Authority of Secretary of State to approve leases on Public Trust Tidelands; clarify.

SB 2397 would require gaming license holders (including casinos) to obtain separate leases from Mississippi's Secretary of State for state-owned coastal lands (public trust tidelands), overriding local government authority. It clarifies that gaming projects on these lands cannot rely on municipal or county approvals and must secure state leases regardless of existing local agreements. This specifically applies to casinos in Mississippi's three southernmost counties and prohibits local governments from leasing tidelands for gaming purposes without state consent. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.