Mississippi Senate Passes Bill To Transfer Control Of Water System

Mississippi Sen. Hillman Frazier, D-Jackson, left, speaks on Feb. 23, 2023, at the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss. For the second year in a row, the Mississippi Senate has passed a bill that wo

For the second consecutive year, the Mississippi Senate has approved a bill that would shift oversight of Jackson's troubled water system to a regional board. The proposal, introduced by Republican Sen. David Parker of Olive Branch, received a 35-14 vote in favor after facing opposition from Jackson officials.

The bill aims to establish the Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Authority, a corporate nonprofit, to manage the water system. The authority would be governed by a nine-member board, with appointments from the mayor, city council, governor, and lieutenant governor.