AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL HINSHAW NATURAL GAS PIPELINES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE REGULATION AND JURISDICTION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO RATES, SERVICES AND FACILITIES; TO DEFINE THE TERM "HINSHAW NATURAL GAS PIPELINE"; TO AMEND SECTION 77-3-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ALL HINSHAW NATURAL GAS PIPELINES MUST SEEK AUTHORIZATION FROM THE COMMISSION PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION, EXTENSION, AND OPERATION OF PIPELINE SYSTEMS; TO PROVIDE THAT PIPELINES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SEEK AUTHORITY RELATED TO CERTAIN MINOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES; TO REQUIRE THAT ALL JURISDICTIONAL CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE HINSHAW PIPELINE AND ANY THIRD PARTY BE FILED WITH THE COMMISSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
HB1566 expands Mississippi Public Service Commission oversight to include all Hinshaw natural gas pipelines. The bill defines a Hinshaw natural gas pipeline as a pipeline physically located in Mississippi, engaged in interstate commerce, serving natural gas for consumption in the state, and exempt from the federal Natural Gas Act under Section 1(c). Once covered, these pipelines would be treated as public utilities for purposes of rates, services, and facilities.
The bill also requires Hinshaw pipelines to obtain commission authorization before constructing, acquiring, extending, or operating pipeline systems. The commission’s approval would acknowledge its jurisdiction and deem the authorized activity, associated facilities, rates, and services to be just and reasonable and in the public convenience and necessity, including eminent domain authority. Minor construction and maintenance activities, such as new interconnects and routine maintenance, would not require separate authorization.
HB1566 would amend Sections 77-3-3 and 77-3-11 of the Mississippi Code to bring Hinshaw natural gas pipelines under the state’s public utility regulatory framework. It would give the Public Service Commission explicit jurisdiction over these pipelines’ rates, services, facilities, and related contracts, and require filing of jurisdictional third-party contracts for commission review or automatic approval after 30 days. The bill would also affect how pipeline projects are authorized and could influence the exercise of associated rights, including eminent domain, while preserving existing exemptions for production and gathering activities and certain minor construction work.
The available voting history shows strong support in the House, with the bill passing 120-0 on February 5, 2026. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate in the provided materials. Based on the unanimous vote, the bill appears to have been broadly accepted at least in the House chamber.
The main policy issue is the extent of state regulatory control over Hinshaw natural gas pipelines that are engaged in interstate commerce but exempt from the federal Natural Gas Act. Supporters appear to favor bringing these pipelines under Public Service Commission oversight for rates, service quality, facilities, and contract review. Potential points of contention include the commission’s expanded authority over pipeline authorization and the bill’s linkage of approval to rights such as eminent domain, though the bill narrows this by exempting minor construction and maintenance activities from separate approval requirements.