This week was very intense in each chamber of the Mississippi Legislature. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives spent the majority of their time in floor action as they worked to meet the general bills deadline. Thursday, February 9, was the deadline for original floor action on general bills and constitutional amendments. Legislators had lengthy calendars each day that were comprised of all the bills that had passed from committees and were then moved to the full body for consideration. After Thursday’s deadline, 365 bills remain alive in the Senate and 591 remain alive in the House.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 2212, authored by Senator Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven), a bill that would direct the Division of Medicaid to extend postpartum coverage for mothers up to 12 months. An attempted amendment on the Senate floor was introduced and co-authored by multiple Senate Democrats. The introduced amendment would have expanded coverage of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The amendment failed by a vote split down party lines with 36 nays and 15 yeas. SB 2212 ultimately passed the Senate by 41 yeas and 11 nays with none voting present. SB 2212 is the only bill remaining that would extend postpartum coverage under Medicaid. SB 2212 was transmitted to the House, where all similar postpartum extension legislation died in committee without being considered.
House Bill 1020, authored by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia), passed on a 76-38 majority vote after emotional debate went late into Tuesday night. This legislation would allow the Mississippi Supreme Court to appoint judges to hear civil and criminal cases in the expanded Capital Complex Improvement District (CCID). Appointed judges would be required to have the same qualifications and hold the same authority as elected judges, and the Mississippi Attorney General would appoint four prosecutors. These created courts would share concurrent jurisdiction with Circuit and Chancery Courts regarding all civil and criminal matters with some exclusions. CCID civil actions would include lawsuits seeking between $200,000 and $20 million in damages. HB 1020 now heads to the Senate for further approval.
The Mississippi Collaborative Response to Mental Health Act, HB 1222, authored by Representative Sam Creekmore IV (R-New Albany), passed in the House on Wednesday. The legislation seeks to mandate mental health first aid training for all law enforcement officers along with having one crisis intervention trained officer. HB 1222 also revises the terms for Mississippi Department of Health board members, requires certain training for community mental health center (CMHC) commissioners, and adds a chancery clerk and sheriff to CMHC regional commissions.
On Thursday, SB 2372, also authored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, was brought up for floor debate. This legislation would create the Mississippi Hospital Sustainability Grant Program, under the Mississippi Department of Health, to provide funding for hospitals that have incurred financial burdens as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Blackwell indicated the initial overall amount would be $80 million, but could change as it goes through the legislative process. Funding would depend on a hospital’s qualifications. The bill passed unanimously and now heads to the House.
A similar bill, SB 2323, also would impact Mississippi hospitals by allowing community hospital boards of trustees to consolidate or collaborate with other hospitals through a joint venture, joint operating agreement, or acquisition. The rationale is for community hospitals to have “legal, financial and operational flexibility to take full advantage of opportunities and challenges presented” in today’s health care circumstances especially considering significant health disparities in Mississippi. The bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate on Wednesday, is authored by Sen. Joey Fillingane (R-Sumrall).
Friday, February 10, is the deadline for reconsideration and passage of general bills, and Monday, February 13, is the deadline to dispose of any motions to reconsider on the same measures.