Monday, April 5th, 2021
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Week 13 Mississippi
Legislative Overview
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Well Mississippians and Mississippi Deltans, the 2021 Legislative Session is now over. This was the second session in the four-year term. The House adjourned sine die on Thursday, three days before the April 4 deadline. Legislators completed the last day on Thursday, April 1, after working through the weekend to finalize the state budget. While many significant pieces of legislation did not make it through the process this year, several did and will now be signed into law by the Governor. Some of those bills are below:
- The $6 billion state budget, completed in the last few days of the session, included an increase of $102 million to the Department of Education. This brings the Education budget to $2.3 billion, which includes teacher pay raises of $1,000 each and a total of $16 million going to pre-school education. This is great news for advocates, administrators, educators, and most importantly, students.
- The Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act will elevate the level of care for female inmates by limiting the use of restraints on inmates giving birth, by providing feminine hygiene products for inmates who are in need, and by placing incarcerated mothers within a certain distance to their minor children.
- The Mississippi Computer Science and Cyber Education Equality Act require the Department of Education to implement a computer science curriculum in all K-12 public schools. Currently, more than half of Mississippi high schools do not teach a computer science course.
- Mississippians will be able to purchase pseudoephedrine and ephedrine from pharmacies without a prescription.
- Licensed retailers around the state will now be able to apply for a delivery service permit for the purpose of delivering alcohol to consumers.
- Veterans are now authorized to establish proof of military service for a Veteran Driver’s License Designation in person at DPS driver’s license stations across the state.
- Under Christian’s Law, photographs and recordings of autopsies around the state will remain confidential. The law is named for Christian Andreacchio, a Meridian-native who passed away in 2014.
- Mississippi schools are now required to designate sports teams based on biological sex.
Proposed legislation that did not make it through the bill-making process included the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act, the privatization of liquor sales in the state, the repeal of certain occupational licenses for workers including wigologists and art therapists, and a bill allowing nurse practitioners to practice primary care without collaboration with a licensed physician. Though these bills didn't make it through the process this year, I think some may reintroduced next session.
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Got Federal Tax Questions? |
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Recently, U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson sent out some valuable federal tax information. Please CLICK HERE to get updates about the upcoming 2020 tax filing!!!
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Keep Mississippi Beautiful works to inspire and educate Mississippians to improve their communities by preventing litter, promoting recycling and beautification. We encourage all citizens to be responsible for improving the state’s scenic beauty and quality of life. These efforts boost civic pride, livability, and local economies.
To find a Keep Mississippi Beautiful affiliate near you or to learn more, please CLICK HERE.
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Virtual Tour of Mississippi Capitol |
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Please CLICK HERE to watch a free virtual tour of our Mississippi State Capitol.
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Social Media from the Week |
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Children's Foundation of Mississippi Facts |
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- According to the Children's Foundation of Mississippi, 1 out of every 20 children under the age of 6 in Mississippi has been diagnosed with a developmental delay. When young children's developmental delays are identified early, many can be addressed with regular interventions. When issues aren't spotted early, they become more difficult and more expensive to address.
- 13 Counties in Mississippi are categorized as high risk in child poverty, with child poverty rates greater than 50% for young children (birth through 5). Poverty impacts a child's academic achievement, future employment, health outcomes, and more. It is easier and more effective to build a sturdy foundation than it is to repair or shore it up later.
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Crosstie Festival in
Cleveland, Mississippi
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The Freedom Project Network partners with the Sunflower County, Meridian, and Rosedale Projects to organize and expand outreach across Mississippi. The 3 Freedom Projects are educational non-profits modeled after the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Schools. The Freedom Projects focus on after-school & summer enrichment, leadership development, and travel learning for 7th-12th grade students. The Freedom Projects are working to create the future leaders of Mississippi. To learn more or to get involved, please CLICK HERE.
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Mississippi Food Insecurity Rates |
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In 2020, the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic threatened the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the world. Before the Covid-19 crisis began, food insecurity in the U.S. was the lowest it had been in 20 years, and yet 35.2 million people, including 10.7 million children were food insecure.
The current crisis is likely to reverse the improvements that have occurred over the past decade as millions of people are newly experiencing food insecurity before the Covid-19 crisis began. Nationally, more than 50 million people including 17 million children, may have experienced food insecurity in 2020 due to Covid-19.
Please review the 2020 Projections and 2018 Actuals food insecurity rates for various Mississippi Delta Counties:
Bolivar County 27.5%, 24.1%
Sunflower County 27.4%, 23.4%
Washington County 28.9%, 24.5%
Sharkey County 26.0%, 22.1%
Issaquena County 31.9%, 28.9%
Tunica County 26.5%, 19.8%
Quitman County 29.7%, 25.2%
Humphreys County 31.6%, 26.4%
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Chicken from Farm to Table |
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Since it was Easter on yesterday, it's a good time to look at how we got all those eggs. |
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Please CLICK HERE to view my previous newsletters.
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Please text me at 662-522-1400 for additional questions or inquiries. |
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