Mississippi lawmakers have approved a bill to establish a separate water and sewer authority for Jackson. The measure is now headed to Gov. Tate Reeves for his signature, according to legislative officials.
The legislation, House Bill 1677, underwent revisions over the past week after discussions between the House and Senate. The bill’s main focus is on the composition of the authority’s board, which has been a contentious issue in previous sessions.
The finalized plan allocates three at-large appointments from the Jackson mayor, two from the governor, one from the lieutenant governor, one each from the mayors of Ridgeland and Byram, and a ninth member to be jointly selected by the governor and Jackson’s mayor. Jackson Mayor John Horhn would serve as a nonvoting member on the board. Appointments from city mayors require approval from their respective city councils or boards of aldermen, except for the one with the governor’s involvement, sources said.
Rep. Shanda Yates, an independent from Jackson who sponsored the bill, said if the governor and Jackson mayor could not agree on the ninth member, the board would have eight members instead. Horhn has advocated for majority control of the board to remain with Jackson officials, citing the city’s financial responsibilities for any debt the authority cannot cover. The Jackson mayor did not respond to a request for comment.
Sen. Joel Carter, a Republican from Gulfport who led Senate negotiations, noted two additional provisions. One requires the authority to conduct independent rate studies every two years. If two consecutive studies recommend a rate increase and rates have not been raised in that period, the law mandates the increase. The bill also establishes a process for customers to dispute bills, addressing concerns raised by Jackson residents about the existing utility, JXN Water.
The legislation requires a two-thirds vote for any rate hikes or expenditures exceeding $5 million. It sets a May 1 deadline for appointing the board members. Within 30 days of a majority being appointed, the authority must consult with U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate, overseeing a federal lawsuit on Jackson’s water system, to appoint a president. This individual would serve as a deputy under the current water system manager, Ted Henifin, before Henifin’s planned departure in 2027. The appointed president would then take over daily operations.
JXN Water, the utility overseeing the system, reported progress on federal projects during a recent court hearing. The utility has completed seven of 13 priority projects required under a 2022 federal order and expects to finish two more by the end of the year, with the remaining four due by October 2027, attorney Paul Calamita said.
The House approved the bill by a vote of 78 to 40, with 15 Democratic senators, including four representing Jackson, voting against it. The legislation now awaits Governor Reeves’s decision.
