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Rep. Noah Sanford
Several bills of importance have made their way to the House floor within the last few weeks:
Senate Bill 2615 would allow those who provide contractual labor for the state government to purchase the base plan of the state health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Whereas state employees’ insurance is paid for by the taxpayers, contract employees would have to foot the bill themselves for the entire cost of the insurance. The bill passed 88-17.
Also relating to the state health insurance plan, Senate Bill 2623 would create a task force to study the current state plan and make recommendations regarding future changes. Most legislators are dissatisfied with the cost and benefits of the current plan, offered by Blue Cross; the bill passed overwhelmingly, 110-6.
House Bill 1671, which passed by a vote of 104-9, would increase the tax credit available to businesses and individuals contributing to crisis pregnancy centers. Crisis pregnancy centers provide healthcare and related resources for young pregnant women and new mothers, helping them to make healthy choices for themselves and their children.
House Bill 1721 would provide funding for opening a burn center at Baptist Hospital in Jackson. The only burn center in the state, JMS Burn Center at Merit Hospital in Jackson, closed in late 2022 and, since then, severe burn patients in Mississippi have been transported by helicopter to other states for treatment. There are some voices arguing that the burn center should be at UMMC rather than Baptist, and such an amendment may well be adopted later in the process.
House Bills 1715 and 1716 would provide an avenue for the legislature to transfer some remaining ARPA (federal COVID-related money) to the State Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Quality for grants to municipalities and rural water associations for capital improvements. Many municipalities and rural water associations received funding in last year’s grant program; the aim is that the remainder would be funded this year.
All bills which appropriate funds—as well as many others which do not—will wind up in “conference,” a term referring to a period at the end of each year’s session when three House members and three senators negotiate and hammer out final language (or spending numbers) that they believe can pass their respective chambers.
As always, 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 website covering Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi.
