State Sen. Kevin Blackwell said the Mississippi Senate continued moving through House legislation last week as lawmakers advanced bills addressing child welfare, public safety, health care and government oversight during the ninth week of the 2026 legislative session. The Mississippi Legislature’s official site identifies Blackwell as the Republican senator for District 19, and legislative schedules show the Senate is now working through House bills ahead of key March deadlines.
In a legislative update, Blackwell said the Senate approved several measures, including House Bill 1758, which would require the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services to identify federal benefits available to children in state custody and ensure those benefits are used for the child’s care. He also highlighted House Bill 565, which would require health plans and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for cancer patients so physicians can better target treatments. A bill summary available through legislative tracking also describes HB 565 as a biomarker testing coverage measure.
Other bills Blackwell said cleared the Senate last week included House Bill 1719, creating a study committee on reducing and preventing financial fraud; House Bill 1546, which would add several human trafficking-related crimes to the list of felonies that cannot be expunged; House Bill 898, creating a Sales Tax Diversion Study Committee; House Bill 1603, clarifying that squatters cannot gain property rights through trespassing; House Bill 1386, allowing certain municipal funds to be used for sidewalk repairs and municipal building improvements; and House Bill 547, allowing licensed check-cashing businesses to pass along third-party processing fees to customers if clear notice is given. Those measures were included in Blackwell’s weekly recap as the Senate continued considering House legislation.
Blackwell also noted that the Capitol hosted student performers and recognized achievements from across the state. He said the New Albany High School Choir and Newton County High School Choir performed at the Capitol on March 3 as part of a tradition of showcasing student talent.
The Senate also adopted resolutions recognizing the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars softball team and coaches for winning the MAIS 4A Division I state championship and honoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the Mississippi Alpha Network on its 55th anniversary, according to Blackwell’s release.
Lawmakers also met the March 3 deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the House. Upcoming deadlines include March 11 for original floor action on House general bills and constitutional amendments, followed by March 12 for reconsideration and passage, and March 13 for final disposition of motions to reconsider. Mississippi legislative deadline calendars published this session list March 11 as the deadline for original floor action on general bills from the opposite chamber.
“It is an honor to represent the people of District 19,” Blackwell said in the update.
