SB 2293 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Antiquities Law; amend to provide for certain demolition permits.

SB 2293 amends Mississippi's historic preservation law to clarify when demolition permits may be issued for buildings designated as Mississippi Landmarks. It allows permits for abandoned, vacant, or blighted structures (with no current/foreseeable public use) or where restoration costs exceed 50% of the building's replacement value, requiring structural studies from licensed professionals. The bill also mandates that state agencies notify the preservation board before public demolition, construction, or property transfers that could affect historic sites, and requires the state to hire architects/engineers to assess landmark buildings. These changes directly affect public property owners, local governments, and developers working with designated historic structures.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new requirement for the Department of Finance and Administration to retain architects and engineers to assess Mississippi Landmark buildings, while also clarifying demolition permit criteria and appeal processes. The scope expanded from two sections to four, adding protections for private property and new administrative duties. Key changes include adding a 90-day timeline for landmark designation appeals, requiring structural feasibility studies for demolition requests, and expanding the Department of Finance and Administration's responsibilities to include retaining professionals for landmark assessments.

Scope change

The bill now includes Section 4, which adds Section 29-5-2 to the Mississippi Code, expanding the Department of Finance and Administration's duties to include retaining architects, engineers, and other professionals for assessing Mississippi Landmark buildings. This was not present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Department of Finance and Administration to retain architects, engineers, and other professionals to assess buildings designated as Mississippi Landmarks or potentially eligible for such designation.

Added requirement that when demolition is requested for a designated building, the owner may be required to provide a structural feasibility study by a licensed structural engineer and cost estimate by a licensed architect or engineer with historic property experience.

Added requirement that department must issue permit and perform necessary investigations, recording, and/or salvage work before public construction affecting potential landmarks may commence.

Added new Section 4 requiring Department of Finance and Administration to exercise general supervision and care over specific state buildings and to retain professionals for landmark assessments.

TIMELINE

Changed the deadline for board to make landmark designation from 180 days to 90 days after department submits notice.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provision allowing public owners to appeal proposed conditions of approval to the board of trustees if they believe conditions are unreasonable, impractical, or cost prohibitive.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Public Property

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors