MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Judiciary A

By: Representative Henley

House Bill 352

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-1-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISCLOSURE OF COMPARATIVE APPRAISALS USED BY A PUBLIC BODY TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WHOSE PROPERTY IS TAKEN BY EMINENT DOMAIN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 31-1-27, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     31-1-27.  (1)  Appraisal information in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a) of Section 25-61-3, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, which concern the sale or purchase of real or personal property for public purposes prior to public announcement of the purchase or sale, where the release of such records would have a detrimental effect on such sale or purchase, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

     (2)  The comparative appraisals used by a public body to determine the price offered for private property taken by eminent domain by a public body shall be made available to the property owner.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2019.