The 2023 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature has adjourned for the final time. Members debated bills before completing this final session of the current four-year term. Several procedural motions have passed this week to lengthen the session so fiscal measures could meet the necessary passage days before adjournment that is statutorily required by rules of the bodies.

On Wednesday, the Mississippi State Senate voted down Dr. Robert Taylor’s confirmation as State Superintendent of Education with a 31-21 vote after his nomination passed through the Senate Education Committee. In November 2022, Dr. Taylor was approved unanimously by the State Board of Education. Dr. Taylor is a native Mississippian, and his background includes 30-plus years of service in public education as a teacher, principal, district superintendent, and deputy state superintendent. The Mississippi State Board of Education has named Mike Kent as interim state superintendent. He has served in the position before along with serving as superintendent of Madison County Schools for a decade.

A piece of legislation that will distribute $103.7 million to hospitals across the state was approved by the Legislature this week. Senate Bill 2372, authored by Senator Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven), will establish the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program which will be run by the Mississippi State Department of Health. Several factors such as number of licensed beds, how a hospital is classified, and whether or not the hospital has an emergency room, will dictate how much funding a hospital receives. Governor Tate Reeves’ signature in the coming days is expected. Funding will become available immediately after his approval.

As of Friday morning, the budget and appropriations process remain unfinished. Both chambers still have 10 appropriations matters outstanding. Among these are the appropriations for the Department of Education and the Department of Finance and Administration, and also the appropriations for several ARPA programs and the bills that will contain specific legislative projects. When the dust settles on the budget, we expect this to be the largest (by expenditure) in state history by topping $7 billion in recurring expenditures and spending over $1 billion in one-time, non-recurring revenue. Education has been a large consideration in the budget. Attached you will find final appropriations numbers for the Institutions of Higher Learning and their separately budgeted units.

At the end of this legislative term, numerous members of the Senate and the House of Representatives will be ending their legislative careers and both chambers began recognizing those who will not be running for re-election. Only a few Senators are not running for re-election and thus signifying an end to their legislative tenures. Sen. Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton) will complete her tenure serving District 21, that includes portions of Attala, Holmes, Leake, Madison, and Yazoo Counties, and has served a total of five terms. Sen. Chris Caughman (R-Mendenhall) has served District 35, portions of Copiah, Rankin, and Simpson Counties, for the past two terms. Sen. Melanie Sojourner (R-Natchez) has been a two-term Senator for District 37, which includes portions of Adams, Amite, Franklin, and Pike Counties. Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Marks) has served District 11 for 20 years. His district includes portions of Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, and Tunica Counties.

In the House of Representatives, 17 members will be retiring, with one of those members making a transition from the House to the Senate. Representative Alyce Clarke (D-Jackson) assumed office in 1985 and has served District 69 in Hinds County for 39 years. Rep. Tommy Reynolds (D-Charleston) began his legislative career in 1980, representing portions of Grenada, Tallahatchie, and Yalobusha Counties in District 33, and has served for 44 years. Rep. Edward Blackmon Jr. (D-Canton) served from 1979 until 1980, representing District 57. Blackmon was reelected in 1984 and has served for 41 years. Rep. Tom Weathersby, Sr. (R-Florence) assumed office in 1993 to represent District 62 which includes portions of Copiah, Rankin, and Simpson Counties, and has served for 32 years. Rep. Randall Patterson (R-Biloxi) began serving in 2004 to represent District 115 which includes Harrison County and has served for 20 years. Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) assumed office in 2004 to represent District 56 which consists of Hinds and Madison Counties. In 2012, Gunn became the Speaker of the House and has served in the Legislature for 20 years. Rep. Tom Miles (D-Forest) assumed office in 2012 for District 74 which includes portions of Rankin and Scott Counties and has served for 12 years. Rep. Mac Huddleston (R-Pontotoc) assumed office in 2008 to represent District 15 in Pontotoc County and has served for 16 years. Rep. Charles Busby (R-Pascagoula) began his legislative career in 2012 for District 111 which includes Jackson County. Busby has served for 12 years and is running for election to the Mississippi Transportation Commission. Rep. Chris Brown (R-Nettleton) started serving in the Legislature in 2012 to represent District 20 which includes portions of Itawamba, Lee, and Monroe Counties. Brown has served for 12 years and is running for election to the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Rep. Michael Evans (I-Preston) assumed office in 2012 for District 45 which includes portions of Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Winston Counties and served for 12 years. Rep. Joel Bomgar (R-Madison) assumed office in 2016 to represent District 58 and has represented Madison County for eight years. Rep. Dana Criswell (R-Olive Branch) assumed office in 2016 to represent District 6 which includes DeSoto County and served for eight years. Rep. Steve Hopkins (R-Southaven) assumed office in 2016 to represent District 7 which includes DeSoto County. Hopkins has served for eight years and is running for election to the Mississippi State Senate to represent District 1. Rep. Jerry Darnell (R – Hernando) assumed office in 2020 to represent District 28 which includes DeSoto County and has served for four years. Rep. De’Keither Stamps (D-Jackson) assumed office in 2020 to represent District 66 which includes Hinds County. Stamps has served four years and is running for election to the Mississippi Public Service Commission. Rep. Robin Robinson (R-Laurel) assumed office in 2020 to represent District 88 which includes Jasper and Jones Counties. Robinson has served for four years and is running for election to the Mississippi State Senate to represent District 42.