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Rep. Noah Sanford
Over the last few weeks, the House of Representatives has debated dozens of bills on the House floor, with the vast majority of them having passed.
House Bill 1392 would require the Department of Human Services to establish and maintain a Vulnerable Persons Abuse Registry, where information on those convicted of exploitation, abuse, or neglect of a vulnerable adult will be stored. Long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living centers would have access to the registry. Members of the public would be allowed temporary access to the registry in order to verify that persons who they may hire to care for elderly or vulnerable family members have not been convicted of such crimes.
House Bill 1365 would provide for a sorely-needed pay raise for assistant teachers. Though Mississippi is no longer on the bottom for certified teacher pay, we are still on the bottom for assistant teacher salaries. This bill would help remedy that.
House Bill 1373 would add Mississippi to a list of states which allow parents to withdraw their child from school for up to one hour per week for religious instruction. After short debate, the bill passed 105-4.
House Bill 735 would clarify that businesses are not required to collect sales tax on the interchange fees charged by credit/debit card companies, up to a 2.5% fee. Most banks and card companies charge a fee, usually between 2.5% and 3.5%, for transferring money between the accounts of the buyer and the seller. Confusion among retailers has caused many to charge and collect sales tax on the interchange fee as well as on the sale itself.
House Bill 1170 would permit the Department of Revenue to issue electronic titles to motor vehicles and manufactured homes.
All of these bills, and dozens more, will be transmitted to the Senate, where they must navigate through the process of committee work and floor passage in order to survive.
In a historic moment, Rep. Alyce Clarke, of Jackson, announced she would retire at the end of this year and not seek re-election. Rep. Clarke, a consequential figure in Mississippi, was the first African American female elected to the Mississippi legislature. First elected in 1984, Rep. Clarke was instrumental in establishing the drug court system, the state lottery, and Born Free, a rehab center for pregnant women suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. “Remember me as someone who tried to help somebody along the way,” she said to a standing ovation from colleagues.
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, and Jefferson Davis Counties in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He can be reached at NSanford@house.ms.gov.
MageeNews.com is an online news source serving Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
