MS HB1072

Chancery clerks or municipal clerks may remove hazardous trees on certified tax forfeited property that pose immediate harm to life or property on adjoining parcels and submit removal costs to the Secretary of State for reimbursement.

The Secretary of State shall reimburse maintenance costs for tax forfeited lands using proceeds from the sales of tax forfeited properties from the preceding fiscal year rather than from the Land Records Maintenance Fund.

The Secretary of State is authorized to withhold up to 10% of proceeds from tax forfeited property sales to pay for tree removal costs.

Any remaining tree removal funds held by the Secretary of State at the end of each fiscal year must be returned to the State General Fund, and the Secretary of State has no obligation to make disbursements if the fund is exhausted.

The act takes effect on July 1, 2023.