Northwest Regional Alliance; authorize Tate, Panola, Lafayette and Yalobusha counties to form for economic development purposes.

HB 1897 authorizes Tate, Panola, Lafayette, and Yalobusha counties to form the Northwest Regional Alliance (NWRA) to coordinate economic development projects within these counties. The bill grants county boards of supervisors the authority to levy a special property tax (up to 2 mills annually) and issue general obligation bonds (up to $5 million per county) for projects like land acquisition, road improvements, and infrastructure development. These funds must be used exclusively for the NWRA’s economic development purposes and are exempt from standard property tax increase limits. The bill also references existing regional economic development laws (Mississippi Code §§ 57-64-1-57-64-31) to clarify the NWRA’s role as a supplemental tool for county collaboration.