Senate Bill 2975

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE A SALES TAX EXEMPTION TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS WETLAND OR WATERFOWL PROTECTION IF THE PROPERTY OR SERVICES PURCHASE ARE UTILIZED IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS TAX EXEMPT MISSION IN CONNECTION WITH PROJECTS INTENDED TO CONSERVE, RESTORE, PROTECT OR ENHANCE WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27-65-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-65-103. The exemptions from the provisions of this chapter which are of an agricultural nature or which are more properly classified as agricultural exemptions than any other exemption classification of this chapter shall be confined to those persons or property exempted by this section or by provisions of the Constitution of the United States or the State of Mississippi. No agricultural exemption as now provided by any other section shall be valid as against the tax herein levied. Any subsequent agricultural exemption from the tax levied hereunder shall be provided by amendment to this section.

No exemption provided in this section shall apply to taxes levied by Section 27-65-15 or 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972.

The tax levied by this chapter shall not apply to the following:

(a) The gross proceeds of sales of lint cotton, seed cotton, baled cotton, whether compressed or not, and cottonseed and soybeans in their original condition. Retail sales of seeds, livestock feed, poultry feed, fish feed and fertilizers. Sales of defoliants, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and baby chicks used in growing agricultural products for market. Bagging and ties for baling cotton, hay baling wire and twine, boxes, bags and cans used in growing or preparing agricultural products for market when possession thereof will pass to the customer at the time of sale of the product contained therein. Sales of ice to commercial fishermen purchased for use in the preservation of seafood or to producers for use in the refrigeration of vegetables for market.

(b) The sales by producers of livestock, poultry, fish or other products of farm, grove or garden when such products are sold in the original state or condition of preparation for sale before such products are subjected to any other process within a class of business or sold by a producer through an established store, as defined in the Privilege Tax Law. Provided, however, that this exemption shall not apply to ornamental plants which bear no fruit of commercial value. All sales by agricultural cooperative associations organized under Article 9 of Chapter 7 of Title 69, or under Chapters 17 or 19 of Title 79, Mississippi Code of 1972, of agricultural products produced by members for market before such products are subjected to any manufacturing process.

(d) Income from grading, excavating, ditching, dredging or landscaping activities performed for a farmer on a farm for agricultural or soil erosion purposes.

(e) The gross proceeds of sales of all antibiotics, hormones and hormone preparations, drugs, medicines and other medications including serums and vaccines, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients for use in the production and growing of fish, livestock and poultry by whomever sold. Such exemption shall be in addition to the exemption provided in this section for feed for fish, livestock and poultry.

(f) Sales of tangible personal property or services to organizations exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code whose primary purpose is wetlands and waterfowl protection if the property or services are utilized in furtherance of its tax exempt mission in connection with projects intended to conserve, restore, protect or enhance wetland ecosystems.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.