Bill Text: MS SB2009 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Timber mills; prohibit from discriminating against land owners based solely on future use.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-10 - Referred To Forestry [SB2009 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SB2009-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Forestry
By: Senator(s) McCaughn
Senate Bill 2009
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT TIMBER MILLS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST LANDOWNERS SOLEY ON FUTURE USE OF THE LANDOWNERS' PROPERTY; TO PROHIBIT TIMBER PURCHASES FROM REQUIRING LANDOWNERS TO ABIDE BY CONTRACTS THAT ALLOW THE PURCHASER TO DICTATE THE FUTURE USE OF THE LANDOWNERS' PROPERTY; TO DEFINE RELEVANT TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section, unless context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Timber mill" means a timber, lumber or saw facility where logs are cut into timber, lumber, boards, plywood or any other forestry products.
(b) "Discriminate" means to refrain from purchasing timber, lumber, boards, plywood or any other forestry products unless the seller and/or landowner(s) agree to contractually obligate themselves to terms and conditions that are deemed unenforceable by this section.
(c) "Timber purchaser" means any person or entity that purchases timber, lumber, boards, plywood or any other forestry products from another party.
(2) Timber mills within the state of Mississippi that receive state funding are prohibited from discriminating against landowners based solely on the landowners' future use of their own property. If a timber mill declines to engage in business with a landowner, the landowner should be notified of an articulable reason as to why the mill has declined to engage in business with the landowner. If no articulable reason other than solely the landowner's future use of his or her own property, then the timber mill shall be found in violation of this section. If a timber mill is found guilty of violating this section, they shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to up to a five thousand dollar ($5,000.00) fine.
(4) Timber purchasers are prohibited from issuing or enforcing contracts which require landowners to sign a contract stating that landowners are contractually obligated to replant timber, that landowners are prohibited from putting forestry land into pasture, or any such terms that would allow the purchaser to dictate the future use of landowners' property. Any contract that contains a provision that violates this subsection shall be considered valid, except for the term, provisions or obligations that are determined to be in violation of this section and thus unenforceable.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
