| 1 | 1 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Universities and Colleges By: Representative Scoggin House Bill 629 AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI TO ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM LEASE OF ALL OR ANY PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ITS CONTROL AND POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING ACADEMIC BUILDINGS, HOUSING, DINING HALLS, PARKING FACILITIES, AND/OR OTHER SPACES, INCLUDING RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNIVERSITY; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY SUCH PROPERTY SHALL BE LEASED FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 30 YEARS; TO SET CERTAIN OTHER LEASE TERMS AND TO REQUIRE ANY LEASE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF IHL; TO AUTHORIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI TO NEGOTIATE ALL ASPECTS OF ANY LEASE WITH THE APPROVAL OF IHL; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM ANY SUCH LEASE SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO A SPECIAL FUND ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY; TO REQUIRE ANY PROPERTY LEASED UNDER THIS ACT TO REVERT BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY AT THE END OF THE LEASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, acting on behalf of the University of Mississippi, is authorized to enter into a long-term lease of all or any portion of real property under its control and possession for the purpose of developing academic buildings, housing, dining halls, parking facilities, and/or other spaces (including retail developments) for the benefit of the university. The property described in this section shall be leased for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) years, with two (2) additional options for renewal periods not to exceed ten (10) years and one (1) additional option for a renewal period not to exceed five (5) years. The property to be leased being more particularly described as follows: Property Site - Area 1, commonly referred to as Kincannon, being located on the northern housing core of the university's core campus. Property Site - Area 2, commonly referred to as the West Row, being adjacent to the university's core campus. Property Site - Area 3, commonly referred to as the South Parking Lot, being adjacent to the university's core campus. Property Site - Area 4, commonly referred to as the South Campus Recreation Center, being a parcel of land that is noncontiguous to the university's core campus and located south of Mississippi Highway 6. (2) The lease and any amendments to the lease of all or any portion of the real property authorized for lease under subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The approved lease and any amendments to the lease shall not be cancelled by successor boards based on the binding successor doctrine. SECTION 2. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, acting on behalf of the University of Mississippi, is authorized to enter into a long-term sublease of all or any portion of the real property described in Section 1 of this act which is under its control and possession for a period not to exceed a term of forty-five (45) years with two (2) additional options for renewal periods not to exceed ten (10) years and one (1) additional option for a renewal period not to exceed five (5) years. (2) The sublease and any amendments to the sublease of all or any portion of the real property described in Section 1 of this act shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The approved sublease and any amendments to the sublease shall not be cancelled by successor boards based on the binding successor doctrine. SECTION 3. If all or any portion of the property described in Section 1 of this act is leased, the University of Mississippi, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, is authorized to negotiate all aspects of any lease or sublease and any terms and ancillary agreements pertaining to any lease or sublease as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the intent and purposes of this section and to ensure a fair and equitable return to the state. SECTION 4. (1) All proceeds derived or received from the agreements and leases entered into under this Sections 1 and 2 shall be deposited into a special fund and expended only for the use and benefit of the University of Mississippi. (2) At the end of the lease term provided in this act, the property leased under the authority provided herein shall revert to the University of Mississippi. (3) The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights to the real property leased under Section 1 of this act. (4) The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to correct any discrepancies in the property described in Section 1 of this act. SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 Regular Session |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | To: Universities and Colleges |
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| 8 | 8 | | |
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| 9 | 9 | | By: Representative Scoggin |
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| 10 | 10 | | |
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| 11 | 11 | | # House Bill 629 |
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| 12 | 12 | | |
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| 13 | 13 | | AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI TO ENTER INTO A LONG-TERM LEASE OF ALL OR ANY PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER ITS CONTROL AND POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING ACADEMIC BUILDINGS, HOUSING, DINING HALLS, PARKING FACILITIES, AND/OR OTHER SPACES, INCLUDING RETAIL DEVELOPMENTS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE UNIVERSITY; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY SUCH PROPERTY SHALL BE LEASED FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 30 YEARS; TO SET CERTAIN OTHER LEASE TERMS AND TO REQUIRE ANY LEASE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF IHL; TO AUTHORIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI TO NEGOTIATE ALL ASPECTS OF ANY LEASE WITH THE APPROVAL OF IHL; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL PROCEEDS DERIVED FROM ANY SUCH LEASE SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO A SPECIAL FUND ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE UNIVERSITY; TO REQUIRE ANY PROPERTY LEASED UNDER THIS ACT TO REVERT BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY AT THE END OF THE LEASE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: |
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| 16 | 16 | | |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, acting on behalf of the University of Mississippi, is authorized to enter into a long-term lease of all or any portion of real property under its control and possession for the purpose of developing academic buildings, housing, dining halls, parking facilities, and/or other spaces (including retail developments) for the benefit of the university. The property described in this section shall be leased for a period not to exceed forty-five (45) years, with two (2) additional options for renewal periods not to exceed ten (10) years and one (1) additional option for a renewal period not to exceed five (5) years. The property to be leased being more particularly described as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | |
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| 19 | 19 | | Property Site - Area 1, commonly referred to as Kincannon, being located on the northern housing core of the university's core campus. |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | Property Site - Area 2, commonly referred to as the West Row, being adjacent to the university's core campus. |
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| 22 | 22 | | |
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| 23 | 23 | | Property Site - Area 3, commonly referred to as the South Parking Lot, being adjacent to the university's core campus. |
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| 24 | 24 | | |
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| 25 | 25 | | Property Site - Area 4, commonly referred to as the South Campus Recreation Center, being a parcel of land that is noncontiguous to the university's core campus and located south of Mississippi Highway 6. |
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| 26 | 26 | | |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) The lease and any amendments to the lease of all or any portion of the real property authorized for lease under subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The approved lease and any amendments to the lease shall not be cancelled by successor boards based on the binding successor doctrine. |
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| 28 | 28 | | |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 2. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, acting on behalf of the University of Mississippi, is authorized to enter into a long-term sublease of all or any portion of the real property described in Section 1 of this act which is under its control and possession for a period not to exceed a term of forty-five (45) years with two (2) additional options for renewal periods not to exceed ten (10) years and one (1) additional option for a renewal period not to exceed five (5) years. |
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| 30 | 30 | | |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) The sublease and any amendments to the sublease of all or any portion of the real property described in Section 1 of this act shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The approved sublease and any amendments to the sublease shall not be cancelled by successor boards based on the binding successor doctrine. |
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| 32 | 32 | | |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 3. If all or any portion of the property described in Section 1 of this act is leased, the University of Mississippi, with the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, is authorized to negotiate all aspects of any lease or sublease and any terms and ancillary agreements pertaining to any lease or sublease as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate the intent and purposes of this section and to ensure a fair and equitable return to the state. |
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| 34 | 34 | | |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 4. (1) All proceeds derived or received from the agreements and leases entered into under this Sections 1 and 2 shall be deposited into a special fund and expended only for the use and benefit of the University of Mississippi. |
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| 36 | 36 | | |
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| 37 | 37 | | (2) At the end of the lease term provided in this act, the property leased under the authority provided herein shall revert to the University of Mississippi. |
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| 38 | 38 | | |
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| 39 | 39 | | (3) The State of Mississippi shall retain all mineral rights to the real property leased under Section 1 of this act. |
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| 40 | 40 | | |
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| 41 | 41 | | (4) The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to correct any discrepancies in the property described in Section 1 of this act. |
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| 42 | 42 | | |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. |
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