MS HB1453

Appropriates $900,000,000 from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Department of Finance and Administration for water and sewer infrastructure projects authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act for fiscal year 2024.

Distributes funds to counties, metropolitan cities, and nonentitlement units of local government using an equitable formula, with $600,000,000 specifically directed to metropolitan cities and nonentitlement units with the greatest need.

Requires recipients to expend a specified percentage of their American Rescue Plan Act funds as matching funds for water or sewer infrastructure projects and document these expenditures to the department.

Mandates the Department of Finance and Administration verify that all reimbursements are eligible under federal ARPA guidelines and that recipients have not received duplicate reimbursement from other sources, and requires compliance with federal audit and monitoring requirements.

Makes recipients liable for repayment to Mississippi if federal auditors determine funds were used improperly and the state is required to repay the federal government.