MS SB2094

Amends Section 65-1-75 of the Mississippi Code to grant municipalities discretionary control over rights-of-way located within their corporate limits, including construction and maintenance of sidewalks, grass mowing, and drainage systems.

Municipalities may exercise control over designated highways and streets (except the interstate system) within their corporate limits regardless of who owns the right-of-way, while the state Transportation Department may still utilize state-purchased rights-of-way without additional cost or permission.

Municipalities remain responsible for street illumination, cleaning streets and storm sewer systems, traffic regulation and enforcement, and police power over streets, but cannot allow encroachments, signs, or billboards on state-owned rights-of-way without commission consent.

State Transportation Commission retains responsibility for installing and maintaining traffic control devices in municipalities with populations of 20,000 or less; municipalities over 20,000 must maintain these devices at their own expense subject to state approval of operations and installation methods.

Effective date: July 1, 2021.