpatrick observed that in his view the change "only impacted the membership in the evaluation committee and did not impact the Board's rules on design-build projects." The board agreed to seek additional information and to await NCARB guidance on multiple pathways to licensure before changing reciprocity rules.

Next steps: staff will follow up with ACEC-MS, monitor implementation of SB 2300, and continue exploring statutory amendments for 2026.