April 28, 2022
TO THE MISSISSIPPI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR’S PARTIAL VETO MESSAGE FOR HOUSE BILL 1353
I am returning House Bill 1353: “ AN ACT TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 IHL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 STATE AGENCIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION STATEWIDE REPAIR AND RENOVATION FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND RURAL WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS REVOLVING LOAN FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI DAM SAFETY FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 TATE COUNTY - EROSION CONTROL AND REPAIR FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE ACE FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI SITE DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT AUTHORITY FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHWAY FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRY INCENTIVE FINANCING
REVOLVING FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET INVESTMENT GRANT FUND; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO THE "2022 LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE STATE BP SETTLEMENT FUND TO THE "2022 LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS FUND" CREATED IN THIS ACT; TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER FUNDS OUT OF THE CAPITAL EXPENSE FUND TO A SPECIAL FUND CREATED IN THIS ACT TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES; TO CREATE THE "2022 IHL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS; TO CREATE THE "2022 COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS; TO CREATE THE "2022 STATE AGENCIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR STATE AGENCIES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS; TO CREATE THE "2022 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION STATEWIDE REPAIR AND RENOVATION FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR STATE AGENCIES REPAIR AND RENOVATION PURPOSES; TO CREATE THE "2022 TATE COUNTY - EROSION CONTROL AND REPAIR FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO ASSIST TATE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, IN PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DITCH EROSION CONTROL, REPAIR AND REHABILITATION; TO CREATE THE "2022 LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH VARIOUS LOCAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE; TO AMEND SECTION 39-5-145, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDS IN THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT FUND THAT MAY BE ALLOCATED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS; TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH MONIES IN THE MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY HERITAGE PRESERVATION GRANT FUND MAY BE USED; TO AMEND SECTION 39-11-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH MONIES IN THE BUILDING FUND FOR THE ARTS MAY BE USED; TO AMEND SECTION 57-1-701, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXPAND THE CATEGORIES OF ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI SITE DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES” partly approved and partly not approved pursuant to Article IV, Section 73 of the Mississippi Constitution as an “exercise of the authority endowed the office of the Governor by the people of Mississippi in our Constitution.” Governor Reeves v. Representative Gunn and Representative White, 307 So.3d 436, 439-442 (Miss. 2020).
I am vetoing Section 25(2)(w) (Lines 647-650) providing a $1,000,000 appropriation to the City of Jackson, Mississippi to pay costs associated with construction of a parking lot and related facilities at the Jackson Convention Center.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(ee) (Lines 674-676) providing a $50,000 appropriation to Arise and Shine, Inc. to provide programing and services in Copiah County.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(ppppp) (Lines 967-978) providing a $1,000,000 appropriation to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance for various facility improvements including golf cart path repairs and course equipment upgrades at Quail Hollow Golf Course.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(ttttt) (Lines 987-989) providing a $250,000 appropriation to the Briarwood Pool to pay costs associated with facility improvements.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(bbbbbbbb) (Lines 1216-1218) providing a $1,000.000 appropriation to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi to pay costs associated with renovations of city offices.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(ssssssss) (Lines 1268-1270) providing a $2,000,000 appropriation to the City of Jackson, Mississippi to pay costs associated with facility improvements at the Jackson Planetarium.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(ddddddddd) (Lines 1302-1304) providing a $200,000 appropriation to the Summit Community Development Foundation to pay costs associated with the Stand Pipe project.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(yyyyyyyyyy) (Lines 1452-1455) providing a $500,000 appropriation to the City of Greenville, Mississippi to pay costs associated with the construction and development of a downtown green space.
I am also vetoing Section 25(2)(vvvvvvvvvvv) (Lines 1528-1531) providing a $13,250,000 appropriation to the Department of Finance and Administration to pay costs associated with the development of the LeFleur’s Bluff Otter Creek Golf Park and Connector Trail Project.
Finally, I am vetoing Section 26 (Lines 1588-1632) providing a $7,500,000 appropriation to the Mississippi Development Authority and directing that the appropriated funds be disbursed to Pinchers Seafood, Halter Marine and Highland Carbon Solutions, LLC.
Article IV, Section 73 of the Mississippi Constitution states: “The Governor may veto parts of any appropriation bill, and approve parts of the same, and the portions approved shall be law.” The removal of these separate, distinct and complete appropriations does not affect any other appropriations in House Bill 1353. See Reeves, 307 So.3d at 442.
Respectfully submitted,
TATE REEVES
GOVERNOR