Senate Bill 2573

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "MISSISSIPPI TOURISM REORGANIZATION ACT"; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; TO PRESCRIBE THE GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OF GRANTS TO BE MATCHED BY TOURISM ENTITIES IN THE STATE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM TO SELL ADVERTISING AND OTHER TOURISM PROMOTIONAL INFORMATION AND TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ADVERTISING FUND; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI TOURISM ASSOCIATION MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWERS NECESSARY IN CARRYING OUT THE CREATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REQUIRED BY THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, AS AMENDED BY HOUSE BILL NO. 1, 2025 REGULAR SESSION, TO DIVERT A PORTION OF SALES TAX REVENUE COLLECTED FROM RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ADVERTISING FUND INSTEAD OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TOURISM FUND; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WITH RESPECT TO TOURISM; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-60, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OF GRANTS TO FINANCE, PROMOTE AND ADVERTISE LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS OF THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL BOARD TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-63, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE TRANSFER OF POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE AGENCIES RELATING TO TOURISM TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-64, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO SELL ADVERTISING AND OTHER TOURISM INFORMATION AND CREATES THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TOURISM ADVERTISING FUND; TO REPEAL SECTION 57-1-64.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH CREATES THE MISSISSIPPI TOURISM ASSOCIATION MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST THE MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the Senate

• Mike Thompson

  Sponsor

• House of Representatives floor amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 12

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 20 – Feb 11

1. Jan 20Referred to the Senate committees on Government Structure and on Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
2. Jan 29Reported from GS to AC in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
3. Feb 4Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
4. Feb 11Passed the Senate

In the House of Representatives Feb 12 – Mar 10

1. Feb 12Sent to the House
2. Feb 14Referred to the House committees on Tourism and on Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency
3. Feb 27Reported from TO to AC in the House: title sufficient, do pass
4. Mar 4Reported from AC to TO in the House: title sufficient, do pass
5. Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
6. Mar 10Passed the House

Back in the Senate Mar 11 – Apr 7

1. Mar 11Motion in the House to reconsider entered (Haney and Denton)
2. Mar 12Reconsidered in the House
3. Amended in the House
4. Passed the House as amended
5. Mar 13Returned to the Senate to concur in the House's amendments
6. Mar 19Declined in the Senate to concur, and invited a conference
7. Mar 20Conferees named in the Senate: Johnson, Robinson and Thompson
8. Mar 21Conferees named in the House: Haney, Denton and Ford (54th)
9. Mar 31Conference report filed in the Senate
10. Conference report filed in the House
11. Apr 1Conference report adopted in the House
12. Motion in the House to reconsider entered (Haney and Denton)
13. Conference report adopted in the Senate
14. Motion in the Senate to reconsider entered
15. Apr 2Motion in the House to reconsider tabled
16. Apr 3Motion in the Senate to reconsider tabled
17. Apr 7Enrolled bill signed in the Senate

To the Governor Apr 7 – Apr 24

1. Apr 7Enrolled bill signed in the House
2. Apr 24Vetoed by the Governor