Bill Text: MS HB265 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Golf carts and low-speed vehicles; authorize counties to permit operation on certain county roads.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-10 - Referred To County Affairs [HB265 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-HB265-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: County Affairs
By: Representative Zuber
House Bill 265
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-32-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ANY COUNTY TO ALLOW THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS AND LOW-SPEED VEHICLES ON CERTAIN PUBLIC ROADS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE COUNTY; TO AMEND SECTION 63-32-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS OPERATING A GOLF CART OR LOW-SPEED VEHICLE IN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF A COUNTY ON CERTAIN PUBLIC ROADS TO HAVE A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE OR TEMPORARY DRIVER'S PERMIT AND PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TO REQUIRE CERTAIN REGISTRATION OF SUCH GOLF CARTS AND LOW-SPEED VEHICLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-32-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-32-3. (1) The governing authorities of a municipality or the board of supervisors of a county may, in their discretion, authorize the operation of golf carts and low-speed vehicles only on public roads and streets as designated by ordinance, within the corporate limits of the municipality or the county, as the case may be.
(2) Golf carts and low-speed vehicles may be operated on public roads and streets upon which bicycles are authorized by law to be operated. Golf carts and low-speed vehicles may not be operated on state highways or federal highways that are not interstate highways except for the crossing of these streets or roads, as the case may be, in which case the shortest traveling distance to do so shall be required. Drivers are required to operate golf carts and low-speed vehicles only in the outside lane of multilane streets and roads, where applicable.
(3) Any person operating a golf cart or low-speed vehicle on the public roads and streets under this chapter must have in his or her possession a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit and proof of financial responsibility as required under Section 63-15-1 et seq.
SECTION 2. Section 63-32-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-32-5. (1) Every golf cart and low-speed vehicle to be operated, as authorized under this chapter, on a public road or street shall be required to be registered with the city or the county, as the case may be. Upon payment of a reasonable fee that may be charged by the city or the county to cover the costs of administration, presentation of proof of financial responsibility and presentation of a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit, the owner of the golf cart or low-speed vehicle shall be issued a registration decal by the county or municipal tax collector that must be displayed on the left rear fender of the vehicle. The registration shall remain valid for as long as the registering owner owns the golf cart or low-speed vehicle. The city or the county, as the case may be, shall provide the registrant with a map of the areas where golf carts or low-speed vehicles may be operated at the time of registration. The operator shall be required to have proof of financial responsibility and a valid driver's license in his or her possession at all times while operating the golf cart or low-speed vehicle on public roads and streets of the state.
(2) The registration fee imposed under subsection (1) of this section shall be retained by the municipal clerk and deposited into the municipal general fund or shall be retained by the county clerk and deposited into the county general fund, as the case may be.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
