Senate passes bill to create Mississippi Department of Tourism

The Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2016, creating a standalone Mississippi Department of Tourism and directing the transfer of powers, duties and certain funds from the tourism division of the Mississippi Development Authority, the bill’s sponsor said.

Senator Chasnow, the bill’s sponsor, told the Senate: "Senate bill 20 16 creates the Mississippi Department of Tourism." He said the new department would be responsible for promoting and supporting tourism throughout every region of the state, appoint an executive director, and may establish grant programs matched by tourism entities. "This is my nineteenth year," Chasnow added, arguing the change would give tourism "the authority they deserve" and bring "good publicity" and economic benefit to the state.

The bill sets July 1, 2026, as the effective date for transferring the powers, duties, property, contract rights, staff and obligations of the tourism division to the new department and specifies that existing advertising funds held at the Mississippi Development Authority will remain in that fund through June 30 and be transferred thereafter. The legislation also creates the Mississippi Tourism Association Marketing Advisory Board to assist the department in planning advertising and promotional initiatives.

Senator Chasnow asked that the bill be passed "by use of the morning roll call." The chair invoked the morning roll call; the clerk recorded responses including some 'no' and 'present' notations during the roll, and the chair declared that the ayes have it and the bill passed. The transcript does not provide a complete roll-call tally by name.

The bill centralizes tourism policy and potential grant programs in a single agency and creates an advisory board to guide marketing initiatives. Supporters said the reorganization will provide the industry with clearer leadership and enable matched grant programs; opponents or dissenting votes were recorded in the roll call (noted as 'no' or 'present' in the record) but individual statements of opposition were not recorded in the transcript.

After the vote the Senate handled routine committee announcements, including a Community Colleges and Workforce subcommittee meeting and a Highways and Transportation meeting after adjournment. The Senate recessed until 5 p.m. and the journal will reflect adjournment until 10 a.m. the next day.