Tishomingo County Water District; amend provisions concerning compensation and reimbursement.
Summary
SB 3256 amends Mississippi Code Section 19-5-171, which governs county water district commissioners, to add the Tishomingo County Water District to the list of local entities whose commissioners may be paid up to $84 per day for attending regular or special board meetings. The bill keeps the existing framework for commissioner eligibility, bonding, oaths, expense reimbursement, and the general compensation cap for other districts, but creates a specific compensation exception for Tishomingo County.
The measure is a local and private bill with a narrow administrative purpose: it adjusts compensation rules for one county water district board rather than changing statewide water law or utility regulation. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and would authorize the district’s commissioners to receive the same per-day meeting compensation already provided to several other named Hancock County entities, while continuing reimbursement for necessary expenses under existing law.
Impact
The bill would amend Section 19-5-171 of the Mississippi Code to expand the subsection listing special compensation provisions for certain local districts, adding the Tishomingo County Water District to the entities allowed up to $84 per meeting day. In practical terms, it changes the compensation authority for that district’s commissioners and does not alter the general rule for other water district commissioners, who remain subject to the board-set rate cap and the 24-meeting annual limit. The bill affects the Tishomingo County Water District board, local supervisors, and the state statutory framework governing local water district governance.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was noncontroversial in the Senate, passing unanimously 51-0 on March 19, 2025. No committee transcript is available, and there is no recorded opposition in the provided materials. The overall sentiment appears supportive and routine, consistent with a local compensation adjustment rather than a broader policy dispute.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided record. Because the bill is narrowly focused on commissioner pay for a single local water district, any potential concerns would likely center on whether the compensation increase is warranted or whether similar districts should receive comparable treatment. However, no objections, amendments, or divided votes are shown, and the Senate vote indicates no visible opposition in the chamber.
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