MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Finance
By: Senator(s) Blackwell
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-31-101 AND 27-31-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IF A MUNICIPALITY ANNEXES AN AREA ALREADY CONTAINING AN ENTERPRISE OF A KIND OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE DISCRETIONARY AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS AS A NEW ENTERPRISE, SUCH ENTERPRISE SHALL BE CONSIDERED A "NEW ENTERPRISE" FOR PURPOSES OF THE MUNICIPALITY'S AUTHORITY TO GRANT THE DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTIONS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DATE FROM WHICH THE INITIAL PERIOD OF EXEMPTION BEGINS SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ANNEXATION OF THE AREA IN WHICH THE ENTERPRISE IS LOCATED; TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-31-104, 27-31-105, 27-31-107 AND 27-31-115 MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 27-31-101, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Through June 30, 2025, this section shall read as follows:]
27-31-101. (1) County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to grant exemptions from ad valorem taxation, except state ad valorem taxation; however, such governing authorities shall not exempt ad valorem taxes for school district purposes on tangible property used in, or necessary to, the operation of the manufacturers and other new enterprises enumerated by classes in this section, except to the extent authorized in Sections 27-31-104 and 27-31-105(2), nor shall they exempt from ad valorem taxes the products of the manufacturers or other new enterprises or automobiles and trucks belonging to the manufacturers or other new enterprises operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi. The time of such exemption shall be for a period not to exceed a total of ten (10) years which shall begin on the date of completion of the new enterprise for which the exemption is granted; however, boards of supervisors and municipal authorities, in lieu of granting the exemption for one (1) period of ten (10) years, may grant the exemption in a period of less than ten (10) years. When the initial exemption period granted is less than ten (10) years, the boards of supervisors and municipal authorities may grant a subsequent consecutive period or periods to follow the initial period of exemption, provided that the total of all periods of exemption shall not exceed ten (10) years. The date of completion of the new enterprise, from which the initial period of exemption shall begin, shall be the date on which operations of the new enterprise begin. The initial request for an exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the date of completion of a new enterprise occurs. If the initial request for the exemption is not timely made, the board of supervisors or municipal authorities may grant a subsequent request for the exemption and, in such case, the exemption shall begin on the anniversary date of completion of the enterprise in the year in which the request is made and may be for a period of time extending not more than ten (10) years from the date of completion of the new enterprise. Any subsequent request for the exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year in which it is granted.
(2) Any board of supervisors or municipal authority which has granted an exemption for a period of less than ten (10) years may grant subsequent periods of exemption to run consecutively with the initial exemption period, or a subsequently granted exemption period, but in no case shall the total of the exemption periods granted for a new enterprise exceed ten (10) years. Any consecutive period of exemption shall be granted by entry of an order by the board or the authority granting the consecutive exemption on its minutes, reflecting the granting of the consecutive exemption period and the dates upon which such consecutive exemption period begins and expires. The entry of this order granting the consecutive period of exemption shall be made before the expiration of the exemption period immediately preceding the consecutive exemption period being granted.
(3) (a) The new enterprises for which any or all of the tangible property described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (3) may be exempt from ad valorem taxation, except state ad valorem taxation, ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, and ad valorem taxes on the products thereof or on automobiles and trucks belonging thereto and operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, are enumerated as and limited to the following, as determined by the Department of Revenue:
(i) Warehouse and/or distribution centers;
(ii) Manufacturing, processors and refineries;
(iii) Research facilities;
(iv) Corporate regional and national headquarters meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(v) Movie industry studios meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(vi) Air transportation and maintenance facilities meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(vii) Recreational facilities that impact tourism meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(viii) Data/information processing enterprises meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(ix) Technology intensive enterprises or facilities meeting criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(x) Health care industry facilities as defined in Section 57-117-3;
(xi) Data centers as defined in Section 57-113-21;
(xii) Telecommunications enterprises meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority. The term "telecommunications enterprises" means entities engaged in the creation, display, management, storage, processing, transmission or distribution for compensation of images, text, voice, video or data by wire or by wireless means, or entities engaged in the construction, design, development, manufacture, maintenance or distribution for compensation of devices, products, software or structures used in the above activities. Companies organized to do business as commercial broadcast radio stations, television stations or news organizations primarily serving in-state markets shall not be included within the definition of the term "telecommunications enterprises"; and
The new enterprises enumerated in this paragraph (a) do not include medical cannabis establishments as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(b) An exemption from ad valorem taxes granted under this section may include any or all tangible property, real or personal, including any leasehold interests therein but excluding automobiles and trucks operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), whether or not such property is owned, leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise obtained by such enterprise, irrespective of the taxpayer to which any such leased property is assessed for ad valorem tax purposes. If an exemption is granted pursuant to this section with respect to any leasehold interest under a lease, sublease or license of tangible property used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), the corresponding ownership interest of the owner, lessor and sublessor of such tangible property shall similarly and automatically be exempt without any action being required to be taken by such owner, lessor or sublessor.
(4) If a municipality annexes an area already containing an enterprise of a kind enumerated in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section, such enterprise shall be considered a "new enterprise" for purposes of the municipality's authority to grant, in its discretion, any exemptions from ad valorem taxation authorized by this chapter. The date from which the initial period of exemption begins shall be the effective date of the annexation of the area in which the enterprise is located.
( * * *5) Any exemption from ad valorem taxes
granted under this section before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby
ratified, approved and confirmed.
[From and after July 1, 2025, this section shall read as follows:]
27-31-101. (1) County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to grant exemptions from ad valorem taxation, except state ad valorem taxation; however, such governing authorities shall not exempt ad valorem taxes for school district purposes on tangible property used in, or necessary to, the operation of the manufacturers and other new enterprises enumerated by classes in this section, except to the extent authorized in Sections 27-31-104 and 27-31-105(2), nor shall they exempt from ad valorem taxes the products of the manufacturers or other new enterprises or automobiles and trucks belonging to the manufacturers or other new enterprises operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi. The time of such exemption shall be for a period not to exceed a total of ten (10) years which shall begin on the date of completion of the new enterprise for which the exemption is granted; however, boards of supervisors and municipal authorities, in lieu of granting the exemption for one (1) period of ten (10) years, may grant the exemption in a period of less than ten (10) years. When the initial exemption period granted is less than ten (10) years, the boards of supervisors and municipal authorities may grant a subsequent consecutive period or periods to follow the initial period of exemption, provided that the total of all periods of exemption shall not exceed ten (10) years. The date of completion of the new enterprise, from which the initial period of exemption shall begin, shall be the date on which operations of the new enterprise begin. The initial request for an exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the date of completion of a new enterprise occurs. If the initial request for the exemption is not timely made, the board of supervisors or municipal authorities may grant a subsequent request for the exemption and, in such case, the exemption shall begin on the anniversary date of completion of the enterprise in the year in which the request is made and may be for a period of time extending not more than ten (10) years from the date of completion of the new enterprise. Any subsequent request for the exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year in which it is granted.
(2) Any board of supervisors or municipal authority which has granted an exemption for a period of less than ten (10) years may grant subsequent periods of exemption to run consecutively with the initial exemption period, or a subsequently granted exemption period, but in no case shall the total of the exemption periods granted for a new enterprise exceed ten (10) years. Any consecutive period of exemption shall be granted by entry of an order by the board or the authority granting the consecutive exemption on its minutes, reflecting the granting of the consecutive exemption period and the dates upon which such consecutive exemption period begins and expires. The entry of this order granting the consecutive period of exemption shall be made before the expiration of the exemption period immediately preceding the consecutive exemption period being granted.
(3) (a) The new enterprises for which any or all of the tangible property described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (3) may be exempt from ad valorem taxation, except state ad valorem taxation, ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, and ad valorem taxes on the products thereof or on automobiles and trucks belonging thereto and operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, are enumerated as and limited to the following, as determined by the Department of Revenue:
(i) Warehouse and/or distribution centers;
(ii) Manufacturing, processors and refineries;
(iii) Research facilities;
(iv) Corporate regional and national headquarters meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(v) Movie industry studios meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(vi) Air transportation and maintenance facilities meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(vii) Recreational facilities that impact tourism meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(viii) Data/information processing enterprises meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(ix) Technology intensive enterprises or facilities meeting criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(x) Data centers as defined in Section 57-113-21;
(xi) Telecommunications enterprises meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority. The term "telecommunications enterprises" means entities engaged in the creation, display, management, storage, processing, transmission or distribution for compensation of images, text, voice, video or data by wire or by wireless means, or entities engaged in the construction, design, development, manufacture, maintenance or distribution for compensation of devices, products, software or structures used in the above activities. Companies organized to do business as commercial broadcast radio stations, television stations or news organizations primarily serving in-state markets shall not be included within the definition of the term "telecommunications enterprises"; and
(xii) Controlled environment agriculture enterprises meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority.
The new enterprises enumerated in this paragraph (a) do not include medical cannabis establishments as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.
(b) An exemption from ad valorem taxes granted under this section may include any or all tangible property, real or personal, including any leasehold interests therein but excluding automobiles and trucks operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), whether or not such property is owned, leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise obtained by such enterprise, irrespective of the taxpayer to which any such leased property is assessed for ad valorem tax purposes. If an exemption is granted pursuant to this section with respect to any leasehold interest under a lease, sublease or license of tangible property used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3), the corresponding ownership interest of the owner, lessor and sublessor of such tangible property shall similarly and automatically be exempt without any action being required to be taken by such owner, lessor or sublessor.
(4) If a municipality annexes an area already containing an enterprise of a kind enumerated in paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section, such enterprise shall be considered a "new enterprise" for purposes of the municipality's authority to grant, in its discretion, any exemptions from ad valorem taxation authorized by this chapter. The date from which the initial period of exemption begins shall be the effective date of the annexation of the area in which the enterprise is located.
( * * *5) Any exemption from ad valorem taxes
granted under this section before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby
ratified, approved and confirmed.
SECTION 2. Section 27-31-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-31-103. County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities in counties bordering on the Gulf of Mexico are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to grant exemption from ad valorem taxation in addition to those enumerated in Section 27-31-101, except state ad valorem taxation, on all tangible property, excepting motor vehicles, used in or necessary to the operation of new enterprises completed after May 6, 1958, which enterprises are commonly or are usually designated as hotels, motels, or both. If a municipality annexes an area already containing an enterprise commonly or usually designated as a hotel or motel, such enterprise shall be considered a "new enterprise" for purposes of the municipality's authority to grant, in its discretion, the exemption from ad valorem taxation authorized by this section. The date from which the initial period of exemption begins shall be the effective date of the annexation of the area in which the enterprise is located.
In the case of the county board of supervisors, the exemption shall not exceed five (5) years and in the case of the municipal authorities, the exemption shall not exceed ten (10) years. Said exemption may be granted in the case of domestic corporations, without regard to the date of its charter, and in the case of foreign corporations, without regard to the date on which it qualified to do business, and is authorized to do business, and in the case of an individual enterprise, said exemption shall be granted from the date said work is commenced.
No new exemption from ad valorem taxes levied for school district purposes shall be granted pursuant to this section from and after July 1, 1990.
SECTION 3. Section 27-31-104, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
[Through June 30, 2025, this section shall read as follows:]
27-31-104. (1) (a) County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities are each hereby authorized and empowered to enter into an agreement with an enterprise granting, and pursuant to such agreement grant a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes, including ad valorem taxes levied for school purposes, for the following:
(i) Projects totaling over Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) by any new enterprises enumerated in Section 27-31-101, including enterprises annexed by a municipality as provided in Section 27-31-101(4);
(ii) Projects by a private company (as such term is defined in Section 57-61-5) having a minimum capital investment of Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00);
(iii) Projects by a qualified business (as such term is defined in Section 57-117-3) meeting minimum criteria established by the Mississippi Development Authority;
(iv) Projects, in addition to those projects referenced in Section 27-31-105, totaling over Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) by an existing enterprise that has been doing business in the county or municipality for twenty-four (24) months. For purposes of this subparagraph (iv), the term "existing enterprise" includes those enterprises enumerated in Section 27-31-101; or
(v) A private company (as such term is defined in Section 57-61-5) or entity defined in Section 77-3-3(d)(i) having a minimum capital investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) from any source or combination of sources, provided that a majority of the capital investment is from private sources, when such project is located within a geographic area for which a Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on or after January 1, 2014.
(b) A fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes granted in accordance with this section may include any or all tangible property, real or personal, including any leasehold interests therein but excluding automobiles and trucks operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of any enterprise, private company or business described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), as applicable, whether or not such property is owned, leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise obtained by such enterprise, private company or business, as applicable, irrespective of the taxpayer to which any such leased property is assessed for ad valorem tax purposes. If a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes is granted pursuant to this section with respect to any leasehold interest under a lease, sublease or license of tangible property used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise, private company or business described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), as applicable, the corresponding ownership interest of the owner, lessor and sublessor of such tangible property shall similarly and automatically be exempt and subject to the fee-in-lieu granted in accordance herewith without any action being required to be taken by such owner, lessor or sublessor.
(2) A county board of supervisors may enter into a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the county and any county school district, and a municipality may enter into such a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the municipality and any municipal school district located in the municipality; however, if the project is located outside the limits of a municipality but within the boundaries of the municipal school district, then the county board of supervisors may enter into such a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the school district granting a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes for school district purposes.
(3) Any grant of a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes shall be evidenced by a written agreement negotiated by the enterprise and the county board of supervisors and/or municipal authority, as the case may be, and given final approval by the Mississippi Development Authority as satisfying the requirements of this section.
(4) The minimum sum allowable as a fee-in-lieu shall not be less than one-third (1/3), or one-tenth (1/10) if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026, of the ad valorem levy, including ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, and except as otherwise provided, the sum allowed shall be apportioned between the county or municipality, as appropriate, and the school districts in such amounts as may be determined by the county board of supervisors or municipal governing authority, as the case may be, however, except as otherwise provided in this section, from the sum allowed the apportionment to school districts shall not be less than the school districts' pro rata share based upon the proportion that the millage imposed for the school districts by the appropriate levying authority bears to the millage imposed by such levying authority for all other county or municipal purposes. Any fee-in-lieu agreement entered into under this section shall become a binding obligation of the parties to the agreement, be effective upon its execution by the parties and approval by the Mississippi Development Authority and, except as otherwise provided in Section 17-25-23 or Section 57-75-33, or any other provision of law, continue in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) years commencing on the date that the fee-in-lieu granted thereunder begins in accordance with the agreement; however, no particular parcel of land, real property improvement or item of personal property shall be subject to a fee-in-lieu for a duration of more than ten (10) years. Any such agreement shall be binding, according to its terms, on future boards of supervisors of the county and/or governing authorities of a municipality, as the case may be, for the duration of the agreement.
(5) The fee-in-lieu may be a stated fraction or percentage of the ad valorem taxes otherwise payable or a stated dollar amount. If the fee is a fraction or percentage of the ad valorem tax levy, it shall be annually computed on all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable, including school taxes, as the same may vary from year to year based upon changes in the millage rate or assessed value and shall not be less than one-third (1/3) of that amount or one-tenth (1/10) of that amount if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026. If the fee is a stated dollar amount, said amount shall be the higher of the sum provided for fixed payment or (a) one-third (1/3) of the total of all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable as annually determined during each year of the fee-in-lieu or (b) if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026, one-tenth (1/10) of the total of all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable as annually determined during each year of the fee-in-lieu.
(6) Notwithstanding Section 27-31-111, the parties to a fee-in-lieu may agree on terms and conditions providing for the reduction, suspension, termination or reinstatement of a fee-in-lieu agreement or any fee-in-lieu period granted thereunder upon the cessation of operations by project for twelve (12) or more consecutive months or due to other conditions set forth in the agreement.
(7) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) and located in a county that is a member of a regional economic development alliance created under Section 57-64-1 et seq., the members of the regional economic development alliance may divide the sum allowed as a fee-in-lieu in a manner as determined by the alliance agreement, and the boards of supervisors of the member counties may then apportion the sum allowed between school district purposes and all other county purposes.
(8) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi), the board of supervisors of the county in which the project is located may negotiate with the school district in which the project is located and apportion to the school district an amount of the fee-in-lieu that is agreed upon in the negotiations different than the amount provided for in subsection (3) of this section.
(9) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii), the annual amount of the fee-in-lieu apportioned to the county shall not be less than the amount necessary to pay the debt service on bonds issued by the county pursuant to Section 57-75-37(3)(c).
(10) Any fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes granted under this section before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
[From and after July 1, 2025, this section shall read as follows:]
27-31-104. (1) (a) County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities are each hereby authorized and empowered to enter into an agreement with an enterprise granting, and pursuant to such agreement grant a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes, including ad valorem taxes levied for school purposes, for the following:
(i) Projects totaling over Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) by any new enterprises enumerated in Section 27-31-101, including enterprises annexed by a municipality as provided in Section 27-31-101(4);
(ii) Projects by a private company (as such term is defined in Section 57-61-5, Mississippi Code of 1972) having a minimum capital investment of Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00);
(iii) Projects, in addition to those projects referenced in Section 27-31-105, totaling over Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) by an existing enterprise that has been doing business in the county or municipality for twenty-four (24) months. For purposes of this subparagraph (iii), the term "existing enterprise" includes those enterprises enumerated in Section 27-31-101; or
(iv) A private company (as such term is defined in Section 57-61-5) or entity defined in Section 77-3-3(d)(i) having a minimum capital investment of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) from any source or combination of sources, provided that a majority of the capital investment is from private sources, when such project is located within a geographic area for which a Presidential Disaster Declaration was issued on or after January 1, 2014.
County boards of supervisors and municipal authorities may not enter into an agreement with an enterprise that is a medical cannabis establishment, as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, granting, and pursuant to such agreement grant a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes.
(b) A fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes granted in accordance with this section may include any or all tangible property, real or personal, including any leasehold interests therein but excluding automobiles and trucks operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of any enterprise, private company or business described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), as applicable, whether or not such property is owned, leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise obtained by such enterprise, private company or business, as applicable, irrespective of the taxpayer to which any such leased property is assessed for ad valorem tax purposes. If a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes is granted pursuant to this section with respect to any leasehold interest under a lease, sublease or license of tangible property used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise, private company or business described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), as applicable, the corresponding ownership interest of the owner, lessor and sublessor of such tangible property shall similarly and automatically be exempt and subject to the fee-in-lieu granted in accordance herewith without any action being required to be taken by such owner, lessor or sublessor.
(2) A county board of supervisors may enter into a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the county and any county school district, and a municipality may enter into such a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the municipality and any municipal school district located in the municipality; however, if the project is located outside the limits of a municipality but within the boundaries of the municipal school district, then the county board of supervisors may enter into such a fee-in-lieu agreement on behalf of the school district granting a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes for school district purposes.
(3) Any grant of a fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes shall be evidenced by a written agreement negotiated by the enterprise and the county board of supervisors and/or municipal authority, as the case may be, and given final approval by the Mississippi Development Authority as satisfying the requirements of this section.
(4) The minimum sum allowable as a fee-in-lieu shall not be less than one-third (1/3), or one-tenth (1/10) if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026, of the ad valorem levy, including ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, and except as otherwise provided, the sum allowed shall be apportioned between the county or municipality, as appropriate, and the school districts in such amounts as may be determined by the county board of supervisors or municipal governing authority, as the case may be, however, except as otherwise provided in this section, from the sum allowed the apportionment to school districts shall not be less than the school districts' pro rata share based upon the proportion that the millage imposed for the school districts by the appropriate levying authority bears to the millage imposed by such levying authority for all other county or municipal purposes. Any fee-in-lieu agreement entered into under this section shall become a binding obligation of the parties to the agreement, be effective upon its execution by the parties and approval by the Mississippi Development Authority and, except as otherwise provided in Section 17-25-23 or Section 57-75-33, or any other provision of law, continue in effect for a period not to exceed thirty (30) years commencing on the date that the fee-in-lieu granted thereunder begins in accordance with the agreement; however, no particular parcel of land, real property improvement or item of personal property shall be subject to a fee-in-lieu for a duration of more than ten (10) years. Any such agreement shall be binding, according to its terms, on future boards of supervisors of the county and/or governing authorities of a municipality, as the case may be, for the duration of the agreement.
(5) The fee-in-lieu may be a stated fraction or percentage of the ad valorem taxes otherwise payable or a stated dollar amount. If the fee is a fraction or percentage of the ad valorem tax levy, it shall be annually computed on all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable, including school taxes, as the same may vary from year to year based upon changes in the millage rate or assessed value and shall not be less than one-third (1/3) of that amount or one-tenth (1/10) of that amount if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026. If the fee is a stated dollar amount, said amount shall be the higher of the sum provided for fixed payment or (a) one-third (1/3) of the total of all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable as annually determined during each year of the fee-in-lieu or (b) if the project is also a project eligible for an ad valorem tax exemption under Section 27-31-46 and a fee-in-lieu agreement is entered into before July 1, 2026, one-tenth (1/10) of the total of all ad valorem taxes otherwise payable as annually determined during each year of the fee-in-lieu.
(6) Notwithstanding Section 27-31-111, the parties to a fee-in-lieu may agree on terms and conditions providing for the reduction, suspension, termination or reinstatement of a fee-in-lieu agreement or any fee-in-lieu period granted thereunder upon the cessation of operations by project for twelve (12) or more consecutive months or due to other conditions set forth in the agreement.
(7) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) and located in a county that is a member of a regional economic development alliance created under Section 57-64-1 et seq., the members of the regional economic development alliance may divide the sum allowed as a fee-in-lieu in a manner as determined by the alliance agreement, and the boards of supervisors of the member counties may then apportion the sum allowed between school district purposes and all other county purposes.
(8) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi), the board of supervisors of the county in which the project is located may negotiate with the school district in which the project is located and apportion to the school district an amount of the fee-in-lieu that is agreed upon in the negotiations different than the amount provided for in subsection (3) of this section.
(9) For a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxviii), the annual amount of the fee-in-lieu apportioned to the county shall not be less than the amount necessary to pay the annual debt service on bonds issued by the county pursuant to Section 57-75-37(3)(c).
(10) Any fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes granted under this section before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
SECTION 4. Section 27-31-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-31-105. (1) Any person, firm or corporation who owns or operates a manufacturing or other enterprise of public utility as enumerated in Section 27-31-101 and who makes additions to or expansions of the facilities or properties or replaces equipment used in connection with or necessary to the operation of such enterprise may be granted an exemption from ad valorem taxation, except state ad valorem taxation, ad valorem taxes for school district purposes, and ad valorem taxes on the products thereof or on automobiles and trucks belonging thereto and operating on and over the highways of the State of Mississippi, upon each addition to or expansion of the facility or property or replacement of equipment, used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in Section 27-31-101, whether or not such property is owned, leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise obtained by such enterprise, irrespective of the taxpayer to which any such leased property is assessed for ad valorem tax purposes, within the discretion of the county board of supervisors and municipal authorities; however, such governing authorities shall not exempt ad valorem taxes for school district purposes on such additions or expansions of the facility or property, or replacement of equipment. If an exemption is granted pursuant to this subsection (1) with respect to any leasehold interest under a lease, sublease or license of tangible property used in connection with, or necessary to, the operation of an enterprise enumerated in Section 27-31-101, the corresponding ownership interest of the owner, lessor and sublessor of such tangible property shall similarly and automatically be exempt without any action being required to be taken by such owner, lessor or sublessor. In order to obtain the exemptions authorized by this section, a person, firm or corporation shall follow the same procedure prescribed for obtaining an exemption on a new enterprise, except as otherwise provided in this section. For any additions, expansions or replacements with reference to any particular new enterprise, including an enterprise annexed by a municipality as provided in Section 27-31-101(4), which have been completed during any calendar year, only one (1) request must be made for the exemptions sought for the additions, expansions or replacements. The time of the exemption shall commence from the date of completion of the additions, expansions or replacements, and shall extend for a period not to exceed ten (10) years thereafter; however, boards of supervisors and municipal authorities, in lieu of granting the exemption for one (1) period of ten (10) years, may grant the exemption in consecutive periods of five (5) years each, but the total of such consecutive periods shall not exceed ten (10) years. The initial request for an exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the additions, expansions or replacements are completed. If the initial request for the exemption is not timely made, the board of supervisors or municipal authorities may grant a subsequent request for the exemption and, in such case, the exemption shall begin on the anniversary date of completion of the additions, expansions or replacements in the year in which the request is made and may be for a period of time extending not more than ten (10) years from the date of completion of the additions, expansions or replacements. Any subsequent request for the exemption must be made in writing by June 1 of the year in which it is granted. Any exemption from ad valorem taxes granted under this subsection (1) before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
(2) For expansions of facilities or properties, or replacement of equipment, county boards of supervisors and municipal authorities may grant a fee in lieu of taxes in the same manner, to the same extent, and with the same qualifying threshold as provided for projects under Section 27-31-104, Mississippi Code of 1972. Any fee-in-lieu of taxes granted under this subsection (2) before March 28, 2019, and consistent herewith, is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed.
SECTION 5. Section 27-31-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-31-107. Any person, firm or corporation claiming exemptions from municipal or county ad valorem taxation as provided in Sections 27-31-101 through 27-31-117 shall first file an application with the governing authorities of the municipality or the county board of supervisors, as the case may be, on or before June 1 of the year following the year of completion or annexation of the new enterprise, or completion of the expansion or addition; however, no such application shall be required for, nor shall this section otherwise apply to, any fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxation, granted pursuant to Section 27-31-104 or 27-31-105(2). Each copy shall be subscribed and sworn to by the individual making the application or, if a firm or corporation, by an officer or person duly authorized to do so. In the application, full information shall be given as to the property proposed to be exempted, the kind of articles to be manufactured, and the date from which exemption is claimed. Each application shall also show an itemized listing of the true value of all such property sought to be exempted. The governing authorities of the municipality or county board of supervisors may, by resolution spread on its minutes, approve such application for all or any part of the property sought to be exempted and for all or any part of the authorized period of exemption. The resolution of approval shall also have an itemized listing of the true value of all property to be exempted. The application, together with the resolution of approval, shall be forwarded to the Department of Revenue within thirty (30) days from the date of the resolution. The department shall proceed to investigate the matter and determine whether the property is eligible for the exemption. After investigation of the eligibility of the property, the department shall certify its determination to the governing authorities of the municipality or the county board of supervisors. If such property sought to be exempted is not eligible for such exemption, as above set forth, the Department of Revenue shall so certify. If the Department of Revenue certifies that the applicant is eligible for an exemption, it shall be discretionary with the board of supervisors or municipal authorities as to whether they grant the exemption, but in no event shall an exemption be granted if the Department of Revenue certifies that the applicant is not eligible for an exemption. The original copy of the application for exemption shall be returned to the governing authorities of the municipality or the county board of supervisors, as the case may be.
SECTION 6. Section 27-31-115, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-31-115. All municipalities may grant like exemptions from municipal ad valorem taxation for a period not exceeding ten (10) years to all manufacturers and other new enterprises, including annexed enterprises, mentioned in Section 27-31-101 hereof, and gasworks, waterworks, cooperative electrification associations, excepting railroads and additions or expansions or replacements mentioned in Section 27-31-105 hereof; however, municipal authorities, in lieu of granting the exemption for one (1) period of ten (10) years, may grant the exemption in consecutive periods of less than ten (10) years, but the total of such consecutive periods shall not exceed ten (10) years.
No new exemption from ad valorem taxes levied for school district purposes shall be granted pursuant to this section from and after July 1, 1990.
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.