The Mississippi Legislature had extensive committee meetings and hearings this week in both chambers. Each day, nearly 20 committees met to discuss bills that had been referred for consideration. Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives will continue to debate bills through next week’s deadline. After which, bills that pass from committees will move to the calendars in their respective chambers. As of press time, the Senate has introduced 922 bills and the House of Representatives has introduced 1489 bills.

On Tuesday, a bill entitled the Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Act, Senate Bill 2889, passed out of the Economic Development and Workforce Committee. Senator David Parker (R-Olive Branch), who authored the legislation, stated that the bill would create a regional utility authority with a board of directors to ensure access to safe, clean, and reliable water for the capital city. The authority would be transferred to the utility district after the City of Jackson is no longer under a federal receivership. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for further discussion.

Another issue drawing attention is Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform, SB 2484. The Mississippi Independent Pharmacists Association (MIPA) has brought legislation to the Legislature this year that dramatically changes the relationship between PBMs, insurance providers, and consumers. The entire business community, most trade associations, and many state entities have expressed major concerns with the reform because it will increase health insurance premiums in most cases. The House Insurance Committee already has passed one bill (House Bill 1299) that details a framework for reform and provides very little detail into how the changes would be accomplished. The Senate Public Health Committee plans to debate the bill at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Several bills have been introduced in an attempt to reinstate Mississippi’s ballot initiative process. SBs 2638 and 2639, along with Senate Concurrent Resolutions 517 and 530, seek to address the Mississippi Supreme Court’s April 2021 decision to strike down the state’s ballot initiative process. Last year, a similar piece of legislation, House Concurrent Resolution 39, authored by House Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton), died during conference weekend as the two chambers could not come to an agreement on the number of qualified electorate signatures that would be required from each congressional district.

On Thursday, January 26, the Senate Medicaid Committee passed SB 2212. The bill would authorize and direct the Division of Medicaid to provide recipients of Medicaid extended postpartum coverage up to 12 months. The same piece of legislation was passed out of the Senate last year and ultimately died in the House. The principal author of the bill is Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven), who chairs the committee. Several other similar bills have been previously introduced. Other authors of similar legislation include Representative Missy McGee (R-Hattiesburg), Rep. Rob Roberson (R-Starkville), Rep. Robert Johnson (D-Natchez), Sen. David Blount (D-Jackson), Sen. John Horhn (D-Jackson), and Sen. Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton).  However, SB 2212 is the only bill to pass out of committee thus far. After passage, the bill now moves on to the Senate calendar for further consideration.

Although the legislative appropriators have not yet started writing appropriations bills, the committees and subcommittees have started their work.  With record high cash reserves in MS, the Legislature has made it clear that they intend to spend a large portion of those funds on infrastructure.  These projects are not just limited to roads and bridges, but include ports, rails, and airports.  These investments will help increase commerce in the state as well as account for recent changes in weight tolerances and help reopen posted bridges.

Next week, on Monday, January 30, Governor Tate Reeves will be giving his annual State of the State address at 5 p.m. His final address of this term will be presented on the south steps of the State Capitol.

Tuesday, January 31, is the deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments. The following deadline will be Thursday, February 9, for floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments in its chamber of origin. Friday, February 10, is the deadline for the reconsideration and passage of those same bills.

Wednesday, February 1, at 5 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to qualify to run for legislative seats and statewide positions. All current statewide elected officials have qualified to run for re-election. A large percentage of the MS Legislature also has qualified for re-election to their current seats. Following the qualifying deadline, more details will be provided on the races.