House Bill 4069

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI SEVERE WINTER STORM OF 2026 ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMER RELIEF AND ELECTRIC UTILITY SYSTEM RESTORATION ACT"; TO ESTABLISH A MECHANISM BY WHICH THE MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MAY AUTHORIZE AND CERTIFY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY FINANCING ORDER AND THE STATE MAY ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO PAY THE COSTS OF REPAIRING DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEMS OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES CAUSED BY THE MISSISSIPPI SEVERE WINTER STORM OF 2026; TO AUTHORIZE ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO PETITION THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A FINANCING ORDER WHICH, WHEN TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE BOND COMMISSION BY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY, AUTHORIZES THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS TO PAY THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTORING THE SYSTEM OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY; TO PROVIDE THE CONTENTS OF SUCH A PETITION; TO AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES STAFF TO CONDUCT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE PETITION; TO ESTABLISH THE DUTIES OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WITH REGARD TO SUCH PETITIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTENTS OF FINANCING ORDERS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE FINANCING ORDER SHALL REQUIRE THE ELECTRIC UTILITY TO COLLECT A SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGE FROM ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON ANY BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE FINANCING ORDER; TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGES TO ENSURE THAT THE CHARGES ARE SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON ANY BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THE METHOD FOR APPEALING DECISIONS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO A FINANCING ORDER; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DURATION OF A FINANCING ORDER; TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF STATE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED IN THE FINANCING ORDER TO BE UTILIZED BY AN ELECTRIC UTILITY TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIRS NECESSITATED BY THE MISSISSIPPI SEVERE WINTER STORM OF 2026; TO AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF SINKING FUNDS INTO WHICH SYSTEM RESTORATION CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE ELECTRIC UTILITY SHALL BE DEPOSITED AND TO PROVIDE THAT MONEY IN THE SINKING FUNDS SHALL BE UTILIZED TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON BONDS ISSUED PURSUANT TO A FINANCING ORDER; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 27-65-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH IS A SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SALES TAX LAW, FOR THE PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• John Thomas "Trey" Lamar, III

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 17

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

In the House of Representatives Feb 24 – Feb 25

1. Feb 24Referred to the House committee on Ways and Means
2. Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
3. Feb 25Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 26 – Mar 17

1. Feb 26Sent to the Senate
2. Mar 4Referred to the Senate committee on Finance
3. Mar 16Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 17Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Mar 18 – Mar 28

1. Mar 18Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
2. Mar 19Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 23Conferees named in the House: Lamar, Steverson and Powell
4. Mar 24Conferees named in the Senate: Harkins, Sparks and Whaley
5. Mar 28Died in conference in the House