Senate Weekly Report

In the 12th week of the Legislative Session, the Senate debated bills on the floor, met in conference with House members, honored outstanding constituents, confirmed nominees to committees, and met four deadlines.

The Senate met the Monday, March 20, 2023, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider concurrence or nonconcurrence in appropriation and revenue bills, a Thursday, March 23, 2023, deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from the House to general bills and constitutional amendments, a Friday, March 24, 2023, deadline for introduction of local and private bills that are not revenue bills and a Saturday, March 25, 2023, deadline for conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills to be filed.

Passage of Senate Bill 3151 allows Rankin County Board of Supervisors to contribute $750,000 to Trustmark Park to enhance economic development where their minor league baseball team plays, drawing up to $9 million a year in sales tax in the highly developed commercial hub. A companion bill, Senate Bill 3152, allows the City of Pearl to also contribute $750,000.

Concurrence on Senate Bill 2551 allows the Department of Marine Resources, Office of Marine Patrol to cooperate with federal law enforcement officers and enforce “all laws of the State of Mississippi, inclusive of all federal laws within the jurisdiction of the State of Mississippi and waters and resources under management of the state.”

Other bills passed included: 

• Senate Bill 3065 allows the Bolivar County Board of Supervisors to contribute from the general fund, $15,000 annually to the Fannie Lou Hamer Breast Cancer Foundation, and to Bolivar County Community Action Agency, Inc., $50,000.
• House Bill 1793 allows the Board of Supervisors of Neshoba County to contribute $5,000 annually to Philadelphia Transit – a nonprofit organization that provides transportation for the public, elderly and disabled.
• House Bill 1800 allows Holmes County Board of Supervisors to donate $2,500 annually to Holmes County Long-Term Recovery Committee, which assists residents after a natural disaster. 
• Senate Bill 3109 allows Warren County Board of Supervisors to contribute funds to several nonprofit organizations.

In other action: 

• Pearl Singers of Pearl High School performed on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in the Capitol’s second floor rotunda for lawmakers and visitors.
• Delta area grocer, Derrick Simpson, was honored by Senator David L. Jordan, Lydia Chassaniol, Robert L. Jackson, and the Mississippi Senate on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, with a proclamation saluting his civic contributions and longstanding business commitment to Greenwood with “Greenwood Market Place,” or “County Market,” and the Piggly Wiggly store in Indianola.
• Senator Derrick T. Simmons, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, led a presentation of Senate Resolution 66, designating March 21, 2023, “2023 Alpha Kappa Alpha Day at the Mississippi State Capitol,” and honoring the works of the sorority.
• Senator Joseph Thomas on Wednesday, March 23, 2023, led the presentation of Senate Resolution 62 to the Germantown High School “Lady Mavericks” Girls Basketball Team for their first Class 6A State Championship. 
• Senator Joseph Thomas on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, led the presentation of Senate Resolution 63 commending the Yazoo City High School Indians Boys Basketball Team and Coach Anthony Carlyle for winning their first MHSAA Class 4A State Championship in 27 years. 
• Senator Rod Hickman and Senator Jenifer B. Branning on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, led presentation of Senate Resolution 71 to the Louisville High School “Lady Wildcats,” girls basketball team and Coach Mitchell Curry  for winning the 4A State Championship.
• Senator Bart Williams on Wednesday, March 23, 2023, led a presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 562 to Brian Montgomery of Starkville, designating October 2023 as “Walker Montgomery National Catfishing Awareness Month in Mississippi.”
• Senator Hillman T. Frazier and Representative Stephanie Foster on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, visited with Hinds Community College officials and students who passed out to lawmakers, pieces of the historical Mississippi flagpole that had stood on state grounds since 1922 bearing the state’s former Confederate flag, and fell in 2021 while bearing the state’s new flag.
• Senator Juan Barnett and Senator Joey Fillingane on Thursday, March 23, 2023, led a presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 505 to retiring Southern District Transportation Commissioner and former legislator Tom King.
• Senator Tyler McCaughn on Thursday, March 23, 2023, led the presentation of Senate Resolution 84, commending the Lake High School Lady Hornets Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Holly Moncrief for winning back to back MHSAA Class 2A State Championships.
• Senator Josh Harkins, on Friday, March 24, 2023, led the presentation of Senate Resolution 64, commending the Northwest Rankin High School Cougars Boys Basketball Team for winning its first MHSAA Class 6A state championship.
• Senator Barbara Blackmon on Friday, March 24, 2023, led a presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 570 to Senator Angela Turner Ford, recognizing her leadership as Chair of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.

Next week, the Senate faces a Monday, March 27, 2023, deadline for final adoption of conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills and for conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments to be filed, a Tuesday, March 28, 2023 deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills, a Wednesday, March 29, 2023, deadline for first consideration of conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments, a Thursday, March 30, 2023, deadline for filing conference reports and general bills and constitutional amendments that had been recommitted for further conference, a Friday, March 31, 2023, deadline for adoption of conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments after recommittal, a Saturday, April 1, 2023, deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider conference reports on general bills and constitutional amendments, and an anticipated Sunday, April 2, 2023, Sine Die.