Pending Legislation
Senate Bill 2477: Rural Health Transformation Fund
Introduced: Senator Hob Bryan (MS-07)
Summary: The bill requires a competitive bidding process for vendors, subcontractors or other entities selected to provide goods, products or services to the state that are funded through the rural health transformation program.
Design-Build Impact: Does not change design-build authority within the state.
Last Action: March 10, 2026: The bill has passed the SENATE and gone into the HOUSE and is within the HOUSE Committee on ACCOUNTABILITY, EFFICIENCY, and TRANSPARENCY and the HOUSE Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES where both have recommended the bill as amended. The bill has passed the HOUSE and has gone back to the SENATE for concurrence.
Status: Passed Both Houses
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 329: Reverse Auction Method of Receiving Bids
Introduced: Representative Christopher Bell (D-065)
Summary: Revise the Reverse Auction Method for Receiving Bids to differentiate between agencies and governing authorities. The bill provides that if an agency determines that a reverse auction is not in the best interest of the agency, then that determination must be approved by the Public Procurement Review Board. If a Governing Authority determines that a reverse auction is not in the best interest of the Governing Authority, then that determination must be approved by the Governing Board of the Governing Authority. Both the agency and the Governing Authority will have to provide written explanations for their actions.
Design-Build Impact: Design-Build projects would presumably also fall under these provisions.
Last Action: March 3, 2026: The bill has died in committee.
Status: Died In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 1442: Airport Operators
Introduced: Representative Steve Massengill (R-013)
Summary: This bill proposes to allow airport authorities, municipalities, or other governmental entities that own or operate airports to contract with companies for financing, designing, constructing, operating, or maintaining airport facilities in the same manner as provided for toll roads or toll bridges. The bill would exempt such facilities contracts from certain competitive bidding requirements, amending existing procurement law to accommodate these new types of contracts.
Design-Build Impact: Airport authorities are already authorized to utilize design-build in accordance with section 31-7-13.1. However, this legislation may pave the way for progressive design-build within the state, given that airports can now use the same contract process as tolls and bridges in the state that the Mississippi Transportation Commission, a body that is progressive design-build authorized, can contract.
Last Action: March 3, 2026: The bill has died in committee.
Status: Died in Committee
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Low