Bill Text: MS HB1275 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Public lands; prohibit nonresident aliens and illegal non-U.S. citizens from acquiring.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-03-05 - Died In Committee [HB1275 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2013-HB1275-Engrossed.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2013 Regular Session

To: Public Property

By: Representatives Weathersby, Dixon

House Bill 1275

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 29-1-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT NONRESIDENT ALIENS AND NONCITIZENS ILLEGALLY IN THE UNITED STATES FROM ACQUIRING PUBLIC LANDS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 29-1-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     29-1-75.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, neither a * * *corporation nor a nonresident alien noncitizen of the United States who, without legal permission or authority, has entered the United States or is residing in the United States, nor any association of persons composed, in whole or in part, of * * *nonresident aliens such noncitizens, shall directly or indirectly purchase or become the owner of any of the public lands; and every patent issued in contravention hereof shall be void.  A banking corporation owning such tax-forfeited lands or holding a mortgage or deed of trust thereon at the time of the sale to the state, and whose mortgage or deed of trust is still in force and effect, may purchase such lands, regardless of acreage, owned by it as aforesaid or on which it held a mortgage or deed of trust.  In event of a purchase by such banking corporation as a mortgagee, such lands shall be held for the benefit of the mortgagor subject to all the terms and conditions of the mortgage or deed of trust held by the purchasing banking corporation and, upon payment of the debt secured by such mortgage or deed of trust, together with interest and incidents, such banking corporation shall in that event reconvey such lands to the original mortgagor, his heirs or assigns.

 * * *Nonresident aliens may acquire and hold not to exceed three hundred twenty (320) acres of public lands in this state for the purpose of industrial development thereon.  In addition, any nonresident alien may acquire and hold not to exceed five (5) acres of public lands for residential purposes.  If any land acquired by a nonresident alien for the purpose of industrial development ceases to be used for industrial development, it shall escheat to the public body that sold such land to the nonresident alien.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.

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