The Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission; authorize levee system., the official text

MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE

2026
Regular Session

To:
Public Property

By:
Senator(s) Hopson, Brumfield, Butler, Thomas

Senate Bill 2408

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE MISSISSIPPI SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO CONSTRUCT AND MAINTAIN A LEVEE SYSTEM ALONG THE
YAZOO RIVER, WITHIN YAZOO COUNTY; TO ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO PERFORM NECESSARY
ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SUCH CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE; AND FOR RELATED
PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1.
(1)  As used in this act, the following terms shall have the meanings as
defined in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a)
"Commission" means the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation
Commission.

(b)
"Levee project" means a levee system bordering portions of the Yazoo
River, within Yazoo County, and funded by federal grants and/or appropriations.

(c)
"Political subdivision" means any agency, board, department or
commission of the State of Mississippi or of the federal government and any
political subdivision of the State of Mississippi.

(2)
The commission shall be authorized to construct a Levee Project and perform,
without limitation, all necessary construction, pre-construction and design
activities, including environmental mitigation activities and right-of-way
acquisitions.

(3)
The commission shall be authorized to enter into contracts with public and
private entities, as it deems necessary, to carry out the purposes of this
section.

(4)
The authority granted under this section shall be construed liberally to
authorize the performance of any and all activities necessary to construct the
levee project.

(5)
The commission shall be authorized to maintain the levee project and to
contract with one or more political subdivisions for such maintenance for a
period not to exceed ninety nine (99) years and shall further have the power to
cede all rights of way and levees and the maintenance, management and control
thereof to the federal government.  A political subdivision may provide funding
to defray the cost to maintain the levee project.

SECTION 2.
This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.