AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PROGRAM" TO ASSIST COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITIES WITH THE COST OF HOUSING-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE STATE; TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FUND" AS A SPECIAL FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE MISSISSIPPI HOME CORPORATION (CORPORATION) SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AND DISBURSE FUND MONIES IN THE FORM OF GRANTS AND LOW-INTEREST LOANS SOLELY FOR PUBLICLY-OWNED OR PUBLICLY-REGULATED INFRASTRUCTURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT; TO ESTABLISH MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNTS PER PROJECT AND TO SET MAXIMUM INTEREST RATES AND TERMS FOR LOW-INTEREST LOANS; TO REQUIRE ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO DEMONSTRATE NONSTATE MATCHING FUNDS EQUAL TO AT LEAST 25% OF TOTAL PROJECT COSTS; TO DIRECT THE CORPORATION TO GIVE PRIORITY TO CERTAIN PROJECTS; TO PROHIBIT A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT IS AWARDED FUNDS MONIES FROM ENFORCING OR IMPLEMENTING ANY LOT AND/OR HOME SIZE RESTRICTIONS FOR PROJECT AREAS; TO REQUIRE THE CORPORATION TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE CHAIRS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE HOUSING COMMITTEES THAT COMPREHENSIVELY DETAILS CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATED TO THE FUND; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF ALL FUNDED PROJECTS; TO DEFINE TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
SB 2758 creates the Mississippi Housing Infrastructure Support Program and a corresponding special fund in the State Treasury to help counties, municipalities, and public utility authorities pay for infrastructure needed to support workforce and affordable housing development. The Mississippi Home Corporation would administer the program, adopt rules, evaluate applications, verify matching funds, and distribute money as grants or low-interest loans. The bill limits eligible spending to publicly owned or publicly regulated infrastructure directly tied to housing development, such as water, wastewater, drainage, access roads, utility extensions, site preparation, and certain mitigation measures.
The bill expressly excludes funding for housing construction, rehabilitation, rental assistance, direct subsidies, operating costs, maintenance, and land acquisition. It also sets program parameters, including a maximum grant of $5 million per project, loans capped at 2% interest for up to 20 years, and a requirement that applicants provide at least 25% in nonstate matching funds. Private developers cannot apply directly, but they may contribute to the required match through documented capital or infrastructure investments. The program is temporary and is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2032, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
If enacted, SB 2758 would add a new Article 13 to Chapter 33, Title 43 of the Mississippi Code and create a dedicated funding mechanism for housing-related infrastructure. It would authorize the Mississippi Home Corporation to award grants and loans from a special fund, subject to legislative appropriation, and would require annual reporting and public disclosure of all funded projects. Local governments receiving funds would also be barred from enforcing or implementing lot-size or home-size restrictions in project areas, which could affect local land-use practices tied to housing development.
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no documented opposition or support to measure directly. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears designed as a pro-housing, pro-infrastructure initiative aimed at expanding workforce and affordable housing capacity, with transparency and reporting requirements built in. The absence of transcripts or vote history means the overall sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s stated policy goals and its referral to housing and accountability-related committees.
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the new state program’s funding structure, the use of grants and subsidized loans, and the requirement that local governments waive lot-size and home-size restrictions in funded project areas. Some stakeholders may question the 25% nonstate match requirement, the exclusion of direct housing construction and subsidies, or the extent of Mississippi Home Corporation’s discretion in awarding funds and setting rules. Private developers are not direct applicants, which may also be a point of interest, even though they can participate through matching contributions.