AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DELTA ADVANTAGE CENTER TO ASSIST IN PAYING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING A C-MODEL MOBILE MARKET TRUCK AND RELATED EQUIPMENT, AND FOOD STAGING AND PREPARATORY PURPOSES, TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD IN RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.
Summary
House Bill 1777 is an appropriations measure that would allocate $300,000 from the Mississippi State General Fund to the Delta Advantage Center for fiscal year 2027. The money is intended to help purchase a C-model mobile market truck, related equipment, and support food staging and preparation activities. The stated purpose of the appropriation is to improve access to fresh food in rural communities.
The bill is a one-time funding authorization rather than a broad policy overhaul. It directs the State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to disburse the funds through the normal warrant and requisition process, and it would take effect on July 1, 2026. If enacted, it would provide direct state support to a specific nonprofit or community organization for a targeted food-access initiative in the Mississippi Delta region.
Impact
HB1777 would appropriate $300,000 from the State General Fund for a specific community food-access project, creating a direct expenditure in the FY 2027 budget. It does not amend existing regulatory statutes or create a new program in law; instead, it authorizes a targeted grant-like appropriation to the Delta Advantage Center for a mobile market truck, equipment, and related operational preparation. The practical effect would be to support distribution of fresh food in rural areas that may have limited access to grocery options.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal debate or opposition is documented. Based on the bill’s purpose and structure, the measure appears to be framed as a local assistance and rural food-access initiative, which typically draws supportive sentiment from lawmakers interested in economic development, public health, and community services. The absence of recorded votes or committee remarks means the overall legislative sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s stated intent.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of concern, if raised during consideration, could include whether a single organization should receive a direct appropriation, whether the expenditure is the best use of general fund dollars, and whether the project’s benefits would be sufficiently broad or measurable. However, the provided record does not show any named opponents, amendments, or disputed issues.