Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 13 January, 2025; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, January 10, 2025, 957, house, all

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 January, 2025; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210, 9 January, 2025: 9:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: MS House Floor - 9 January, 2025; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 9 January, 2025; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Keywords: MS House Floor - 8 January, 2025; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 8 January, 2025; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 8 January, 2025; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 8 January, 2025; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 960, senate, all

Keywords: House streaming session for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 957, house, all

Keywords: Public Property - Room 210, 30 January, 2026; 10:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The Public Property Committee met for its second meeting and considered one bill presented by Senator Dupre on behalf of the University of Southern Mississippi. The bill would streamline the sale of a USM-owned parcel in North Mississippi by allowing the Department of Finance and Administration to continue reviewing the transaction and ultimately approve it without having to open the property up through the usual process, while still requiring the standard due diligence and two appraisals. Senator Dupre said the change would speed development of the property, which has a master plan involving local governments and the city of Hattiesburg, and could help attract complementary industry for the existing innovation park. Committee members noted that the proposal was double-referred to Public Property and Universities and Colleges and that it was similar to a prior Mississippi State University arrangement, suggesting it was not new precedent. The chair emphasized that DFA would not be removed from the process, only allowed to review and then step back once the transaction could proceed. After no further questions, the committee adopted a motion for title sufficient and do pass, with no opposition recorded. The bill was then referred out, and the committee subsequently approved a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

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• > kind<00:12:44.079> of<00:12:44.160> get<00:12:44.320> us<00:12:44.480>
• c> all<00:12:48.639> agree<00:12:48.880> that<00:12:49.120> are<00:12:49.279
• Um it<00:12:50.320> amends<00:12:50.639> a<00:12:50.720> Mississippi<00:12:51.040
• with practical<00:12:54.000> and<00:12:54.240> economic<00:12:54.800> realities

Keywords: Public Property - Room 409, 29 January, 2026; 2:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The Public Property Committee held its organizational meeting and elected Senator Ladner as secretary. It then took up Senate Bill 2203, which would centralize leasing authority for state agencies in privately owned space under DFA and, when cheaper, move certain agencies into the capital complex area to encourage consolidation and cost savings. Senator Seymour questioned specific references in the bill, including a corporation mentioned in current law and whether the measure could affect ports, the Gulf Coast Coliseum, universities, community colleges, or local offices outside Metro Jackson. Blunt said the bill was intended only for state agencies in the Metro Jackson area and not for local county offices or other institutions, and he later identified the corporation reference as the Mississippi Home Corporation. The committee adopted a title-sufficient do-pass motion and reported the bill out. The committee next considered a bill by Senator Hobson authorizing the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct a levee project in Yazoo County using federal funds, at an estimated cost of more than $100 million. Hobson said the project would address significant flooding and complete a portion of levee work near Carter and Satartia. With no questions, the committee again adopted a title-sufficient do-pass motion and reported the bill out. Senator Williams then presented Senate Bill 2594, the Mississippi Antiquities Law bill, which would streamline demolition of abandoned, vacant, or blighted buildings on public university and community college campuses while preserving historic properties. He said the measure would require coordination with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, define blight, require engineering analysis in some cases, and give MDH 90 days to respond before demolition or further inspection proceeds. Several senators raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the definitions of blight and other causes, and that it might let institutions tear down too much without sufficient oversight. Williams said the bill was meant to balance preservation with practical needs and agreed to work on a floor amendment to tighten the language. The committee then voted to report the bill out. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2340, authorizing DFA to sell, lease, or convey the former DPS property at 1900 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue in Jackson. The committee substitute would direct proceeds to the general fund rather than DPS, while preserving mineral rights, allowing repurchase under certain conditions, and requiring DFA review of proposals. Senators discussed possible redevelopment uses, including University Medical Center, and the bill’s restrictions on uses such as heavy industrial, adult entertainment, casinos, liquor stores, and solid waste facilities. No final vote on this bill was reflected in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

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• > continue<00:12:26.079> to<00:12:26.240> go<00:12:26.399> forward,<00:12
• :27.120> only<00:12:27.360> grow<00:12:28.000> in<00:12:28.160> the<00:12
• <00:12:29.600> So,<00:12:29.760> by<00:12:30.000> having<00:12:30.240> a<
• 12:53.680> and<00:12:54.000> its<00:12:54.800> we<00:12:55.040> have<00:12

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 216, 29 January, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bills 2625 and 2636, both described as part of a broader effort to strengthen state cybersecurity. SB 2625 would create a state chief information officer at the governor’s office level to coordinate IT and cybersecurity policy across agencies. Members and the sponsor said it was a conceptual work in progress, and the committee added a reverse repealer before reporting the bill out as a committee substitute with a do pass recommendation. SB 2636 would create a Department of Cyber Security focused on law enforcement and post-attack response, including investigators and coordination with DPS, the auditor’s office, local jurisdictions, and federal partners. Supporters said the goal was to improve collaboration, protect taxpayer information, and separate network protection and recovery from criminal investigation. Some members questioned whether the new department would overlap with existing IT and law enforcement functions, but sponsors said it was intended to clarify responsibilities rather than duplicate them. The committee added a reverse repealer and reported the bill out as a committee substitute with a do pass recommendation. The committee also considered SB 2632, which would delay action on state disaster recovery funding while awaiting federal changes from FEMA/MEMA. The sponsor said the bill would give the state time to evaluate new federal disaster recovery rules and determine the best approach for Mississippi. The committee added a reverse repealer and reported the bill out as a committee substitute with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SB 2817, a Department of Public Safety reorganization bill. It would move the Bureau of Investigation, narcotics, homeland security, and the forensic lab under the State Bureau of Investigation to streamline command and allow more flexible staffing. It would also preserve a telecommunications fee, raise autopsy and salvage inspection fees, and continue discussion of DPS police powers. After questions about the autopsy fee and whether the reorganization would save money, the committee adopted a do pass motion. The chair also noted that SB 2673 would be studied further over the next year before any final action.

Transcript Highlights:

• > taking<00:12:24.240> care<00:12:24.399> of<00:12:24.880> uninsured<00:12
• >> But<00:12:32.880> again,<00:12:33.440> this<00:12:33.680> is<00:12
• There's<00:12:42.800> a<00:12:43.040> motion<00:12:43.519> title<00:12:43.920
• sufficient to pass.<00:12:44.880> You<00:12:45.040> ready<00:12:45.200> to<00:12
• <00:12:52.079> The<00:12:52.240> eyes<00:12:52.560> have<00:12:52.720> it

Keywords: Public Health - Room 216, 27 January, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3, a Medicaid and certificate-of-need measure described as a revised version of a bill vetoed by the governor the previous year. The bill would remove a prohibition on a psychiatric residential treatment facility in one county from Medicaid participation, add 20 beds for a Madison County facility, allow crossover status for a Harrison County hospital, require MC to obtain a certificate of need for facilities outside the original Jackson campus area, increase capital expenditure limits, and remove the provision the governor had objected to. Members discussed whether the bill was really a study item or a substantive new requirement, especially a provision tied to acute adult psychiatric units treating uninsured patients or paying a fee. The chair explained the policy concern as preventing “cherry-picking” of insured patients and shifting more uncompensated care to public facilities. The committee voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it, then voted to rise and report. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2453, a clarifying bill on window tinting/glazing exemptions. The sponsor explained that current law requires a physician’s affidavit for an exception, and the bill would clarify that licensed optometrists, along with physicians, may sign the affidavit for people whose eyes are sensitive to light. After brief questions, the committee again voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it. The chair said the two bills were being moved quickly to the docket room for processing and that the committee would reconvene immediately afterward. The final portion of the meeting was a hearing on Senate Bill 2566 involving the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The chair explained that the hearing was prompted by complaints from last session about inspectors being overly aggressive, fines for technical violations, and delays or problems with licensing. Board representatives said the newly appointed board had met for the first time, elected officers, and intended to focus on workforce development, easing burdens on the industry, and protecting public health and safety. They said the board had already restored prior passing scores for exams, adjusted work-permit timing to help students, reviewed contracts and staffing, and planned further meetings. Members and the chair discussed possible legislative changes, including mobile barber establishments, reducing fines, and extending license terms from two years to three years, with the chair asking the board to work with Senator Johnson on amendments before the deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

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• <00:12:34.880> Um,<00:12:35.200> so<00:12:35.360> there<00:12:35.600> are
• > them,<00:12:37.839> but<00:12:38.000> I<00:12:38.079> think<00:12:38.160
• a delay would<00:12:39.120> be<00:12:39.200> very<00:12:39.519> efficient<00:12
• <00:12:48.639> are<00:12:48.720> we<00:12:48.800> going<00:12:48.880> to<

Keywords: Government Structure - Room 210; 21 January, 2026: 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up an Irish trade commission bill, described as a recurring measure that had previously stalled in the other chamber. Members said prior concerns had been reconciled, no questions were raised, and the committee moved it out by voice vote. The next major item was Senator Boyd’s “People’s Access Act” (SB 2259), which would require public bodies to livestream meetings and provide a central listing of those streams. Boyd said the bill was intended to improve public access, especially for people who cannot attend in person, and noted it had passed the Senate before. Members asked whether the bill would cover subcommittees and subboards; Boyd said those meetings were not contemplated in the bill. Senator Blunt supported the transparency goal but raised concerns about small municipalities lacking staff or equipment to comply, and suggested the notice links be housed on a Department of Finance and Administration page rather than with the Secretary of State. The committee adopted that amendment. After further discussion, members added population-based implementation dates for municipalities and discussed a possible due-diligence exception for technology failures, with several senators emphasizing the need to balance transparency with practical limits for small towns. The bill was then reported out as amended. The committee then began Senator Boyd’s task force bill (SB 2260), which would direct several health and human services agencies—including Medicaid, Human Services, Child Protective Services, Health, and Mental Health—to recommend ways to reduce duplication and improve coordination in licensing and certification processes. Boyd said the bill grew out of testimony about inefficiencies in child care and mental health regulation and was intended to create a more streamlined process. Discussion began, and Senator Sparks suggested considering whether the Department of Rehabilitation Services should also be included, but no action on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• January 6th rioter and anti-Semitic racist Nazi sympathizer. You can see his photo.
• Martin compared the prosecution of January 6 rioters with the internment of Japanese-Americans during
• So plain and simple, nearly every convicted January 6th insurrectionist, 96% of them was convicted of
• Comparing January 6th insurrectionists to loyal Americans jailed.
• On this vote, the ayes are 12, the nays are 10. Okay, Mr. Davis will be reported.

Keywords: nomination, Patrick Davis, Assistant Attorney General, Ed Martin, January 6th, public testimony

Summary: This meeting focused primarily on the nomination of Patrick Davis to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs. Members discussed Mr. Davis's qualifications and experience, emphasizing his commitment to effectively serving the American public and working collaboratively with Congress. The committee also briefly revisited the nominations of John Eisenberg and Brett Shumate but decided to hold them over until the next meeting. Additionally, concerns regarding the nomination of Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia were raised, particularly regarding his past statements and conduct related to the January 6th insurrection and its aftermath. The discussion highlighted the importance of reviewing Mr. Martin's responses to various questions before proceeding with a vote on his nomination.

Keywords: County Affairs - Room 409, 31 January, 2025; 9:30 A.M., 925, all

Keywords: Drug Policy - Room 409, 30 January, 2025; 4:15 P.M., 925, all