The bill still needs more approvals, but is closer to reaching the finish line
A bill that outlines the allowable locations for casino construction on the Mississippi Coast and claims authority over local ports was approved on Thursday by a unanimous vote in the Mississippi Senate. Called the Tidelands bill, it still faces challenges before it can cross the finish line.
Senator Scott DeLano explained the bill has an additional 30 days until the final vote. Two new amendments were also introduced to Senate Bill 2780 during the committee’s review before Thursday’s vote.
The first amendment was submitted by David Blount, Chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee, and stipulates that a Tidelands lease must be agreed upon by the secretary of state and the Coast municipalities, according to a report by The Sun Herald.
“There’s been a lot of conversations involving local government on the Gulf Coast to protect their authority to manage ports and harbors down there,” said Blount.
Blount underscored that he and Secretary of State Michael Watson don’t intend to micromanage local harbors. He stressed that while local authorities better manage harbor control decisions and revenues, the amendment strengthens the requirement for a lease agreement with the secretary of state.
The amendment also requires casino developers to secure a tidelands lease agreement with the state instead of the municipality, which happened last December when the Mississippi Gaming Commission approved the RW Development casino project in Biloxi.
The House version of the bill, HB 1659, was approved by a 113-6 vote on February 29 and now returns to the House for consideration with the Senate version. A conference committee comprised of lawmakers from both chambers will work out the differences between each version before going to a final vote.
