Tax-forfeited land certified to state; authorize Secretary of State to withhold 10% for the cost of tree removal.
Summary
SB 2567 revises Mississippi law governing tax-forfeited property that has been certified to the state and administered by the Secretary of State. The bill authorizes local clerks to notify the Secretary of State when a tree on tax-forfeited property poses an immediate danger to life or property on adjoining parcels, allows the clerk to remove the tree and seek reimbursement, and permits the Secretary of State to withhold up to 10% of proceeds from sales of tax-forfeited properties to cover tree-removal costs. It also directs reimbursement for cleanup and maintenance costs on tax-forfeited parcels in counties or municipalities with the most such parcels when those parcels may threaten public health or safety.
The bill further amends funding provisions to protect the Land Records Maintenance Fund from transfer into the State General Fund. It exempts that fund from certain special-fund transfer requirements and clarifies that money in the fund may be used for maintenance, cleanup, and tree removal on tax-forfeited land, rather than being swept into general state revenues. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 2567 would amend Sections 29-1-145, 27-104-205, and 29-1-95 of the Mississippi Code to expand the Secretary of State’s authority over tax-forfeited lands and related maintenance funding. It creates a specific reimbursement mechanism for hazardous tree removal, allows limited withholding from property-sale proceeds for that purpose, and shields the Land Records Maintenance Fund from statutory fund-transfer provisions that otherwise move certain balances to the General Fund. Counties, municipalities, chancery clerks, and the Secretary of State’s office would be the primary affected parties, especially in areas with significant inventories of tax-forfeited parcels.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally practical and administrative in tone, aimed at addressing local maintenance and safety problems tied to abandoned or tax-forfeited properties. The caption and structure suggest a targeted response to a recognized local government burden rather than a broad policy dispute. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence in the available materials of formal opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction.
Contention
The main policy issue is how to pay for cleanup and tree removal on tax-forfeited land and whether those costs should come from sale proceeds dedicated to the Land Records Maintenance Fund rather than the General Fund. Another possible point of concern is the bill’s authorization for the Secretary of State to withhold up to 10% of sale proceeds, which could reduce amounts otherwise available for other statutory distributions. Local governments that manage unsafe parcels may support the measure, while fiscal stakeholders focused on fund transfers or revenue retention could scrutinize the exemption from special-fund sweep requirements.