Senate Bill 2628 Summary

• Creates the Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Authority as a corporate nonprofit to manage water and wastewater systems in central Mississippi, assuming control upon termination of the federal receiver currently overseeing Jackson's water systems.

• Establishes a 9-member board appointed by the Mayor of Jackson, Jackson City Council, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor, with members representing clergy, nonprofits, restaurants, businesses, healthcare, and post-secondary institutions; all appointees require Senate confirmation and must be ratepayers in the service area.

• Authorizes the authority to acquire Jackson's water and wastewater assets at fair market value with zero-percent, 40-year loans from the Local Governments and Rural Water Systems Improvement Board and Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality.

• Grants the authority broad powers to construct, operate, and maintain water and wastewater systems; establish rates subject to Mississippi Public Service Commission jurisdiction; issue revenue bonds; and enter into contracts with public agencies and municipalities.

• Takes effect July 1, 2024, and requires board member appointments by September 1, 2024, with the authority assuming operational control upon the federal court's termination of the current receivership.