House Bill 592

AN ACT TO DESIGNATE A SEGMENT OF U.S. HIGHWAY 49/49E/49W FROM ITS INTERSECTION BEGINNING AT THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND MEDGAR EVERS BOULEVARD IN HINDS COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH U.S. HIGHWAY 61 IN CLARKSDALE, COAHOMA COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS AN HISTORIC MEMORIAL BLUES HIGHWAY; TO REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES ALONG THE ROUTE of THE HIGHWAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MISSISSIPPI BLUES COMMISSION TO DESIGNATE HISTORICAL SITES AND EVENTS ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE HIGHWAY; TO REQUIRE MDOT TO KEEP UP AND MAINTAIN THE SEGMENT OF HIGHWAY TO THE DEGREE APPROPRIATE FOR SUCH AN HISTORIC HIGHWAY; TO AUTHORIZE MDOT TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ALL COUNTIES THAT ENCOMPASS THE ROUTE OF THE DESIGNATED BLUES HIGHWAY FOR UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PORTION OF THE HISTORIC MEMORIAL BLUES HIGHWAY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The segment of United States Highway 49/49E/49W located in Hinds, Madison, Yazoo, Holmes, Leflore, Humphreys, Sunflower, Tallahatchie and Coahoma Counties within the State of Mississippi, beginning at the corporate limits of Jackson, Mississippi, and Medgar Evers Boulevard in Hinds County, Mississippi, and extending northerly to its intersection with United States Highway 61 in Clarksdale, Coahoma County, Mississippi, is designated as an historic memorial blues highway.

(2) The municipalities and counties along the highway, in conjunction with the Mississippi Blues Commission shall designate historical sites and events along the historic memorial blues highway to offer to tourists and targeted groups a structured tour of historical sites and events.

(3) The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall ensure the segment of highway described in subsection (1) of this section is kept up and maintained to the degree appropriate for such an historic highway.

(4) The Mississippi Department of Transportation may enter into an interlocal agreement with all counties that encompass the route of the designated blues highway to further the upkeep and maintenance of the segment of the historic memorial blues highway.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.