The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Mississippi allocates $10 million to create a rural broadband grant program for small towns
Last action · February 25, 2026: 02/25 (H) Died In CommitteeSponsor: Justin Crosby
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What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 1997 appropriates $10 million from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Development Authority for 2027 to establish a competitive grant program helping small municipalities under 10,000 in population build out broadband services. Eligible towns must lack adequate broadband and provide at least a 10% local match in cash, , or nonstate funds.
Small municipalities lacking adequate internet infrastructure could receive state grant funding to cover construction, engineering, and equipment costs, provided they commit local matching funds.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Mississippi Development Authority
The agency receives a $10,000,000 appropriation and is responsible for administering the grant program, establishing eligibility criteria, and coordinating with federal funding.
Towns and municipalities with populations under 10,000
Eligible local governments can apply for competitive grant funding to implement broadband services, provided they supply a 10% local match.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which municipalities are eligible to apply for the broadband grants?
What are the approved uses for the grant money?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died in committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 25, 2026House02/25 (H) Died In Committee
- Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee02/17 (H) Referred To Appropriations E;Appropriations A
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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