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2019 Mississippi Legislative
Session (Week 4)
As next week's Tuesday's deadline to have House Bills out of their corresponding committees quickly approaches, the c
ommittees met frequently during the fourth week of the legislative session. I had Transportation, Agriculture, County Affairs, Ports & Harbors, Corrections, and Energy Committee meetings.
After Tuesday, February 5th, no additional general bills will be added to the House calendar for consideration. Members will also meet in session for longer periods of time to discuss the bills that have made it out of their respective committees.
Although most work is still happening in these committee meetings, several bills reached the House floor and were discussed.
House Bill 4 was one of the bills that made it out of committee and onto the floor. The bill would allow private employers to give a permissive preference for certain veterans when hiring. After little debate, HB 4 passed unanimously with a vote of 118-0 and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.
A number of other bills were introduced with topics including insurance regulation, corrections and local government affairs. All bills that reached the House floor and were voted on were passed.
On Wednesday, Governor Phil Bryant signed the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act (
House Bill 366) into law. The law will allow electric cooperatives around the state to provide broadband internet service to its electric customers.
An intelligent bill came up that would allow Mississippi inmates to change the degrading uniforms that are currently worn. Though
House Bill 1287
got out of committee, it was recommitted. I hate this happened on the house floor. It's a shame we are willing to humiliate a person instead of rehabilitate an individual.
Commissioner Pelicia Hall thanks for attempting to change the institutional culture
and perception of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
This week, the House recognized the efforts of the Lady Bobcats Softball Team from Jones County Junior College for their National Championship season in 2018. Other visitors at the Capitol from this week included the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, the Mississippi Library Association and the Mississippi chapter of the Human Rights Campaign.
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