Legislative Weekly Summary
The following information is provided by the Press Offices of the State Senate and House of Representatives.
State Senate Weekly Summary
In the 12th week of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Senate passed preliminary Senate-originating appropriations bills for a proposed total state support Fiscal Year 2025 budget of $7.306 billion, which contains a proposed $819.7 million budget for Institutions of Higher Learning.
Passage of Senate Bill 2713, the “Mississippi Rural Regional Health Authority Act of 2024,” creates the Delta Regional Health Authority and authorizes creation of other health authorities. It encourages collaboration between health care providers to solve the complex problems that many face in providing services, and it gives them the ability “to respond to changing conditions by having the power to develop efficient and cost-effective methods and structures to provide for health care needs, while maintaining a public mission and character.”
Senate Bill 2575, reforms campaign finance laws.
Senate Bill 2652, requires purchase of Wild turkey stamps for turkey hunters 16 years of age or older.
Senate Bill 2822, brought forward code sections related to the Administrative Office of Courts with a reverse repealer for further negotiations.
The bills will be transferred to the House for review.
The Senate passed a Rules calendar commending exemplary Mississippians and the Senate met a Monday, March 18, 2024, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the Senate.
The Senate faces a Monday, March 25, 2024, deadline for making requests for appropriation and revenue bills to be drafted, a Wednesday, March 27, 2024, deadline for original floor action on appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate, a Thursday, March 28, 2024, deadline for reconsideration and passage of appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate, and a Friday, March 29, 2024, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Senate.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, “Jackson State University Day at the Capitol,” Senator Sollie B. Norwood, introduced JSU President Reverend Marcus Thompson, who addressed the Senate after leading the body in prayer.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Germantown High School Choir performed at the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol, as part of Lt. Governor Hosemann’s tradition of allowing students to share their talents which gives lawmakers time to reflect on the importance of the job they are at the Capitol to do
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Senator Brian Rhodes led the Senate in honoring:
- The East Rankin Academy Shooting Sports Team and Coach Vince Bynum with presentation of Senate Resolution 55, for winning their fifth consecutive Mississippi Scholastic Shooting Program State Championship.
- The East Rankin Academy “Lady Patriots,” girls cross country team and Coach David Hopper with presentation of Senate Resolution 56, for winning their third consecutive MAIS Class 5A State Championship.
- The East Rankin Academy “Lady Patriots” basketball team and coach Brooke Rhodes with presentation of Senate Resolution 57, for winning the 2024 MAIS overall tournament championship.
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Senator Rod Hickman and Senator Bart Williams led presentation of Senate Resolution 93, honoring the legacy of Willie Johnson, Starkville’s first African American Fire Chief.
Also on Thursday, March 21, 2024, Senator Reginald Jackson, Senator Michael McLendon, Senator Dr. David Parker and Senator Kevin Blackwell, led presentation of a proclamation to the Lake Cormorant High School “Gators” volleyball team, Head Coach Christina Morgan, and Assistant Coach Katelyn Rich, for winning their second in a row MHSAA State Championship.
House of Representatives Weekly Summary
This was the twelfth week of the 2024 legislative session. Next Wednesday, March 27 is the deadline for original floor action on House appropriations and revenue bills. Members will then continue to work on general bills from the Senate. The House did discuss two of these Senate bills this week despite the deadline being a few weeks away.
On Wednesday, the House took up Senate Bill 2453. The bill would authorize the Public Service Commission to cancel a municipality’s certificate to provide utility services upon findings of inadequacies. The City of Holly Springs Utility Department (HSUD) currently provides power to almost 12,000 customers not only in the city limits but also to customers in Marshall, Benton and Lafayette Counties in Mississippi and Fayette and Hardeman Counties in Tennessee. Customers of HSUD have experienced frequent outages for years, including 133 outages in 90 days. After much debate, the bill passed as amended by the House by a vote of 78-32. SB 2453 has been held on a motion to reconsider.
House Education Chairman Rob Roberson (R – Starkville) introduced Senate Bill 2332, which would revise the funding formula for MAEP. The House adopted Strike-All Amendment 1, inserting the House’s INSPIRE Program (HB 1453) into the bill instead. Strike-all amendments are commonly used when taking up bills from the other house. SB 2332 passed as amended 94-18, and it has been sent back to the Senate.
Visitors this week included Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta State University, Jackson State University, the Mississippi Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition, the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi, Tomorrow’s 25 and the Mississippi Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs.
