Mississippi one of three states to deny access to benefits. Critics say law hurts children and others in household.
Health
Measure to protect patients from surprise medical bills dies
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Some lawmakers oppose an existing law — and any efforts to strengthen it — that protects patients against large out-of-pocket medical bills, said a committee chairman
Sexual orientation, gender identity, disability could be covered by Mississippi hate crime law
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Bill would bring the state’s hate crime statute in line with federal law
‘Parker’s Law’ would put drug dealers behind bars for overdose deaths
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The law will help hold drug dealers accountable, supporters of the bill argue, but others say it would deter people from calling for help in the case of an overdose.
In 2018 arms race for governor’s seat, Tate Reeves outraised Jim Hood by $1 million
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Hood touts success of his in-state fundraising efforts
‘Mississippi School Safety Act’ on the way to House floor, requires active shooter drills
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Governor, in State of the State speech, asked the Legislature to pass ‘a comprehensive plan to keep our school children safe.’
2019 Legislative Session
Criminal justice reforms focus on drug courts, expungement
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This is the third set of reforms introduced in recent years, and is expected to draw bipartisan support
Government
Broadband bill becomes law at lightning speed, but questions persist about transparency at electric co-ops
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New law gives rural electric cooperatives the authority to offer high-speed internet service. The cooperatives, under fire over lack of diversity, are nonprofits and are supposed to return excess money to members.
Over law enforcement’s objections, autopsy privatization bill advances
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Sen. Chad McMahan, R-Guntown, sponsored the measure in hopes of bringing some relief to county coroners
Government
Public safety chief criticizes civil service protections, but data show state workers rarely win appeals
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Civil service protection ‘eliminates intra-agency politics. That is why we fight so hard to keep it in place. Workers should have some type of appeals process,” said the executive director of the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees
Mississippi demands accountability from parents on public assistance — so why is the state so secretive about how it manages welfare funds?
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Advocacy groups want to roll back a child support provision they say further stigmatizes low-income families
Government
CPS requests additional $26 million to comply with Olivia Y settlement
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Agency director says extra money needed for more caseworkers to appropriately monitor children in the system.
Furlough discussion at Human Services department sends lawmakers scrambling to close gap
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House Democrats propose dipping into the state’s rainy-day fund to keep the agency afloat during the partial federal government shutdown
Government
House passes bill to prevent children under 18 from being charged with prostitution
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Measure aimed at strengthening human trafficking laws, also gives CPS more authority to investigate cases of children who have been sexually exploited
$250 million awarded for emergency road and bridge projects
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The Mississippi Transportation Commission announces which projects will receive funds designated during last year’s special session.
Government
Proponents advance rural broadband bill; millions in federal grants at stake
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If the Senate approves the bill, the first of the session, in the same form it passed the House, it will go straight to the governor.