From Your Capitol - Week of March 11, 2019
This was the tenth week of the 2019 Legislative Session. Wednesday of this week was the deadline for the House to discuss general Senate bills. Any Senate bills that did not make it off the calendar died. The deadline to discuss Senate appropriations and other revenue bills will occur Tuesday, March 19. Many Senate general bills were discussed and debated, including the following:
A highly debated bill that had floor action this week was Senate Bill 2116. The bill would prohibit an abortion of an unborn child with a detectable heartbeat. If enacted, the law would be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the United States. The House passed a similar bill earlier this session (HB 732), but the bill died on the Senate calendar. Senate Bill 2116 passed as amended with a vote of 78-37 and has been returned to the Senate.
Senate Bill 2716would amend the state’s Landlord Tenant Act to remove the grace period tenants who are behind on rent had been given before being evicted. Proponents of the bill argued that landlords are losing money and the elimination of the grace period would make the eviction process smoother. Opponents argued that the bill was unfair to lower income tenants who are already struggling to make ends meet and that the grace period offers them a cushion to figure things out. The bill passed 72-40.
Senate Bill 2892would allow community hospitals around the state to begin servicing areas that are outside the State of Mississippi. The bill was amended in the House Public Health and Human Services Committee to give further clarification. SB 2892 passed as amended 78-28 and has been returned to the Senate.
The House approved a number of appropriations bills from the Senate this week. These bills are budgets for various state agencies, including the Veterans Affairs Board, the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, the Board of Veterinary Examiners and the Department of Employment Security. Most of these bills were brought up and voted on in a block to speed the process along. All budgets will go to a conference committee for final budget numbers.
The calendar also included several House bills that were passed earlier in the session, sent to the Senate and are now back before the House. With this process, the representatives will vote on whether to concur with the changes the Senate made, or to invite conference for possible further revisions before becoming law or dying.
Average Yearly Income Data for Mississippi
Citizen: $20,500
State Employee: $38,000
Public School Teacher: $43,000
My Votes for Week of March 11
HB1096 Grandparent visitation; revise requirements to file petition.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
HB1126 Mississippi Home Corporation; extend reverter on authority to issue a certain amount of bonds.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Nay
HB1533 Columbia Training School Property; authorize Marion County Economic Development District to transfer portion to Bd. of Supv. of Marion County for law enforcement training.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
HB1683 City of Bay St. Louis; authorize levying of tax on bars and restaurants to promote tourism, parks and recreation.House Passed My Vote Nay
HB1706 City of Jackson; extend repeal date on Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau and increase tax that supports it.House Passed My Vote Nay
HB1715 City of Canton; authorize to enter into long-term agreements with Madison county Economic Development Authority concerning industrial park.House Passed My Vote Yea
HB1718 City of Waveland; authorize leasing of Waveland Business Center that binds successor governing authorities.House Passed My Vote Yea
HB1721 City of Vicksburg; authorize to enter into lease agreements for water park improvements and to acquire such improved property through rental contracts.House Passed My Vote Yea
HB626 CON: provide for direct appeals to Court of Appeals of Department of Health orders pertaining to.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
HB714 Department of Human Services & Department of Child Protection Services; extend repealers on exemptions from certain state agency regulations.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
HB872 Manufacturers of motor vehicles; create standards for relations with its franchisees.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Nay
HB874 County sheriffs; revise daily amount that may be expended to feed county prisoners.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
SB2185 Town of Carrollton; authorize imposition of tax on restaurants.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2275 Transportation center and certain historic properties; authorize City of Natchez to transfer to United States.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2279 Lowndes County; change annual valuation date of Reserve and Trust Fund from December 31 to August 31.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2853 City of Saltillo; authorize the governing authorities to impose a tax on hotels, motels and restaurants for certain purposes.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2896 Town of North Carrollton; authorize a tax on restaurant to provide funds for various purposes.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2989 City of Diamondhead; authorize city to designate streets upon which golf carts and low-speed vehicles may be operated.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2996 Stone County; authorize contracts to complete East McHenry Road project that may extend beyond the term of board of supervisors.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2196 Mississippi Foster Care Fund; provide an additional assessment on drug/alcohol violations for foster care programs.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2268 Medicaid reimbursement; continue to pay for psychiatric services for patients formerly eligible in acute care setting.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2282 Mississippi Ports Improvements Fund; create.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2305 Human trafficking; revise penalties and definitions.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2328 Forensic Mental Health Act of 2019; create and further revise civil commitment.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB2400 County coroners; may contract with a private pathologist to perform autopsies.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2445 Pay and Trade with Confidence and Electronic Device Tampering Act; create.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2470 Forgery; revise penalty for.House Passed My Vote Other
SB2524 Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Residency Program; include psychiatry students.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2525 Advocate confidentiality law; protect certain information held by rape crisis and domestic violence programs.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2532 Sex offenders; employers must notify parent or guardian of certain minors who come in contact with registered employee.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2625 Mississippi School of the Arts; provide for administration and clarify employee hiring procedures.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2697 Real estate appraisers; revise provisions regarding licensure requirements and national registry fee.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2723 State Veterans Affairs Board; authorize to provide service to state veterans homes.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2744 Caller ID Anti-Spoofing Act; conform to federal law and create private right of action.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2781 Mississippi Fresh Start Act; create to require the revision of licensing restrictions based on criminal records.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2783 Commission on Marine Resources; authorize to re-designate natural/public reefs and establish program for private leases.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2817 Banks; clarify parity provisions by renumbering existing subsection.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2818 Electioneering; prohibit for all persons in any public area within 150 feet of polling place.House Passed As Amended Nay
SB2821 Mississippi Telephone Solicitation Act; revise to include text messages and solicitations for charitable contributions.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2828 GAP (Guard and Protect vulnerable children and adults) Act; revise guardianship and conservatorship laws.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2831 Insurance Data Security Law; create.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2835 Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act; create.House Passed As Amended My Vote Other
SB2869 Appraisal management companies; reduce the number of days by which an independent contract appraiser must be paid for appraisal services.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2876 Public purchasing; extend repeal date on law which regulates contracts for energy efficiency services.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2898 Memorial highways; designate various portions.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2928 Energy High School Academy; authorize Vicksburg-Warren and Claiborne school districts to enter into partnership.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB3005 Appropriation; IHL - General support.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB3006 Appropriation; IHL - Subsidiary programs.House Passed As Amended Nay
SB3007 Appropriation; IHL - Student Financial Aid.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3008 Appropriation; IHL - University of Mississippi Medical Center.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3009 Appropriation; IHL - Alcorn State - Agricultural programs.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3010 Appropriation; IHL - Mississippi State University - Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3011 Appropriation; IHL - Mississippi State University - Cooperative Extension Service.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3012 Appropriation; IHL - Mississippi State University - Forest and Wildlife Research Center.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3013 Appropriation; IHL - Mississippi State University - Veterinary Medicine, College of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3014 Appropriation; Community and Junior Colleges Board - Administrative expenses.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3015 Appropriation; Community and Junior Colleges Board - Support for community and junior colleges.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3016 Appropriation; Corrections, Department of.House Passed As Amended Nay
SB3017 Appropriation; Emergency Management Agency.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3018 Appropriation; Military Department.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB3019 Appropriation; Public Safety, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3020 Appropriation; Veterans Affairs Board.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3021 Appropriation; Judicial Performance Commission.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB3022 Appropriation; Ethics Commission.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3023 Appropriation; Employment Security, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3024 Appropriation; Revenue, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3025 Appropriation; Tax Appeals Board.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3026 Appropriation; Workers' Compensation Commission.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3027 Appropriation; Mental Health, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3028 Appropriation; Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3029 Appropriation; Transportation, Department of - State Aid Road Construction, Office of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3030 Appropriation; Chiropractic Examiners, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3031 Appropriation; Dental Examiners, Board of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3032 Appropriation; Funeral Services Board.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3033 Appropriation; Massage Therapy, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3034 Appropriation; Pharmacy, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3035 Appropriation; Counselors, Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3036 Appropriation; Veterinary Examiners, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3037 Appropriation; Gaming Commission.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3038Appropriation; Architecture, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3039 Appropriation; Geologists, Board of Registered Professional.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3040 Appropriation; Motor Vehicle Commission.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3041 Appropriation; Accountancy, Board of Public.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3042 Appropriation; Contractors, Board of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3043 Appropriation; Agriculture and Commerce, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3044 Appropriation; Egg Marketing Board.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB3045 Appropriation; Animal Health, Board of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3046 Appropriation; Fair and Coliseum Commission.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3047 Appropriation; Fair and Coliseum Commission - Livestock shows.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3048 Appropriation; Banking and Consumer Finance, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3049 Appropriation; Finance and Administration, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3050 Appropriation; Governor's Office and Mansion.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3051 Appropriation; Audit, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3052 Appropriation; Information Technology Services, Department of.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3053 Appropriation; Personnel Board.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3054 Appropriation; Secretary of State.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3055 Appropriation; Treasurer's Office.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3056 Appropriation; Debt Service-Gen. Obli.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3057 Appropriation; Development Authority, Mississippi.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB3062 Appropriation; additional appropriations for various state agencies for FY2019.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
HB1477 Cemeteries; authorize counties and municipalities to expend funds to maintain abandoned nonprofit cemeteries.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Nay
HB1540 Contracts for collection of city/county solid wastes; authorize to extend without advertising for proposals under certain circumstances.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
HB580 Mississippi Transportation Commission; authorize to require its contractors to provide work zone safety operations.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Yea
SB2030 Elections; impose residency requirement to run for certain offices.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2043 Circuit clerks; increase marriage license fee.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2046 Public Records Act; exempt certain information technology-related information from.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2049 College tuition; spouses and children of U.S. Armed Forces members may keep in-state residency classification throughout enrollment.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2050 School enrollment; allow for children with documentation of a parent's pending military relocation to the state.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2053 Institutions of higher learning/community colleges; require the award of educational credits for military training or service.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2056 Fee-in-lieu of ad valorem taxes; revise investment required by qualified businesses under the MS Health Care Industry Zone Act.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2141 Terroristic threat; create offense of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2193 Tourism; create advisory board and divert percentage of restaurant and hotel sales tax revenue for advertising.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB2210 Income tax; authorize a tax credit for contributions to certain endowed funds held by community foundations.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2229 Sales tax; exempt transfer of motor vehicle between siblings.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2237 Public office; persons convicted of certain crimes are ineligible to qualify as a candidate for or be appointed to.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2271 Tax exemptions; revise the requirements that a data center must meet to be eligible for.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2447 Career and technical grants to schools for qualified students; provide for.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB2449 Education of students in juvenile detention facilities; define responsibility of home school district.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2451 Appraisal management companies; extend repealer on statute requiring the registration of.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2452 Occupational licensing boards; require prompt licensure for certain military spouse applicants.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2491Drug courts; revise time frame of recertification.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2561 Domestic abuse protection orders; revise appellate procedure.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SB2576 Fraudulent reports; Child Protection Services may divulge information under certain circumstances.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2679 Mississippi Code of Military Justice; increase certain fines provided for commanding officer's nonjudicial punishment.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2680 Summary courts-martial; decision to grant a trial is reserved to the special or general court-martial convening authority.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2704 Contraband cell phones; courts may issue order to suspend service from carriers.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2716 Landlord/tenant act; clarify eviction and stay of proceedings.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2737 Proprietary schools; revise provisions related to surety bonds and permits.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2749 State Board for Community and Junior Colleges; revise the qualifications for board members.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2839 State Veterans Affairs Board; authorize to be referred to as the "Mississippi Veterans Affairs".House Passed Yea
SB2840 Youth Court Act; implement recommendations of Supreme Court's Commission on Children's Justice.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2863 State employment; revise definition of the term "disabled veteran" as used for veterans preference.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2898 Memorial highways; designate various portions.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2900 Memorial highway; designate portion of Highway 16 in Neshoba County for Carson W. Bounds.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2916 Judicial offices; change qualifying deadline to March 1.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2955 Sales tax; exempt sales of tangible personal property or services to the Junior League of Jackson.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB3065 Bonds; authorize for various purposes.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
SC598 Recognize college football accomplishments of Brandon High School Quarterback Gardner Minshew II.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC599 Commend State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists for the 2019 Mississippi Prudential Spirit of Community Award.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC600 Commend Andrew Mallinson, President and CEO of Multicraft International, as the new Chairman of MMA.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC601 Congratulate Richland High School "Rangers" Boys Soccer Team for 2019 MHSAA State Championship.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC602 Recognize Jerry Smith as 1st African-American elected President of Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC604 Recognize Sylvia Greene Jackson upon her retirement after 46 years with Greenville Area Agency on Aging.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC605 Express condolences of Legislature on passing of Dr. James Anderson, Sr., Physician and Legendary Civil Rights pioneer.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC607 Congratulate Lewisburg High School "Patriots" Boys Soccer Team for winning its first-ever Class 5A State Championship.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC608 Express condolences of the Legislature on the loss of Joe Gibbon of Newton, acclaimed two-sport Mississippi athlete.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC609 Congratulate the DeSoto Central High School Cheerleading Squad for National and World Game Day Championships.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC610 Recognize Mississippi Board of Nursing Executive Director Phyllis Polk Johnson as "2019 Business Woman of the Year."House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC611 Commend Lamar School "Raiders" Boys Soccer Team for repeating as MAIS AAAA Division II State Champions.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC612 Commend St. Aloysius "Flashes" Boys Soccer Team for second Soccer Championship in a row.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC613 Commend Angela McKinnon for being awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC614 Congratulate Dr. Brad Bailey as Instructor of the Year at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC615 Congratulate Teresa Wells, Jefferson Davis Campus Instructor of the Year at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC616 Commend Dr. Valerie Cleckler as Instructor of the Year at the George County Center of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC617 Commend MGCCC Men's Golf Team for winning National Championship.House Adopted My Vote Yea
SC618 Extend condolences of Legislature on the passing of Coahoma County Board of Education President Patrick Campbell.House Adopted My Vote Yea
HB324 Insurance companies; require to file a corporate governance annual disclosure with the Commissioner of Insurance.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Nay
HB752 Dental Insurance benefits; prohibit the denial or recoupment of a claim in certain circumstances.House Concurred in Amend From Senate My Vote Nay
SB2012 Lien for burn care; delete repeal clause.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2116 Abortion; prohibit an abortion of an unborn human individual with a detectable heartbeat.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2365 Pharmacy Practice Act; define biological/interchangeable product.House Passed My Vote Yea
SB2687 MS Gulf Coast Region Utility Board; extend repealer on.House Passed My Vote Nay
SB2766 State Board of Cosmetology; may administer student tests.House Passed As Amended My Vote Yea
SB2770 Teachers' salaries; provide for $1,000.00 increase phased in over two years.House Passed As Amended My Vote Nay
If you have any questions, concerns, or request, please email me at criswelldana@yahoo.comor give me a call on my cell phone at (901) 275-4191.
It is an honor to serve you, and I humbly ask for your prayers as we seek to make decisions that help the people of our state.
Dana