Governor Reeves signs bill to allow non-violent inmates to work in the community
Signed into law today in Mississippi is an expansion of a program allowing non-violent inmates to take on jobs during the final year…
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Mississippi lawmakers pass largest-ever state income tax cut
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the nation with perpetually underfunded schools and struggling rural hospitals, had its largest-ever tax cut passed by lawmakers Sunday. The Republican-controlled state House and Senate…
Mississippi teacher pay raise bill headed to governor
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A bill headed to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves would give the state’s public school teachers their largest pay raise in years. The House voted 118-4 Tuesday to pass the final version of House…
Mississippi Senate passes $230M teacher, teacher assistant pay raise plan
The Mississippi Senate unanimously advanced a $230 million teacher pay raise plan today, according to a press release from Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann. This is the third time senators have sent legislation proposing a significant raise for teachers to the…
Mississippi Senate advances 1 tax cut plan, another awaits
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Mississippi Senate voted 40-11 Wednesday to pass a bill that would cut hundreds of millions of dollars in state revenue by phasing out part of the income tax and reducing…
Mississippi proposal to expand hate-crimes law fizzles
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi House committee has ignored — and killed — a bill to expand the state hate crimes law. House Bill 1467 would have created enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by a victim’s disability, sexual orientation or…
Mississippi bill sets religious exemption on COVID vaccine
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi government entities could not withhold services or refuse jobs to people who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19 under a bill that passed the Republican-controlled state House on Thursday. That…
Lawmakers working to complete medical marijuana bill draft
By LEAH WILLINGHAM JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Lawmakers working on a proposal to bring a medical marijuana program to Mississippi plan to have a draft of the legislation ready later this summer, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday. “I think…
Conservation Trust Fund bill heads to Legislature for consideration
Legislation creating an outdoor conservation trust fund has cleared committee work in the Mississippi Senate, and now heads to the body for consideration. House Bill 1231 creates a 12-member Board of Trustees (with seven voting) appointed by the Governor and…
Senate discusses 908 billion-dollar COVID aid proposal
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is optimistic about the prospects for a mid-sized COVID-19 relief bill and a separate $1.4 trillion government-wide spending bill. After months of a partisan impasse, Pelosi says Democrats are ‘excited’ about a $908…
Local family becomes face of Mississippi bill banning abortion based on race, sex, or genetic anomaly
Mississippi legislators are advancing a bill to ban abortion based on the race, sex, or genetic anomalies of a fetus. The Republican-led Senate passed the bill Wednesday. The House is expected to send the bill soon to Republican Governor Tate…
Mississippi bill could ban abortion based on race and sex
Mississippi legislators are advancing a bill to ban abortion based on the race, sex, or genetic anomalies of a fetus. The Republican-led Senate passed the bill Wednesday. The House is expected to send the bill soon to Republican Governor Tate…
Fetal heartbeat abortion bill moves forward
One of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills is headed to Governor Phil Bryant’s desk for approval. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves thanked legislators today for helping to strengthen Mississippi’s abortion laws. The State Senate sent legislation to Gov. Bryant that…
TEACHER PAY RAISE PASSES SENATE
The State Senate is staying true to their word in making education a priority. A pay increase was passed for teachers, teacher assistants, librarians, and counselors. More than 35- thousand educators would be paid $1000 more yearly if the bill…
Gov. Bryant Vetoes Bill
Governor Phil Bryant vetoed a criminal justice bill because of a typographical error that he says could have unintended consequences. House bill 1033 would have allowed employed parolees to schedule online interviews with probation officers instead of missing work. It…
Equal Pay Bills Die In Legislature
Bills that would have required employers to pay women equal pay for the same jobs as their male counterparts have died again. Members of the democratic caucus tried to maneuver the bill out of committee by suspending house rules. That…
Gang Bill Dies In Committee
Prosecutors across the state today are disappointed after a bill aimed to help combat gang violence dies in committee. The senate bill backed by Governor Bryant would have better defined what a gang is, created a separate crime for gang…
Senate BP Oil Spill Settlement Bill
Coast lawmakers authored a number of bills in an attempt to keep BP Oil Spill Settlement Money on the coast. Only one survived the first bill killing deadline of the legislative session. The bill authored by Pascagoula Senator Brice Wiggins,…
First "Bill-Killing Deadline" Tuesday
If lawmakers are going to pass that bill along with others, they'll have to work quickly as the first real "Killing Deadline" of the legislative session quickly approaches. Tomorrow January 31 is the deadline for committees to pass out general…
"Merry Christmas" Bill Pre-Filed
A Mississippi lawmaker pre-files a "Merry Christmas" bill for the 2017 legislative session. Democratic representative "Tom Miles" made the announcement on Facebook saying Mississippians should not have to be afraid of celebrating the Christian holiday. If passed, the "Merry Christmas"…
"Blue Lives Matter" Bill Mississippi
As police ambushes have become more frequent across the country in the last year, state lawmakers want to ensure our men and women in uniform are better protected. A "Blue Lives Matter" bill will be introduced when the 2017 session…
Bill Could Loosen Open Container Laws
Taking your margarita to go from your favorite downtown hot spot? Well that will soon be a reality. State legislators passed a law loosen open container laws in downtown areas across Mississippi. HB 1223 could allow designated areas all across…
Guns in Mississippi Churches Bill Signed into Law Today
Governor Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill that allows some members of churches to undergo firearms training so they can provide armed security for their congregations. The Church Protection Act specifies that those designated can carry guns into…
Abortion Bill Headed To Governor
Bill on the governor's desk would ban a commonly used dismemberment abortion. The measure would outlaw a procedure called dilation and evacuation unless an abortion is required to prevent a mother's irreversible physical impairment. It would prohibit abortions extracting a…