MISSISSIPPI AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION 2017 Legislative Report

2017 Legislative Session Notes Not many bills passed A lot of last minute negotiating during conference with mixed results No appropriation bill for the Mississippi Department of Transportation Question as to amount that will be available to the Multi-Modal Fund Senate Bill 2952 repealing the ad valorem tax exemption for airport leases did not pass

Bills Signed into Law House Bill 865 This bill eliminates the sunset provision in Miss. Code Ann. §61-19-1 which requires painting of anemometer towers greater than 50 feet in height in aviation orange and white

Bills Signed into Law HB 1106 Local governments must allow electronic submission of bids Does not address issues such as bid bonds Following entities are exempt: Counties with a population of less than 20,000 Cities with a population less than 10,000 Areas lacking high speed internet services Adds a requirement for state agencies to use an electronic reverse auction process Effective January 1, 2018

Bills Signed into Law House Bill 1116 Any governmental entity with a website must post notice of each called special meeting on its site not less than one hour prior to the meeting The governmental entity must email each interested person, news organization, etc. notice of the special meeting not less than one hour prior to the meeting The governmental entity may purge its list of email recipients not more than once each 24 months

Bills Signed into Law HB 1330 Abolishes, among others, the Mississippi Wayport Authority

Bills Signed into Law HB 1333 Modifies the Mississippi Air Service Development Grant Program to allow grants for seasonal air service Seasonal air service is defined as service lasting more than two months but less than 12 months Grant funds for seasonal air service are only released by the Mississippi Development Authority at the conclusion of the seasonal service

Bills Signed into Law SB 2354 "Oops Bill" Adds definitions inadvertently deleted by Legislature in 2016 Definitions added back include: Commodities Emergency Equipment Public Funds Purchase Effective upon passage

Bills Signed into Law Senate Bill 2448 Broadens the definition of "local governments" that may participate in Regional Economic Development Alliances to include airports Allows airports to officially participate with other governmental entities on economic development activities NOTE: Airports are still subject to limits on expenditures for "general economic development" under the FAA's Revenue Diversion Rule

Bills Signed into Law Senate Bill 3033 Creates, among other things, a site development grant fund administered by Mississippi Development Authority Provides funds to make site improvements for industrial development

D. Jeffrey Wagner Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. One Eastover Center 100 Vision Drive, Suite 400 Jackson, MS 39211 Telephone: (601) 973-3610 Facsimile: (601) 714-9910 Email: jwagner@bakerdonelson.com