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Rep. Noah Sanford
The legislative session is a little over halfway finished, with sine die scheduled for the first week of May. Thursday, March 14, was the deadline for most House bills to be debated and passed. A few to mention:
House Bill 1208 would clarify the crime of knowingly hunting, fishing, or trapping on the lands of another—effectively, a trespass. The proposed language would remove a requirement that the trespasser must have been previously warned to stay off of the property, or that signs conveying that message must have been posted. The measure passed by a vote of 67-43.
House Bill 1350 would ban marketing phone calls regarding Medicare Advantage plans, whereas House Bill 1352 would ban calls concerning Medicare supplements, and allow consumers to opt out of such calls. Both passed unanimously.
House Bill 1607, dubbed the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” would define several terms—including male, female, man, and woman—throughout state law, with the aim of protecting the ability for athletic and other groups to remain single sex. The bill passed by a margin of 82-30.
House Bill 1590 would reconstitute the membership of the PERS (Public Employees’ Retirement System) Board, permitting the governor and lieutenant governor to appoint some board members, and requiring that those members have experience in financial management or in administering a pension system. Presently, there is no requirement that PERS board members have any particular financial or other training or experience. Many legislators feel that the present PERS board has not been proactive in ensuring the long-term integrity of the pension system and have, at times, provided sometimes-conflicting information to the legislature. The bill passed by a margin of 85-34 and presently is pending in the Senate. Despite rumors to the contrary, House Bill 1590 would not affect the benefits of any retiree or member of PERS—nor would any other bill before the legislature.
These bills, along with dozens of others, will now move to the Senate, while the House will consider the dozens of Senate bills passed from that chamber.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve. Please contact me if I may be of assistance or if you have questions or concerns.
Noah Sanford represents parts of Covington, Simpson, Jefferson Davis, Forrest, and Jones Counties in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He can be reached at NSanford@house.ms.gov.
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