Senate Bill 2154

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 11-27-5 AND 11-27-81, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT NO PUBLIC ENTITY MAY SPREAD UPON THE MINUTES OF THE ENTITY ANY POLICY WHICH PUTATIVELY ALLOWS THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PUBLIC ENTITY TO PROCEED WITH EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN UNDER STATE LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 11-27-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

11-27-5. (1) Any person or corporation having the right to condemn private property for public use shall file a complaint to condemn with the circuit clerk of the county in which the affected property, or some part thereof, is situated and shall make all the owners of the affected property involved, and any mortgagee, trustee or other person having any interest therein or lien thereon a defendant thereto. The complaint shall be considered a matter of public interest and shall be a preference case over other cases except other preference causes. The complaint shall describe in detail the property sought to be condemned, shall state with certainty the right to condemn, and shall identify the interest or claim of each defendant.

(2) No public entity may spread upon the minutes of the entity any policy which putatively allows the governing authority of the public entity to proceed with eminent domain proceedings other than under state law.

SECTION 2. Section 11-27-81, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

11-27-81. (1) The right of immediate possession pursuant to Sections 11-27-81 through 11-27-89, Mississippi Code of 1972, may be exercised only:

(a) By the State Highway Commission for the acquisition of highway rights-of-way only;

(b) By any county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way to connect existing roads and streets to highways constructed or to be constructed by the State Highway Commission;

(c) By any county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way for widening existing roads and streets of such county or municipality; provided, however, that said rights-of-way shall not displace a property owner from his dwelling or place of business;

(d) By the boards of supervisors of any county of this state for the acquisition of highway or road rights-of-way in connection with a state-aid project designated and approved in accordance with Sections 65-9-1 through 65-9-31, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(e) By the Mississippi Wayport Authority for the purposes of acquiring land and easements for the Southeastern United States Wayport Project as authorized by Sections 61-4-1 through 61-4-13, Mississippi Code of 1972;

(f) By any county or municipality for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way for water, sewer, drainage and other public utility purposes; provided, however, that such acquisition shall not displace a property owner from his dwelling or place of business;

(g) By any county authorized to exercise the power of eminent domain under Section 19-7-41 for the purpose of acquiring land for construction of a federal correctional facility or other federal penal institution;

(h) By the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority for the purpose of acquiring land, property and rights-of-way for a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv)1 or any facility related to the project as provided in Section 57-75-11(e)(ii);

(i) By the boards of supervisors of any county of this state for the purpose of constructing dams or low-water control structures on lakes or bodies of water under the provisions of Section 19-5-92; or

(j) By the board of supervisors of any county of this state for the purpose of acquiring land, property and/or rights-of-way for any project the board of supervisors, by a duly adopted resolution, determines to be related to a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv). The board of supervisors of a county may not exercise the right to immediate possession under this item (j) after July 1, 2003.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.