Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 31 March, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that are there, and I will go ahead at this time and recognize Mr.
• And, you know, Garrett and I think he's doing a good job over there.
• And, you know, Garrett and I think he's doing a good job over there.
• Um<00:03:08.040> and<00:03:08.519> um Um and um Um and um you<00:03:09.760> know,
• are offering training and And that if we are offering training and and<00:04:42.880> I'm<00:04

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 409, 31 March, 2026; 9:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered the Lieutenant Governor’s appointment of Charles Tyler Norman to the board of MAG Core, formerly the Mississippi Prison Industries Corporation, to fill a vacancy for a term ending June 30, 2028. Members described the board’s role in prison-based workforce training and noted that most of its membership is made up of state officials, with only a few outside appointees. Norman said he has a long business background, has served on other state boards, and supports public service and workforce development, including prison work programs. Several senators used the nomination to raise broader concerns about the effectiveness of prison workforce training and whether MAG Core should continue as a separate entity or be folded under Accelerate Mississippi. The chair said he was frustrated with workforce outcomes for incarcerated people, including the implementation of presumptive parole and the value of some training credentials, and stressed that any program should be profitable and not burden taxpayers. Norman agreed that workforce training should be practical and tied to real trades, said he has hired felons and believes in second chances, and said he would bring committee suggestions back to the board. A senator asked about a 2008 derogatory incident in Norman’s background report; Norman acknowledged it as a college misdemeanor and said it was the only such issue. Another senator asked about the board’s composition and diversity, and staff said one remaining outside member is a governor’s appointee, later identified as Ronnie McNeil from the faith-based community. The committee then adopted a motion to report the nomination out with a do advise and consent recommendation, and Norman was reminded to keep his statement of economic interest current.

Keywords: Veterans and Military Affairs - Room 210, 30 March, 2026; 12:30 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 26 March, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 216, 25 March, 2026; 9:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Cruise, welcome, and we'll let you have the floor and tell us about yourself.
• So, basically, I live to hunt and fish and spend time outdoors and take other people with me as much
• I wanted to commend all of you that have put it together, and Caitlin and Ricky, and putting together
• <00:04:16.280> follow going and they can follow up and follow going and they can follow up
• And and I do appreciate are sustainable.

Keywords: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks - Room 210, 25 March, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee heard from Allison Cruise of Canton, Mississippi, a nominee for the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. Cruise described her personal background as an avid hunter and angler and expressed support for expanding outdoor access and conservation opportunities across the state. Senator Wicker, who said he was one of the authors of the legislation creating the fund, asked about her views on conservation and how the program could better serve the public. Cruise praised the board’s structure, said she valued the requirement for matching funds and project guidelines that emphasize hunting, fishing, and broad public access, and encouraged continued outreach so projects come from all regions of Mississippi. Wicker also stressed the need for careful attention to the application process, asking what applicants can do to make projects more feasible for consideration. Cruise responded that applicants should be audited entities with staff able to answer trust fund questions so the board can track money and ensure projects are sustainable. Wicker noted that many counties still have no funded projects and urged the board to remember that Mississippi is a large state and funding should not be concentrated only in certain corridors. A committee member later noted that Cruise’s portal looked good but mentioned a missing statement of economic interest, which Cruise said she had filed. The committee then moved to advise and consent, approved the motion without opposition, and reported the nomination to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• I guess and and we can visit with you.
• and come to<00:02:14.440> work<00:02:15.040> and to work and to work and to to to cut<
• It's very useful and helpful when the regulator comes in and says, "You're doing X, Y, and Z, and that's
• and Native American healthcare and uh and Native American healthcare and uh among<00:15:45.480><
• and consent. and consent.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 March, 2026; 11:15 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered nominees to the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering: Tom Elkins, Todd Freeman, and Aaron Washington. Each described their background in the hair industry and expressed support for making licensing and regulation more workable while still protecting health and safety. Members discussed the need for a balance between oversight and burden, with the chair emphasizing that inspectors should educate rather than intimidate. The committee then voted to advise and consent on the nominees, and the motion carried. The committee next took up the reappointment of Jim Perry to the State Board of Health. Perry described his background in state and federal policy, finance, and health-related work, and said his board service had highlighted operational problems in state government, including personnel and procurement bottlenecks, staffing shortages, succession challenges, and the need for better, more consistent data to guide the state health plan and certificate-of-need decisions. He suggested continued budget support for policy and planning staff, more frequent updates to the health plan, and a review of whether prior procurement and personnel reforms went too far. Members asked about his statement of economic interest and discussed the broader need for better health care information and administration. The committee voted to advise and consent on Perry’s reappointment. It then handled a block of nominations to the Board of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists, voting to take them up and to advise and consent. Finally, the committee addressed the nomination of Dr. Anthony to the State Board of Health, noting that the seat had become vacant due to a recent death and voting to return the nomination to the governor as a procedural matter. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• > all<00:20:59.720> over<00:21:00.480> and And they were crawling all over and And
• committee is and what it needs to do and committee is and what it needs to do and what<00:21:08.280
• , Ricky and and and working through hired, Ricky and and and working through that. that. that.
• the parks and the ball fields and all the parks and the ball fields and all that,<00:24:10.960> we're
• c><00:26:45.560> Senator And and I don't and Senator And and I don't and Senator uh<00:26:46.840

Keywords: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks - Room 210, 18 March, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Wildlife, Fisheries Committee met to consider several Senate nominations to the Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund board. The nominees included Richard Webster, Peyton Locky, Josh Ragio, and reappointee Van Ray. Each nominee briefly described his background and connection to the outdoors, conservation, or related business experience. Committee members repeatedly emphasized that the board should focus on projects that improve public access and advance conservation, while also considering projects across all regions of Mississippi, including north Mississippi. Members also raised concerns about the use of trust fund money for land purchases, noting that buying land can remove property from county tax rolls. Several senators urged the nominees to favor projects that maximize public benefit, avoid overemphasis on city parks or ball fields, and consider leasing land instead of purchasing it when possible. The nominees generally agreed that projects should be judged on merit, public access, and conservation value. One nominee, Webster, was reminded to file a statement of economic interest with the Mississippi Ethics Commission before floor consideration. The committee voted to advise and consent on Senate Nominations 2, 51 and 52, 53 and 54, and 89, moving all of them to the floor. The votes were taken by voice vote with no opposition recorded. Van Ray also discussed the committee’s earlier work creating procedures for the program and said the board had already supported many projects statewide, with a moratorium on land purchases currently in place.

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 216, 12 March, 2026; 1:45 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would— that's an explanation of the bill, and if there are any questions, I'll yield and then move
• Uh Representative Bale and of the bill.
• and then uh I'll yield any questions and then uh move<00:03:09.120> to<00:03:09.280> my
• Uh, I'll entertain a rise and report motion. All right.
• And any further Any opposed? All right.

Keywords: Economic and Workforce Development - Room 409, 3 March, 2026; 10:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered two bills focused on workforce development and construction trades training. The first, Bill 338 from Chairman Bale, would create a training assistance fund for K-12 schools and community colleges, especially for construction trades programs. The proposal would divert 2.75% of the contractor tax, which members noted is already collected and would remain in education, into a grant fund that schools and colleges could apply to through the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development/Accelerate Mississippi. Members asked for clarification that the money would not go to individual schools automatically but would be awarded through grants, and the bill was approved by a do-pass motion. The second bill would establish a state Office of Apprenticeship to comply with federal requirements and allow Mississippi to draw down federal apprenticeship funds. The sponsor said the measure was still a work in progress and asked the committee to insert a reverse repealer because the language had not been finalized after Department of Labor review. A question was raised about whether the program would work with existing trade union apprenticeship programs, and the sponsor said the legislation would include advisory committee representation from the union community. The committee adopted the reverse repealer amendment and then reported the bill out on a do-pass as amended motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; And and I I I absolutely understand and >> And and I I I absolutely understand and appreciate
• <00:38:12.480> I<00:38:12.680> and<00:38:12.840> I and I and I and I and I I<00:
• <00:41:35.320> about dig into it and and and learn more about dig into it and and and learn
• And a lot and and one of 1159.
• Section seven, and it's not even in the document. We had to renumber it.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1622, a strike-all amendment to create a pilot program for certain small-community hospitals to receive limited certificate-of-need exemptions. The bill would allow qualifying hospitals to open a geriatric psychiatric unit without a CON, permit each hospital one additional CON exemption for a service otherwise requiring one, cap dialysis-unit exemptions at eight hospitals, continue existing moratoriums with periodic Department of Health review, allow facilities in Issaquena or Humphreys Counties under limited conditions, and add a loser-pays rule for unsuccessful CON court challenges. Technical corrections were made, the strike-all amendment was adopted, and the bill was reported do pass as amended by voice vote. The committee then moved to House Bill 942, where Senator McMahan offered an amendment to allow a Lee County chiropractor to advertise as a neurologic chiropractor and list related credentials. Members questioned whether chiropractic neurology is recognized in Mississippi and raised concerns about the practitioner’s prior discipline by the board, but the chair ruled the amendment germane. The amendment failed on voice vote, and the bill itself then passed and was reported to the floor. The committee next considered House Bill 1034, but no amendment was offered. It then took House Bill 479 off the table. That bill extends the temporary licensing period for psychology and marriage-and-family-therapy boards from 30 to 60 days to allow more time for criminal background checks. Senator Blackwell offered a clarifying amendment to make clear that temporary licenses must be revoked if required background checks or other licensure requirements are insufficient, and that the temporary license does not replace the underlying education, training, and examination requirements. The amendment was adopted and the bill was reported do pass as amended. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1067, the Rural Health Transformation Program. Senator Hickman explained that the bill would require procurement procedures and reporting for the state’s rural health transformation funds, prioritize projects tied to the original application, and direct funds toward rural and underserved areas such as health professional shortage areas, low-income counties, and places without hospitals. Senators questioned whether the added state rules would layer on top of existing federal requirements and whether the bill could slow distribution or invite litigation, but supporters said it was meant to add transparency and guardrails rather than change the federal program. The bill was discussed at length, but the transcript ends before a final vote on HB 1067.

Transcript Highlights:

• And and during my last fashion, or form.
• do advise and consent. do advise and consent.
• > of<00:08:48.480> the boards and positions and one of the boards and positions and one of
• c><00:09:26.720> support that position and and put my for support that position and and put my
• advise and consent? advise and consent?

Keywords: Veterans and Military Affairs - Room 210, 3 March, 2026; 1:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee considered House Bill 612, which had two main parts. Section one would expand an existing authority allowing state agencies, like counties and municipalities already could, to enter memoranda of understanding with federal installations to help complete projects. Section two would add Coast Guard medics to a prior law letting military medics use their training to sit for the LPN certification test. A member asked whether this changed scope of practice, and the sponsor said it did not, noting the applicants would still have to pass the test to be certified. After brief discussion, the committee adopted the committee substitute and passed the bill by voice vote, with the chair announcing that the ayes had it and the bill would be reported out. The committee then took up nominations to the State Veterans Affairs Board. Brigadier General Billy Lamar Pierce was presented for reappointment to represent the Third Congressional District, and Command Sergeant Major Sylvester Tatum was presented for reappointment at large, both for five-year terms. Both nominees spoke about their service and commitment to veterans, and members and senators offered supportive remarks, including comments about veterans’ services, state veterans homes, staffing, and compensation for staff. The committee voted to advise and consent on both nominations, and the chair said they would be reported. The chair also reminded members that the documents contained personal information and had to remain in the room to be shredded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I want to do that.
• And and again, that would be operations.
• and to put another way, what is the And and to put another way, what is the point<00:15:10.959> of
• would walk up and and speak into the would walk up and and speak into the microphone.
• And this is still a strike All right. And this is still a strike all. all. all.

Keywords: Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several bills related to marine and airport matters. One measure would amend an existing prohibition on using a “pane” in parts of the Mississippi Sound to add Jackson County back into the restricted area. Another, House Bill 735, would authorize the Department of Marine Resources to pay reserve marine patrol officers for special events using existing federal or local funds rather than new state money. Both were presented as straightforward updates, and HB 735 received a title sufficient do pass motion and was reported out. House Bill 1441 on airport authorities drew more discussion. The bill would give airports authority similar to other property owners to deal with abandoned vehicles on airport property, including notice and abandonment procedures. Members asked about notification requirements, the abandonment timeline, and whether the authority could retain vehicles for official airport use; the sponsor said the existing process and state law notice requirements still apply. An amendment was offered to clarify the 90-day notice language, and the bill was advanced after that amendment. The committee also considered House Bill 1466, a seafood labeling strike-all bill. The sponsor said the Department of Marine Resources and stakeholders were still working on the language, including where labels may be affixed on menus and how grocery store labeling should work. Members discussed the use of “imported” versus country-of-origin labeling, and a representative explained that the language was intended to let restaurants identify specific foreign products by country rather than simply marking them imported. The committee also adopted a grammar correction in the short title and restored a reverse repealer before reporting the bill out. At the end of the meeting, the committee said it was pressed for time and recessed before taking up one remaining bill related to reef issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• study and them being taken advantage of? study and them being taken advantage of?
• <00:07:06.080> and process of of looking into that and and process of of looking into that
• And they look into it and they find out there is a business filed in their name.
• <00:09:03.279> they business and they look into it and they business and they look into it
• And I think I heard a motion to rise and report. All those in favor say I.

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 216, 2 March, 2026; 4:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee took up several House bills related to fraud prevention and business filing procedures. On HB 1719, members discussed creating a study committee to examine prevention strategies for financial fraud and related scams, with the sponsor citing a sharp increase in securities division investigations and the need to coordinate among multiple state agencies. Questions focused on whether the study would include deed fraud and veterans’ fraud; the sponsor said the committee was initially aimed at securities fraud but could be expanded, and noted the Veterans Affairs director was included. An amendment adding the president of the Mississippi Bankers Association or designee was adopted, and the bill was given a do pass strike all recommendation. HB 1532 would allow the Secretary of State to remove fraudulent business filings and protect personal information used without consent. The sponsor explained that current law does not let the office remove a filing even when someone’s name, address, or phone number is used fraudulently, and said the bill would create a process to investigate complaints and take down fraudulent filings. Members clarified that the bill would not address scam solicitation letters sent to businesses, only fraudulent filings themselves. The committee then voted title sufficient, do pass. HB 1642 would move dissolution notices for corporations and LLCs to electronic notice. The sponsor said Mississippi already requires email addresses on filings and has been sending both email and mailed notices, but the bill would allow email-only notice and save about $65,000 in mailing costs while improving response rates. After concerns were raised about whether electronic notice alone was enough before a business is dissolved, the committee adopted a reverse repealer amendment to keep working on the issue, then reported the bill out with a title sufficient, do pass strike all recommendation and rose and reported.

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 409, 26 February, 2026; 9:15 A.M., 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > that<00:03:05.360> I ones like and and the reason that I ones like and and the reason
• /c><00:03:45.680> not support services and I'm not and I'm not support services and I'm not and
• <00:16:23.759> risk valition and and you take the risk valition and and you take the risk
• > there's container and that security and there's container and that security and there's a<00:21
• concerns that were raised. and opioids and he had no quality of and opioids and he had no quality of

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 25 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 612, which had been laid on the table because of questions about section one. Senator Tate explained that section one would allow the state, counties, and municipalities to enter interlocal agreements to provide installation support services on military installations, mainly road and infrastructure work such as paving and dirt work, and that section two would add Coast Guard medics to an existing provision allowing trained military medics to sit for LPN certification. After questions about the breadth of “installation support services,” the committee adopted the motion for title sufficient, due pass, with opposition noted, and the bill was reported to the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. House Bill 942 was then passed over at Senator McMahon’s request until Tuesday. The committee then took up House Bill 1034, which would allow terminally ill hospital patients to use medical cannabis gummies. The sponsor said the bill is intended to help terminally ill patients who already qualify for medical cannabis but are denied access in hospitals, and that it prohibits smoking or inhalation. Members raised concerns about whether the bill was too broad, whether it would interfere with hospital and physician judgment, possible drug interactions, federal law issues, liability for hospitals and doctors, storage and disposal requirements, and whether hospitals would incur costs or be forced to handle cannabis on their premises. The sponsor responded that the patient’s use would be logged in the chart, that the caregiver is generally responsible for the lockbox and disposal, and that the bill includes language allowing a facility to opt out if compliance would jeopardize federal funding or licensing. The bill’s author also described the measure as arising from a Coast Guard family’s experience in which a terminally ill patient was denied access to medical cannabis at one hospital but allowed at another, and said the goal is to prevent similar denials for terminally ill patients. He said he was not aware of other drugs treated this way in hospitals, but argued that terminally ill patients should have access to most anything they want. The discussion ended with Senator England asking whether changing the bill’s requirement that a facility “shall” allow medical cannabis to “may” allow it would better protect hospitals and preserve discretion, but no final action on House Bill 1034 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we had no idea we were going to get our caucus that quick. I know. I know.
• And Lord, we pray your blessings on all our activities today. And we'd honor and glorify you.
• And uh April texted me.
• <00:01:37.680> um seats have done and um seats have done and um >> Mr.<00:01:40.320>
• I think her bill >> And uh April texted me.

Bills: SB319

Keywords: civil service, local government, employment policies, boards and commissions, appeals process, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• doors and tell the truth and be honest and find out what happened.
• honest and find out what happened and be honest and find out what happened and<00:03:39.680> and
• <00:07:16.479> and<00:07:16.720> family licensed and marriage and family licensed and
• ><00:08:34.159> and the psychology statutes and marriage and the psychology statutes and marriage
• and and I think saying, the the specific and and I think as<00:34:14.000> a<00:34:14.240>

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took House Bill 1637 off the table and adopted a committee substitute amendment narrowing Public Records Act exemptions to records of the child death review panel, maternal mortality review committee, and fetal and infant mortality review panel. Supporters said the exemption was intended to let providers and hospitals speak candidly in closed-door reviews to identify mistakes and prevent future deaths, while critics questioned how the public and legislature would learn the outcomes. The amendment and then the bill as amended were adopted by voice vote. House Bill 479, which would extend temporary licensing timeframes for the psychology board and the board of licensed marriage and family therapists from 30 to 60 days, was then considered. An amendment was adopted clarifying that the bill does not alter existing education, supervised training, or examination requirements. Senator Hill raised concerns that the bill’s language could allow a temporary license to last 365 days even if licensure requirements were not met, and the committee ultimately tabled the bill subject to call so the language could be clarified. The committee also heard House Bill 514, the Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, which updates the vet-client-patient relationship definition, adds a public member and a certified veterinary technician to the board, removes some fees, and adds title protection for certified veterinary technicians. Witnesses said the changes were meant to support the profession and keep more graduates in-state. The bill passed after questions about the certification’s scope. House Bill 612, authorizing intergovernmental agreements and involving Coast Guard training and installation support services, was tabled subject to call after members said they needed more explanation. Finally, House Bill 1152, the Right to Try the Medical Cannabis Act, was considered. The bill creates a process for patients with chronic, progressive, severely disabling, or terminal illnesses not already covered by the medical cannabis statute to petition the Department of Health for access, with the treating physician initiating the request. An amendment was adopted to clarify that out-of-state patients receiving care in Mississippi are not excluded if they meet the same process and standards. Members then debated unclear language near the end of the bill about which provisions control in case of conflict; the sponsor said the new right-to-try provisions would govern for the covered patients. The discussion continued with examples of conditions that might qualify, such as non-malignant chronic pain syndromes, and the bill remained under consideration as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm I'm wanting to get through Okay.
• we're doing strike all goes back and we're doing strike all goes back and does<00:02:47.840>
• And in the old language, it authorizes that there can be a voluntary death and dismemberment insurance
• So it was 51 to nothing and I voting.
• And so exactly who is eligible for it.

Keywords: Veterans and Military Affairs - Room 210, 19 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee began by having a group of student pages introduce themselves, with the chair praising them as the best group of pages he had seen in his seven sessions. He then moved quickly through the agenda, noting that four bills were on the calendar and that three had already been voted on in committee substitute form. House Bill 1076, the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act, was presented as a strike-all using the same language previously approved 52-0 to place limits on claim sharks. House Bill 1084 would increase authorized military leave for training from 15 to 21 days; members were told it was double referred and would also go to Appropriations, but the language was the same as previously passed 52-0. House Bill 1085, the Mississippi National Guard Service Members Medical Readiness Act, was described as a strike-all version of the committee’s earlier Tricare-related bill, again said to be verbatim to the version previously passed 51-0. House Bill 1713 was explained in more detail as a measure to codify long-standing authority for the Mississippi National Guard to offer state-sponsored voluntary death and dismemberment insurance, up to $25,000 per person. The new language would clarify who administers the program and who is eligible, and the sponsor emphasized that the coverage is voluntary and has no fiscal note because participants would pay for it themselves. After brief questions, each bill was moved by title sufficient do pass and approved by voice vote, with the chair announcing the ayes had it. The chair also said there would be at least one more meeting later for reappointed nominations once a peer report was available, and the committee then rose and reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then also on lines 352 and following on pages 14 and 15. panel is required by federal law and panel
• And and it it seems to me that bill?
• Let me go and see what happened and get Let me go and see what happened and get those<00:10:14.000
• <00:26:34.559> But independent and own and own and own.
• But independent and own and own and own.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 17 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered three House bills. House Bill 515, described as a measure allowing radiologist assistants to discuss preliminary findings with physicians after a test, was presented as identical to an earlier bill and passed on a title sufficient, do pass motion without debate. House Bill 1637 would create a fetal and infant mortality review panel under the Department of Health to align state law with federal requirements and mirror existing maternal mortality review work. The bill prompted extended questioning about broad exemptions from the Open Meetings and Public Records Acts, with Senator Blunt and others expressing concern that the language was too broad and could shield records beyond individual patient privacy. Dr. Edney of the Department of Health testified that the protections were needed so hospitals and providers would share sensitive information for performance improvement and mortality review work, and that final reports would still be issued. After the debate, Senator Blunt moved to lay House Bill 1637 on the table subject to call, and the motion passed. The committee then took up House Bill 814, which would raise fees for inspections and investigations of food establishments and wastewater systems; it was described as a Department of Health measure supported by the regulated entities because they want inspections. The bill was characterized as maintaining an arm’s-length relationship between regulators and regulated parties, and it passed on a title sufficient, do pass motion. The chair closed by noting the committee had completed its agenda and would not meet the next day.