[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6626099,"mediaKeyId","2754615-57a711bd6175438f62c68a84a30740e9","parentId",2754615,"title","House approves Greenwood utilities bill allowing bottled-water sales; members ask about liability and regulatory compliance","audioSeconds",161,"startMs",1941000,"endMs",2102000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2754615-57a711bd6175438f62c68a84a30740e9&start=1941&end=2102","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2754615-57a711bd6175438f62c68a84a30740e9/thumbnail_1941000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626099/Mississippi/House-approves-Greenwood-utilities-bill-allowing-bottled-water-sales-members-ask-about-liability-and-regulatory-compliance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626099-6f8f56a5c4a1e024491e289670d91874/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168633&Signature=IQH6kUCpDdNitcma9n9NkXnyBdbpQIFDS2n91DKhQ9eOrKCxnq1KfpSAzIyWtkDrMAf736gVMcqFiESsSPQIsProtiwbzYui0TrPVqoeltzWIaUf4hfSuf9GxPKl1S28O3dAt5gxfsUtwGaWxg6Q6wXXTsOiUa4lxbbVjMzkmRULq~~Br20kiA1D9xM69H7k2vWTYepjwFvAjuCmRAY6732lIDCN5x9CjX52c25RAuIgFlhofqMUFZLsY70aSXj-qwKpzTkia8a-OOmZd9-Mc2rsjB09hnzpmPFETxK8dpHQ5~UFqln9~jHML0lUWweu0dbF7Gj8L3siuxj1Wrrvxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Legislature","date","2025-03-24T21:59:21.947Z","article","The House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 3267 on final passage, a measure that authorizes the Greenwood utilities commission to bottle and sell water and directs 100 percent of proceeds to secure and replace the city’s water infrastructure.

Why it matters: Allowing a municipal utilities commission to sell bottled water for infrastructure funding raises questions about health and safety regulation, labeling requirements and liability if products fail to meet standards.

On the floor, a member asked whether the bill contained liability provisions to address potential legal exposure if bottled water sold by the municipality were to present quality problems. The floor explanation from the bill’s sponsor or floor explainer — recorded in the transcript but not identified by full name — stated that the bill requires compliance with \"all state and federal health, safety and labeling regulations.\" The explainer also noted the utilities commission would have to meet USDA or other applicable agency requirements if those apply for the intended operations.

Representative Horan (Gentleman from Grenada) raised concerns about the scope of the policy and whether the state was opening a marketplace for municipalities to sell water. The explainer responded that if Greenwood met required federal and state standards and any USDA conditions, the body would be allowed to sell water and reinvest proceeds in infrastructure.

The measure received a recorded vote and passed with 107 yeas and 0 nays. Following the vote, the chamber proceeded with other business on the calendar.

Quote attributed on the record: “They shall comply with all state and federal health safety and labeling regulations,” said the floor explainer of SB 3267, per the transcript.

The record shows members seeking, and receiving, on-the-record assurances about regulatory compliance but not a floor-level amendment adding explicit civil-liability language. The transcript indicates that language requiring compliance with existing health and labeling rules remains the primary safeguard noted on the record.

A next step for local officials will be to confirm which state and federal approvals apply to municipal bottled-water production and to ensure labeling and testing comply with statutes and agency rules before sales begin.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MS House Floor - 24 March, 2025; 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","On final passage the House approved Senate Bill 3267, authorizing the Greenwood utilities commission to bottle and sell water with proceeds dedicated to infrastructure; lawmakers questioned liability provisions and regulatory oversight during floor debate.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Mississippi","taxId",29103,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6626105,"House approves a package of local measures including county conviction assessments and local tax changes",951,1166000,2117000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2754615-57a711bd6175438f62c68a84a30740e9&start=1166&end=2117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2754615-57a711bd6175438f62c68a84a30740e9/thumbnail_1166000.jpg","/articles/6626105/Mississippi/House-approves-a-package-of-local-measures-including-county-conviction-assessments-and-local-tax-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626105-a9a4715670152df23b8c910cc2b34417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168633&Signature=P4hlJ-xia46l-PRmy6lj5-Rq0rZBQ2ohCY-84wi7-9JlrIqkKvYhA2Fp4aOYbhSWMbnObNvh1e49VwvP6vpHNl3gJmm1ff9ztUVD5zM1o~yVwyI5AChBr51xcO0YGoFa~a9RhpGQ2IFeWGMCU-3sQf~I2ZMZ9~dnghbMccIyfRTgI83MXD1FZmJWmSz6IX2VwI3F9QkjxyzRCcDR1EmMh6heH3zWTXiCN-WxX9E0R~im8BG0HmNLpuuoWPgFS30mMOkHeD54t~SYT1TpiLlseOlQKIr7PIlDajn0Y0GLfaUpt24MEPAzqdp9hiLy2xhNO5bif8~Xwvc8SDhs2LIxZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House of Representatives advanced and passed a bundle of local-authority measures and county financing bills during its floor session. Lawmakers approved conviction-assessment levies for several counties, a local restaurant tax with a direct referendum, authorizations for jails and facility financing, and contributions to local economic and community organizations.

Why it matters: Several bills change how counties may raise or use local funds for courthouses, detention facilities and public-safety projects, and some measures carry direct voter referendum provisions or multi-year repeal dates that limit their duration.

Members moved quickly through the calendar, suspending rules to consider multiple bills on third reading and placing them on final passage. Highlights included measures authorizing conviction-assessment fees in Union, Chickasaw and Lee counties intended to support courthouses, detention facilities and law enforcement centers; a new $25 conviction assessment for Lee County; a 3 percent restaurant tax for the city of Verona subject to a direct referendum and a four-year repealer; authority for Panola County to acquire or build a jail outside city limits; an extension of allowable financing from 25 years to 30 years for a public-safety facility in Lee County; and a capped contribution of up to $10 million from Tunica County to its economic-development foundation.

Several bills were taken up in block, including a set of re-pealer extensions that push repeal dates out by four years. The chamber also approved a $100,000 contribution from Coloma County to a local ministry and corrected a legal description for the Singing River Mall to permit a planned disposition.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the calendar):
- House Bill 1954 (Union County conviction assessment): final passage, recorded 17 yeas, 0 nays.
- House Bill 1961 (city of Verona, 3 percent restaurant tax; direct referendum; 4-year repealer): final passage, recorded 114 yeas, 1 nay.
- House Bill 1962 (Chickasaw County conviction assessment): final passage, recorded 114 yeas, 1 nay.
- House Bill 1963 (Panola County authorization to acquire/build jail outside city limits): final passage, recorded 116 yeas, 0 nays.
- House Bill 1965 (Lee County conviction assessment; new $25 assessment): final passage, recorded 113 yeas, 1 nay; members confirmed the assessment amount as $25 on the floor.
- House Bill 1986 (Lee County financing period extended from 25 to 30 years for a public-safety facility): final passage, recorded 119 yeas, 0 nays.
- House Bill 1988 (Coloma County contribution of $100,000 to county ministries): final passage, recorded 112 yeas, 0 nays.
- House Bill 1995 (Tunica County contribution to Tunica County Economic Development Foundation, cap $10,000,000): final passage, recorded 117 yeas, 0 nays.
- A block of Senate bills extending repealer dates (items 9–15): final passage, recorded approximately 108 yeas, 1 nay (record in transcript noted as 108 yeas, 1 nay).
- Senate Bill 3202 (Washington County tourism tax; committee “strike-all” amendment adopted to distribute proceeds among towns): final passage, recorded 110 yeas, 1 nay.
- Senate Bill 3263 (legal description correction for Singing River Mall): final passage, recorded 119 yeas, 0 nays.
- Senate Bill 3264 (Olive Branch repealer moved to expire in 2029): final passage, recorded 111 yeas, 1 nay.

Most bills were explained briefly on the floor with limited debate and were passed by roll-call or voice votes. In a few cases, members sought clarification about details such as geographic location, assessment amounts and compliance requirements; those clarifications were provided on the record.

The House concluded its calendar business and approved immediate release for items one through eight. The chamber adjourned to meet at 10 a.m. the following day.

Supporting details from the floor record include bill descriptions, vote tallies, and brief clarifying exchanges recorded in the transcript.","The House of Representatives advanced and passed a series of bills authorizing local conviction assessments, a restaurant tax, jail-authority changes and contributions to local development groups; most measures passed on voice or roll-call votes listed below.","actionData","errors"]

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House approves Greenwood utilities bill allowing bottled-water sales; members ask about liability and regulatory compliance

House approves a package of local measures including county conviction assessments and local tax changes