JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson (R-Miss.) spoke out against two bills moving through the Mississippi Legislature this session.

According to Gipson, House Bill 1357 and Senate Bill 2631 would restrict or prevent the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum private event funds in the form of sponsorships, advertising and naming rights. The funds will would be in control of the State Legislature effective July 1.

Currently, Gipson said these voluntary private sector dollars fund Fairgrounds and Ag Museum operations, improvements, and repairs. 

“I have already been contacted by the main Dixie National Rodeo and State Fair sponsors, as well as by dozens of other event promoters who are adamantly opposed to these bills. They see this as a money-grab by the Legislature; a true attempt to confiscate their voluntary private sponsorship dollars by the state. The result of this legislation will either be diminished investment in the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and the Agriculture and Forestry Museum, or an increase in taxpayer dollars going toward those facilities instead of private sector dollars. Both outcomes are unnecessary. Past legislatures have created laws and policies for the Fairgrounds and Museum to operate under state control but in the mode of a business to save taxpayer dollars,” Gipson stated.

The commissioner said the passage of the bills would threaten not only the existence of the Dixie National Rodeo and Livestock Shows, but also the Mississippi State Fair and livestock shows and all the sponsored Fair activities and sponsored Ag Museum activities in Jackson.

Both bills are in the Mississippi State Senate.