AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-1-77, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE BUREAU OF FLEET MANAGEMENT TO CONDUCT AN ANNUAL UTILIZATION REVIEW OF ALL STATE-OWNED VEHICLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Summary
House Bill 1413 amends Mississippi Code Section 25-1-77 to require the Bureau of Fleet Management to conduct an annual utilization review of all state-owned vehicles. The review must include annual mileage information, vehicle type and purpose, agency utilization rates, a list of underutilized vehicles, and recommendations for disposing of or reallocating vehicles that are not being used enough. Vehicles driven fewer than 13,000 miles per year are presumed underutilized unless the agency submits a written justification explaining why the vehicle should remain in service.
The bill also requires the bureau to adopt reporting rules for agencies, including standardized reporting formats and deadlines, and to deliver the results of the annual review to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and the chairs of the House and Senate Public Property Committees by September 1 each year. The measure builds on existing fleet-management authority by reinforcing oversight of vehicle purchases, use, and disposal, and by tying the new utilization review to the state’s broader efficiency and cost-control framework.
Impact
HB1413 would expand the Bureau of Fleet Management’s oversight duties by adding a formal annual utilization review process for the state fleet. It would affect state agencies that use state-owned vehicles by requiring more detailed mileage and usage reporting, written justifications for low-mileage vehicles, and possible reassignment or disposal of underused vehicles. The bill would not broadly change private rights, but it would strengthen administrative controls over state vehicle acquisition, assignment, and retention under Section 25-1-77.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill, consistent with its stated goals of accountability, efficiency, and transparency. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no evidence of recorded opposition or debate in the materials supplied. The bill appears framed as a management and oversight measure rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the new presumption that vehicles driven fewer than 13,000 miles per year are underutilized, which could lead to reassignment or disposal unless an agency provides a detailed written justification. Agencies with specialized, undercover, or otherwise mission-specific vehicles may view the reporting burden and utilization threshold as too rigid. The bill already preserves exemptions for certain law-enforcement and higher-education vehicles, which suggests those areas are the most likely to require exceptions or careful administration.