Jackson — Gov. Phil Bryant has signed the bill that will allow Natchez Regional Medical Center to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

According to the state legislature’s website, the bill was signed at approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday

Because NRMC is county-owned, declaring bankruptcy requires legislative approval.

The bill, as passed, reads, “The Board of Trustees of Natchez Regional Medical Center, a public community hospital located in Adams County,  Mississippi, and created by the Board of Supervisors of Adams  County … is authorized, in its discretion, to petition for relief from debts and financial  obligations of the hospital under Chapter 9 of Title 11, United 13 States Code, and to take any actions that the hospital board of  trustees determines may be necessary for such purpose.”

The bankruptcy will be filed in federal court.

The hospital’s attorney, Walter Brown, has previously said he hopes NRMC will be in a position to file by March 17.