Stephanie Showalter

The following is a summary of legislation enacted by the Mississippi Legislature during the 2007 session.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 313 (S.B. 2890)                                                      (Approved March 12, 2007)
Designates the Bogue Chitto River from the confluence with Boone Creek in Lincoln County to the Mississippi-Louisiana state line as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 346 (S.B. 3002)                                                      (Approved March 15, 2007)
Creates a special account, known as the “Coastal Preserve System Timber Account,” within the Mississippi Marine Resources Fund to receive funds from the salvage or harvesting of timber or sale of other forest products from lands in or managed as part of the Mississippi coastal preserves system. The account is to be treated as a special trust fund with funds to be expended, subject to the approval of the Legislature, for the management and improvement of the System and the acquisition of additional lands.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 403 (H.B. 1378)                                                     (Approved March 15, 2007)
Designates the Noxubee River in Noxubee County from the Oktibbeha County line to the Mississippi-Alabama line as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 448 (H.B. 702)                                                       (Approved March 26, 2007)
Designates the Tombigbee River flowing through Itawamba County as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 471 (H.B. 827)                                                       (Approved March 27, 2007)
Authorizes the Mississippi Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Parks Commission to promulgate rules and regulations for nonresident recreational and commercial permits and licenses to promote and enter into reciprocal agreements with other states.
                                                                                                                                                                     
2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 477 (H.B. 1076)                                                     (Approved March 27, 2007)
Provides that Mississippi residents on active military duty outside the state do not have to purchase or have in possession a hunting or fishing license while hunting or fishing on leave.

2007 Mississippi Laws Ch. 524 (H.B. 753)                                                         (Approved April 17, 2007)
Requires all members of the Building Codes Council to be residents of the state of Mississippi and provides for the replacement of any council member with unexcused absences for more than three consecutive meetings. Authorizes counties and municipalities that adopt or amend their building codes to adopt the codes promulgated by the Council as minimum codes. Establishes within the Department of Insurance a comprehensive hurricane damage mitigation program consisting of a cost-benefit study on wind hazard mitigation construction measures, wind certification and hurricane mitigation inspections, financial grants to retrofit properties, education and consumer awareness efforts, and an advisory council. Implementation of this program is subject to the availability of funds that may be appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose.