Monday, January 11th, 2021
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While out of session, I was approached by Omar Washington. He wanted to become more acquainted with the legislative process. He has been interning the last several months and I am glad that he will be helping out during the 2021 Mississippi Legislative Session. It's important that we introduce youth to the political process at a very early age.
Week 1 Mississippi
Legislative Overview
On January 5, 2021, the 133rd Mississippi State Legislature began the second session in its four-year term. This is the start of my 5th year and second term in the Mississippi Legislature. While 2020 was challenging in many ways, there were some legislative successes to tout. It seems that 2021 started off with some of the same momentum in Mississippi.

Though it is early in the session, there were several items taken up and passed on the House floor. House Bill 1, the first item introduced, provides that the flag design chosen by the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag and approved overwhelmingly by the citizens of Mississippi will be the new state flag. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 119-1 and was sent to the Senate for consideration, where it also passed.

Following House Bill 1, the Appropriations Chairman also introduced House Bill 68. The bill would appropriate an extra $10,000 to the Department of Finance and Administration for purchasing and flying the new flag over state buildings and other offices. HB 68 passed by a vote of 117-3, and it has been sent to the Senate.

Another measure introduced was House Bill 69. The bill would revise the term “nonstate service” under the State Personnel System to include employees of the State Veterans Affairs Board who are employed at Veterans Homes across the state. HB 69 passed by a vote of 122-0 and was sent to the Senate.

Finally, House Concurrent Resolution 2 was introduced on Friday morning. The resolution honors the life and career of former Representative Gary Staples (R-Laurel) who passed away at the end of last week. The late Representative Staples served in the House from 1988 to 1992 and from 2004 to 2020. HC 2 passed with unanimous consent in the chamber, and all House members were included as authors of the resolution.

January 13, is the deadline to request legislation, and Monday, January 18, is the deadline for filing bills. More than 190 House bills have already been filed and referred to committees.

Three new members joined the Mississippi House of Representatives since the House last convened as a result of special elections. De’Keither Stamps (D-Jackson), Lynn Wright (R-Columbus) and Joseph Tubb (R-Hattiesburg) joined the roster of representatives for the 2021 Legislative Session.

Due to COVID-19, visitors to the Capitol are limited this year. All guided tours have been suspended, and the Capitol Gift Shop is closed. However, Mississippians are allowed to visit the Capitol as long as they adhere to the proper guidelines.
Articles
Social Media from the Week
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Getting back to work...
Representaive Rufus Straughter is a longtime representative from the Mississippi Delta. He Represents Humphreys, Sharkey, and Yazoo counties.
Representative Brent Powell and I got a chance to say happy new year and talk about the upcoming 2021 legislative session. He represents Rankin County.
Mississippi, let's beat the Virus!!!
On Friday at 3:30pm, I stopped by Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Mississippi to take the Moderna vaccine. Thanks to Nurse Rhonda (above) and the rest of the staff for all they did to make the experience as tolerable and as efficient as possible. While I must be honest in the fact that I had my own personal trepidation about taking the vaccine, the good outweighs the bad on so many fronts. I encourage as many who are provided the opportunity to take the vaccine to do so. I know, it's a lot to take in but the only way we can beat this virus is by taking the vaccine and wearing a mask.

***An alarming number of Mississippi voters, nearly 50%, say they may refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or are unsure if they will get it when it becomes available to them, and just over half report they will either definitely or probably receive the vaccine. The findings of the newly released Millsaps College/Chism Strategies State of the State Survey illustrate the challenges that lie ahead for state leaders, public health officials and leaders in the medical profession who are attempting to combat the coronavirus, slow its spread and convince Magnolia Staters that they should take the virus—and the vaccine—as seriously as possible.
Rep. Hudson's Statement on the U.S. Capitol Riot
On January 6th, 2021, violent protesters stormed our nation’s capitol building to delay the constitutionally mandated process of certifying our presidential election results. We tribute and honor the lives lost as a result of that horrendous insurrection. In 1944, America was only one of 3 countries to land on the shores of Normandy, France fighting to roll back the tides of tyranny and intolerance. Today, I am saddened to say that the battle has landed on our own home front. Citizens of our own nation launched an attack against the federal government on a scale unseen since the Civil War. Similar to those two challenging periods in American history, truth and justice prevailed. Fortunately, our nation’s lawmakers were able to reconvene in the chambers and certify Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala D. Harris as the 49th Vice-President of the United States. I am hopeful that together we can pursue our different visions for America with peace and dignity versus violence and chaos.

-Representative Abe Hudson
21st Annual Crystal Ball
Food for Thought
Please text me at 662-522-1400 for additional questions or inquiries.