MS HB14

Secretary of State gains explicit authority to manage and lease all Public Trust Tidelands in Mississippi, with gaming operators required to obtain tidelands leases directly from the Secretary of State rather than through municipalities or counties

New casino projects approved after December 31, 2025 must meet minimum requirements including 500-car parking, 300-room hotel, 40,000 square foot casino floor, restaurants seating 200 and 75 people respectively, and a unique tourism amenity

Gaming activities in the three southernmost coastal counties must be located within 800 feet of the mean high-water line, with property extending continuously from gaming floor to the waterline under the licensee's exclusive control

Municipalities and counties are prohibited from leasing, subleasing, or providing Public Trust Tidelands access for gaming purposes after December 31, 2025, except for gaming sites already approved before that date

Public Trust Tidelands Fund revenues will first cover Secretary of State administrative and legal costs, then replace lost local ad valorem taxes, with remaining funds going to the Department of Marine Resources for conservation and public access programs