AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO ASSIST MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CONSTRUCTING A NEW ADDITION TO THE GREER-STAFFORD ALLIED HEALTH/NURSING BUILDING TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR ADVANCED TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION IN NURSING, INCLUDING A NURSING SIMULATION LAB FOR ALL HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Summary
House Bill 1765 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue up to $10 million in general obligation bonds to help Mississippi Delta Community College finance a new addition to the Greer-Stafford Allied Health/Nursing Building. The project is intended to create additional space for advanced nursing instruction and to add a nursing simulation lab for health science students.
The bill establishes a special fund in the State Treasury, the "2026 Mississippi Delta Community College Greer-Stafford Allied Health/Nursing Building Fund," to receive bond proceeds and related investment earnings. Those monies may be used only for the building project and related issuance costs, and any remaining funds after project completion or abandonment must be applied to bond debt service. The bonds would be issued by the State Bond Commission, backed by the full faith and credit of the state, and must be issued no later than July 1, 2030. The act would take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
HB1765 would add a new bond authorization to Mississippi law and create a dedicated treasury fund for Mississippi Delta Community College’s allied health and nursing expansion. It does not amend an existing program so much as create specific authority for the State Bond Commission and Department of Finance and Administration to issue, sell, and administer general obligation bonds for this capital project. The bill also sets the repayment framework, tax exemption, and legal status of the bonds, while limiting the total authorization to $10 million.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be a straightforward capital financing proposal with an educational and workforce-training focus. The stated purpose—expanding nursing and health science training capacity—suggests generally favorable policy intent, especially for a community college and healthcare workforce development. No recorded opposition or divided vote is available in the provided context.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. If concerns were raised, they would likely center on the use of state general obligation debt, the impact on state finances, and whether the $10 million authorization is appropriate for a single campus project. Potential supporters would be Mississippi Delta Community College, healthcare education advocates, and local or regional economic development interests, while fiscal conservatives might scrutinize the bond-backed state obligation.