Mississippi Ireland Trade Commission; establish., the official text

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Government Structure

By: Senator(s) McCaughn, McLendon, Michel, Harkins,
Blackwell, Hopson, Suber

Senate Bill 2258

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI-IRELAND TRADE
COMMISSION; TO STATE FINDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE FOR APPOINTMENTS
TO THE COMMISSION AND THE LENGTH OF THEIR TERMS; TO SPECIFY HOW THE COMMISSION
IS TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS; TO SET OUT THE PURPOSES OF THE COMMISSION; TO
AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSION TO RAISE FUNDS, THROUGH DIRECT SOLICITATION OR OTHER
FUNDRAISING EVENTS, ALONE OR WITH OTHER GROUPS, AND TO ACCEPT GIFTS, GRANTS,
AND BEQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES,
AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS TO CARRY OUT ITS
PURPOSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1.  The
Legislature finds that:

(a)  Over seven percent
(7%) of Mississippi's 2022 population is of Irish descent, making it the third
largest ancestry in the Magnolia State, with more than two hundred ten thousand
(210,000) citizens claiming heritage from the Emerald Isle.  Irish settlers
came to Mississippi in several waves of immigration, and their legacy includes
business and industry, political, religious, and civic activity.  Former
Mississippi Governor Gerard Brandon was the grandson of Irish immigrants; and

(b)  Beyond historical
ties, the Irish have long been important to Mississippi's economy.  Based on
federal data, Ireland is Mississippi's twelfth largest foreign trade partner,
representing industries such as agriculture, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals.
With a stable political environment and growing economy, Ireland is poised to
advance bilateral trade and investment through direct relationships with
Mississippi businesses, elected leaders, educational institutions, and markets.

SECTION 2.
(1)  For purposes of this section, "commission" means the Mississippi-Ireland
Trade Commission.

(2)  (a)  There is hereby
established the Mississippi-Ireland Trade Commission, which shall consist of
ten (10) members, to be appointed as follows:

(i)  The Governor
shall appoint three (3) members, one (1) for an initial term of one (1) year,
and two (2) for initial terms of two (2) years;

(ii)  The
Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two (2) members of the Senate, one (1) for an
initial term of three (3) years and one (1) for an initial term of four (4)
years;

(iii)  The Speaker
of the House shall appoint two (2) members of the House of Representatives, one
(1) for an initial term of three (3) years and one (1) for an initial term of
four (4) years;

(iv)  The President
of the Mississippi Economic Council shall appoint one (1) member for an initial
term of (1) year;

(v)  The Executive
Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his or her designee,
shall serve as an ex officio member; and

(vi)  The
Commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning, or his or her designee,
shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member.

(b)  All appointees of
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the
Mississippi Economic Council shall have either current or past involvement in
organizations that promote Irish affairs, or an interest in the well-being of
trade relations between Mississippi and Ireland.

(c)  All initial
appointments shall be made no later than July 1, 2026.  After the expiration of
the initial term, all terms shall be for a period of four (4) years.  A vacancy
in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment was made.  A vacancy occurring during an unexpired term
shall be filled for the remainder of the term.

(3)  Appointed members shall
serve without compensation at the will and pleasure of the appointing
authority.  The commission shall elect a chairman and such other officers as it
considers necessary from among its members.  A majority of the members of the
commission shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of meetings, and all
actions of the commission shall be by a majority vote.  The commission shall
meet, subject to call by the chairman, at least quarterly.

(4)  The purpose of the
commission shall be to:

(a)  Advance bilateral
trade and investment between Mississippi and Ireland;

(b)  Initiate joint
action on policy issues of mutual interest to Mississippi and Ireland;

(c)  Promote business
and academic exchanges between Mississippi and Ireland;

(d)  Encourage mutual
economic support between Mississippi and Ireland;

(e)  Encourage mutual
investment in the infrastructure of Mississippi and Ireland; and

(f)  Address such other
issues as determined by the commission.

(5)  The Mississippi-Ireland
Trade Commission shall be authorized to raise funds, through direct
solicitation or other fundraising events, alone or with other groups, and to
accept gifts, grants, and bequests from individuals, corporations, foundations,
governmental agencies, and public and private organizations and institutions to
carry out its purposes.

SECTION 3.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after March 17, 2026.