From Your Capitol - Week of March 4, 2019

This past week was the ninth of the 2019 legislative session. The major deadline of the week was Tuesday, March 5 which was the Deadline for COMMITTEES TO REPORT general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the OTHER House. I spent a good portion of my week following my bills as the senate committees discussed them.

I authored House Bill 1268 which seeks to clarify how citizens challenge judgements by county and municipal authorities. Under current law a citizen has ten days to challenge a judgement made by a county board of supervisors or city aldermen. This ten day limit was intended to protect local officials when awarding contracts, but over the years judges have applied this ten day restriction to all issues even on issues of constitutionality.

HB1268 clarifies that the 10 day limit does not apply to constitutional challenges.

My Votes for week of March 4

HB1423

City of Lexington; authorize a tax on restaurants to promote tourism, parks and recreation.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

HB1565

City of Starkville; authorize levying of additional tourism tax on hotels, motels and restaurants.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

HB1677

Hinds County; authorize contributions to Scott Ford Houses and Jackson Zoological Park.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

HB1678

Hinds County; authorize contribution to Morning Star School, a Mississippi Historic Landmark.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

HB1691

City of Union; authorize expansion of water services provided by.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

HC82

Honorable Judge Sadie Monts Holland; commend service of and congratulate upon the occasion of her retirement from public service.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

SB2043

Circuit clerks; increase marriage license fee.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2133

Department of Employment Security; extend repealer on.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

SB2272

Mississippi Development Authority; revise reimbursement procedure to allow across funds and administered programs.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2425

Sales taxation; divert portion of revenue to certain counties in which certain tax increment finance projects are located.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SB2570

Special motor vehicle license tags; authorize for supporters of various organizations.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2577

Motor Vehicle Tax and License Synchronization Study Committee; create.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SB2598

Qualified equity investment tax credits; extend authority of Mississippi Development Authority to allocate.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

SB2599

Mississippi Development Authority Job Training Grant Fund; repeal and transfer balance to the General Fund.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2602

Mississippi Home Corporation; continue authority to issue a certain amount of bonds.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2603

Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Act; extend deadline for approval of rebate for certain nonresident employees.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2604

Variable rate refunding bonds; delete the requirement issuance of must result in 2% saving over the bonds being refunded.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2669

Local Governments Capital Improvements Revolving Loan Fund; extend repeal date on MDA's authority to use for certain expenses.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

SB2810

Mississippi Development Authority; authorize to sell certain property.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SB2854

City of Charleston; authorize a tax on restaurants to provide funds for tourism and parks and recreation.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

SB2885

Growth and Prosperity Act; extend cut-off date for tax exemptions under.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

HC66

"The Year to Embrace the Gulf"; recognize 2020 as and encourage observance of.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC67

Alcorn State University Football Team; commend for winning the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division football championship.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC74

Representative Ray Rogers; commend upon 55th anniversary and retirement as the Public Address Announcer for the Pearl High School Football Team.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC77

Brandon High School Volleyball Team; commend for winning MHSAA Class III State Championship.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC78

Renee Brett; commend 40 years of service with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC79

Coach Lafayette Stribling; congratulate upon being inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

SB2161

State Medical Examiner; clarify qualifications for office and for deputies.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SB2392

State agency budgeting; revise definitions and expand agencies required to inventory programs.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2444

County tax assessors; increase annual salary supplement upon the completion of certain certifications.

House Passed

My Vote - Nay

SB2541

State budget; provide for transfer of funds.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2681

Jackson State University; authorize to sell certain tax-forfeited parcels.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2827

Local public officials; increase salaries of.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Nay

SB2918

State aircraft; Director of DFA shall ensure commercially reasonable procurement practices.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SB2947

Statutes relating to revision of budget estimates and reduction of funding allocations; applicable to Office of State Aid Roads.

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

HC68

Joe Bonelli; commend life and legacy upon his passing.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC69

Dr. Fitten Lamar McMillin, Jr.; commend life and legacy upon his passing.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC70

Major Captain Brady Tonth, Jr.; commend service and career and history of firsts as an African-American pilot in observance of African-American History Month.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC71

Ocean Springs High School Lady Greyhounds Soccer Team; commend upon winning MHSAA 6A State Championship.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC72

MS Dept of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks; commend for receiving top honors at the National LawFit Challenge.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC75

Alcorn State University Football Team; commend for winning the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division Football Championship.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

HC76

Ben Richard Burney; commend life upon passing.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

SB2844

Local governmental entities; authorize to pay costs of insurance coverage for dependents of employees.

House Passed As Amended

My Vote - Yea

SB2864

Mississippi Insurance Guaranty Association Law; revise the definition of "covered claim".

House Passed

My Vote - Yea

SC591

Recognize service of Reggie Bell, Executive Director of the Mississippi State Fire Academy, on his retirement.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

SC594

Commend Gulfport Boys "Admirals" Soccer Team for winning back-to-back Class 6A State Championships.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

SC595

Recognize accomplishments of the Mississippi School of the Arts on the occasion of its 15th Anniversary.

House Adopted

My Vote - Yea

If you have any questions, concerns, or request, please email me at criswelldana@yahoo.com or 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

To learn more about me or my campaign visit my website, www.DanaCriswellforMississippi.com.