AN ACT TO NAME THE ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING AS THE "WILLIE L. SIMMONS BIOTECHNOLOGY BUILDING"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Summary
House Bill 1553 renames the Alcorn State University Biotechnology Building, located at 1000 ASU Drive in Lorman, Mississippi, as the "Willie L. Simmons Biotechnology Building." The measure is a commemorative naming bill that honors Willie L. Simmons for his background, accomplishments, and service to Alcorn State University and to the State of Mississippi.
In addition to the renaming, the bill directs the Department of Finance and Administration, working with Alcorn State University, to place a plaque inside the building and install exterior signage reflecting the new official name. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, and is subject to approval by the Institutions of Higher Learning.
Impact
The bill has a limited but direct effect on state law by authorizing an official name change for a state university facility and assigning implementation duties to the Department of Finance and Administration and Alcorn State University. It does not alter higher education policy, funding formulas, or regulatory requirements, but it does require the state to produce and install commemorative plaque and signage for the building.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong, unanimous support for the bill in the House, where it passed 119-0 on February 5, 2026. No committee transcripts are available, but the absence of recorded opposition and the ceremonial nature of the measure indicate broadly favorable sentiment and little controversy.
Contention
There is no documented substantive opposition in the provided materials. The only procedural point of note is that the naming is subject to approval by the Institutions of Higher Learning, and implementation requires coordination between the Department of Finance and Administration and Alcorn State University. Any discussion would likely center on the appropriateness of honoring Willie L. Simmons and the administrative details of signage and plaque installation rather than on policy disagreement.