General Laws; repeal requirement that advance sheets be published and distributed.
Summary
Senate Bill 2087 repeals Section 1-1-58 of the Mississippi Code, which currently requires the Joint Committee on Compilation, Revision and Publication of Legislation to contract with a publishing company to produce advance sheets of the General Laws of Mississippi after each legislative session. The bill also eliminates the related requirement to distribute those advance sheets to specified recipients. In practical terms, the measure removes a statutory mandate tied to the publication and distribution of session law advance sheets.
The bill is a narrow administrative and statutory housekeeping measure focused on how enacted laws are compiled and published, rather than changing substantive policy areas. By repealing the section, it gives the state more flexibility in deciding whether and how to publish advance sheets, potentially reducing a required contracting and distribution obligation. The act takes effect upon passage.
Impact
SB2087 amends Mississippi law by repealing Section 1-1-58, thereby removing the legal requirement that the Joint Committee on Compilation, Revision and Publication of Legislation hire a publisher for advance sheets and distribute them to designated parties. This affects the state’s legislative publication process, the committee responsible for compilation and publication, and any vendors or recipients previously covered by the statute. It does not alter the content of the General Laws themselves, only the mandated method of producing and distributing advance sheets.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received favorably and without controversy. It passed the Senate unanimously, 51-0, and the House unanimously, 115-0, indicating broad bipartisan support and little to no opposition. The absence of committee transcript discussion also suggests it was treated as a routine administrative measure.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive contention in the available materials. Because the bill simply repeals a publication-and-distribution requirement, any concerns would likely have centered on administrative efficiency, cost, or access to legislative materials, but no opposing arguments or disputed issues are reflected in the vote history or transcripts. The unanimous votes suggest consensus that the change was noncontroversial.