By Tom Miles
We pulled an all-nighter and passed a state budget of $7.6 billion early Saturday morning, the largest budget — not counting federal funds — in the state’s history.
This was the last week of the 2023 Legislative Session. The House passed several significant pieces of legislation along with our Senate counterparts.
It includes a roughly $120 million increase in public K-12 education spending, an extra $620 million was allocated to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for a statewide infrastructure program and a $104 million bailout of the state’s struggling hospitals which will see direct grants given to hospitals in need in exchange for their participation in an information collection and sharing program that could inform future healthcare legislation.
HB 1318 “Baby Drop Off and Safe Haven Law” which improves Mississippi’s Safe Haven law by adding a viable option for mothers who wish to anonymously surrender their newborn within 45 days of birth.
HB 510 “The Foster Parents Bill of Rights” ensures foster parents are treated with dignity and respect throughout the foster care process.
HB 795 revises and strengthens penalties and provisions for serial shoplifters.
HB 1110 protects Second Amendment rights by prohibiting financial institutions from unfairly targeting gun shops and those purchasing firearms.
HB 1003, The Mississippi Fully Autonomous Vehicle Enabling (MS FAVE) Act of 2023, regulates operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads and brings Mississippi in line with other states.
SB 2487 creates the Mississippi Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Scholarship Program, whereby, each eligible student will be qualified for funding for up to six (6) dual enrollment/dual credit semester credit hours prior to high school graduation. The K-12 education budget was passed with an additional one hundred million dollars in funding.
House Bill 817 increases the minimum funding levels for each student enrolled in full-day Early Learning Collaboratives to $2,500 and half-day programs to $1,250. We have benefited recently from the pre K programs in our schools in Scott County. This will give them more funds to expand them and keep them going.
HB 521 creates the Mississippi Length of Service Award Program - LOSAP, supporting the Volunteer Firefighters. This is a program that will be a start on a way to show appreciation to our volunteer firefighters that has been needed for years.
The 2023 budget will include $18.5 million in state funding for the tornadoes that swept across the state last week and devastated towns like Rolling Fork and Amory.
That includes $7 million for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in order to account for the amount it needs to fully match significant federal funds that are being used to assist with cleanup and recovery. Three million dollars will go to impacted schools, and $1.5 million will go to hospitals, while $7 million will go to housing.
We fully funded the homestead exemption rate for the second time in state history. This will help with keeping our local ad valorem taxes low.
We also had the honor of passing bills in recognizing some of Scott County’s finest hometown heroes.
We renamed the Caney Creek WMA in Scott and Smith Counties in honor of the late Representative Dick Livingston and Dale O. Windham.
Many have loved getting the new Black out tags for our vehicles, but the dilemma has been the wait getting one customized. We passed the blackout tag for everyone! - no more waiting! This bill builds on our efforts last year by authorizing a standard issue Blackout plate. Starting on January 1, 2024, you will be able to purchase a standard, randomized blackout plate from your local county tax collector. These plates will be in stock, and available same day.
The standard plates will be offered at a more affordable entry price of $38.25, in addition to your normal yearly taxes and fees, with $36.25 of this fee continuing to benefit fallen first responders through the Fallen Law Enforcement and Firefighters Death Benefit Fund.
These plates will be available alongside the current vanity Blackout option for motorcycles, passenger cars/SUVs, pickup trucks, and B-10 trucks.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you as your State Representative and making my childhood dream come true. It is the honor of a lifetime to represent you! I look forward to visiting with you around the County, talking to you about these issues and other ways we can work together to improve our part of the State. You can reach me anytime at my office in Forest, or by giving me a call at 601-469-7886 or feel free to email me at [email protected]
Comment
Comments