Mississippi House Bill HB381

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/5/22
• Refer: 1/5/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

School boards powers and duties; expand to require boards to exercise all reasonable efforts to ensure 16th section land lessees pay taxes on leased lands.

Impact

The implications of House Bill 381 are significant for local governance and financial management within school districts. By formally requiring school boards to oversee tax compliance of leasees, the bill aims to secure a consistent revenue stream for local educational resources and maintain the integrity of public land. This might help address historical challenges in collecting dues from those leasing educational lands, thus potentially increasing funding available for educational purposes.

Summary

House Bill 381 aims to amend Section 37-7-301 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, expanding the powers and duties of school boards. The bill mandates that local school boards must take reasonable efforts to ensure that lessees of leaseholds on sixteenth section lands, or lands reserved or granted in lieu of such, pay the appropriate taxes on their leasehold interests. This change is intended to enhance accountability among local school boards regarding financial obligations related to public land use.

Contention

While the bill is designed to improve fiscal responsibility, it may have raised concerns among local officials regarding how this requirement could impact their operational flexibility. Critics may argue that such mandates could impose additional burdens on school boards, especially if they are expected to manage and enforce tax collection without sufficient support from state agencies. Moreover, any perceived overreach could lead to pushback from advocacy groups who prioritize local authority and self-management in educational policies.