Jackson Water Authority Bill Faces Uncertain Future Amid Concerns

Proposed legislation to create a new Jackson water authority draws skepticism from key stakeholders.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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A bill proposing to create a new Jackson, Mississippi, water authority has been met with skepticism and an uncertain future. The bill, which aims to regionalize the Jackson water and sewer system and transfer control to an appointed board, has faced criticism from various corners, including the current federal receiver, Ted Henifin, who has raised concerns about the bill's structural issues that could potentially drive the system back to where it was before the crisis.

Why it matters

The future of Jackson's water system is a critical issue, as the city has faced a long-standing infrastructure crisis. The proposed authority is seen as a potential solution, but the concerns raised by Henifin and others suggest that the bill may not adequately address the underlying problems that led to the system's collapse in the first place.

The details

The bill, H.B. 1677, would transfer control of the Jackson water and sewer system to an appointed board, with the City of Jackson having a strong plurality of the board members. However, Henifin has raised several structural issues with the bill, including strict rules governing rate increases and major expenditures, the lack of restrictions on self-dealing and procurement, and concerns about the ability of the state's loan programs to adequately fund the new authority's debt. The bill has also faced opposition from some surrounding cities, such as Byram and Ridgeland, who are concerned about their representation on the board.

  • On Feb. 16, the Jackson City Council tepidly endorsed the legislation at a town hall meeting.
  • On Feb. 23, U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate cleared the way for JXN Water to increase rates for water customers by 12%.
  • On Feb. 23, 2026, Judge Wingate wrote in his approval that the City of Jackson's continued opposition toward a rate increase had descended into the realm of 'fiscal fantasy.'

The players

Ted Henifin

The federal receiver appointed to lead the Jackson water system out of crisis in 2022, who has raised extensive structural concerns about the proposed bill.

John Horhn

The new mayor of Jackson, who has backed the proposal as a way to maintain city control over rates and expenditures at the new utility.

Shanda Yates

The state representative who authored the bill, which proposes creating a new Jackson metro water authority.

Roschelle Gibson

An alderwoman from the City of Byram, who is worried that the necessity of Jackson's approval for their board pick means a lack of uncontested representation.

Danyelle Holmes

An organizer with the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition and the Poor People's Campaign, who is in opposition to the proposed authority and concerned about the burden of future rate increases on residents.

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What they’re saying

“As a whole, without major changes in this bill, it's potentially going to drive the system right back to where it was.”

— Ted Henifin, Federal Receiver for the Jackson Water System (Mississippi Free Press)

“Little did we know, we'd find all these no account holders in Country Club, in Eastover … Country Club had fourteen separate non-accounts. Eastover, I don't even know how many we had. We had some people in Country Club bragging about not having an account. In million dollar houses!”

— Ted Henifin, Federal Receiver for the Jackson Water System (Mississippi Free Press)

“This proposed authority would have power to set water rates and make governing decisions, but residents would not be able to vote most of the members out of office … Water is not a luxury. You can not live without water. Families in Jackson are already stretched thin. People are already choosing between groceries, medicine, rent, and electricity.”

— Danyelle Holmes, Organizer, Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition and Poor People's Campaign (Mississippi Free Press)

“If y'all can't (all) get on board with this, I'm not getting hammered at the well on this bill. I don't have a dog in this fight … until those people come to the table, that bill's dead.”

— Joel Carter, State Senator, R-Gulfport (Mississippi Free Press)

“The goal of the ¾ vote requirement for rate increases and large expenditures was to ensure that any major decision had broad approval of the Board.”

— Shanda Yates, State Representative, I-Jackson (Mississippi Free Press)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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