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In the 14th week of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Senate met the Tuesday, April 2, 2024,
deadline for committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originated by the
House. The Senate faces a Wednesday, April 10, 2024, deadline for original floor action on
general bills and constitutional amendments originating in the House, a Thursday, April 11,
2024, deadline for reconsideration and passage of general bills and constitutional amendments
originating in the House, and a Friday, April 12, 2024, deadline to dispose of motions to
reconsider general bills and constitutional amendments originating from the House.
Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann on Thursday, April 4, 2024, made the following appointments
to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, Senator Briggs
Hopson, Senator Josh Harkins, Senator David Parker, Senator Nicole Boyd, and Senator Rod
Hickman. Lt. Governor Hosemann serves as Chairman of the Joint Legislative Budget
Committee.
The Senate passed House Bill 1644, which seeks to have cities and counties contract with more
than one ambulance service provider so, when necessary, a backup service provider can respond
to emergencies and help save lives. Some ambulance services have recently taken an hour or
more to respond to emergencies, which has cost citizens their lives, when the goal should be to
arrive in under 20 minutes. Having the backup ambulance agreement would give emergency
dispatchers the ability to choose the ambulance with the quickest arrival time.
Passage of House Bill 1697, would allow cities, counties, or state agencies to continue for up to
30 days, salary payments to survivors of first responders like firefighters and police officers,
killed in the line of duty, if they so choose. It would be in addition to insurance or pensions.
House Bill 310, would extend from seven days to 30 days, the time required to buy a tag for a
newly purchased motor vehicle.
House Bill 728, would prohibit discriminating actions against 340B drug discount program
entities. The 340B program allows community hospitals to receive wholesale prices on top shelf
prescription drugs.
House Bill 1638, would allow the Department of Human Services to collect debts owed the
agency from state income tax refunds of persons who owe more than $125, due to circumstances
such as overpayments of benefits.
House Bill 1024, would authorize the Department of Human Services to recover their costs for
investigating fraudulent activity.
House Bill 292, clarifies existing DUI license suspension law to say, “The first day of any onehundred-twenty-day period shall begin to run on the date the judge signs an order for
suspension.”
Passage of House Bill 1210, creates the Dr. Elton Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinarians
Scholarship Program, which would provide two scholarships for veterinary medicine at
Mississippi State University. The scholarship seeks to encourage recipients to work in rural
areas.
Among other bills passed were:
• House Bill 1519, authorizes certain towns to acquire and operate short-line railroads.
• House Bill 624, extends until January 1, 2027, the repeal date on credits paid for certain
railroad upgrades.
• House Bill 1640, revises procedures for screening, evaluation and commitments of
persons who may suffer from mental illness. It seeks to have a person who files for
involuntary commitment of another individual to have a medical professional determine
whether committal is justified.
• House Bill 1006, Increases limit from six recreational crab traps per household, to six
recreational crab traps per license holder, bettering their chances of a greater harvest.
• House Bill 1007, would allow the harvesters of oysters to electronically print their own
tags, which the Department of Marine Resources currently does. It will save time, since it
is done electronically, and the harvester will also continue to pay permit fees.
• House Bill 1129, transfers control of the Office of Mississippi Physician Workforce from
University of Mississippi Medical Center to the State Department of Health.
• House Bill 978, helps veterans filing claims by giving the State Veterans Affairs Board
more time to process claims.
• House Bill 317, approves the Department of Health to design and construct a memorial
honoring EMS personnel who died in the line of duty.
The bills will be transmitted to the House for consideration.
The New Albany High School Choir under the guidance of Director Lillian Swilley, performed
at the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, as part of Lt. Governor
Hosemann’s tradition of allowing students to share their talents, which gives lawmakers time to
reflect on the importance of the job they are at the Capitol to do.
Senator Rod Hickman and Senator Jeff Tate, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, led presentation of,
Senate Resolution 47, to the Meridian High School “Wildcats,” boys basketball team, (24-9), and
Head Coach Ronald Norman, saluting their first ever win of the MHSAA 7A Boys title with a
54-50 victory over Clinton (23-7) at the Mississippi Coliseum on March 2, 2024, after the new
classification was added at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
Senator Jeremy England, Senator Philman Ladner, and Senator Brice Wiggins, and
Representative Jimmy Fondren, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, led presentation of Senate
Concurrent Resolution 518, mourning the loss and celebrating the contributions and career of
Mississippi music icon and Pascagoula born Jimmy Buffett, who passed away on September 1,
2023, at age 76.
Senator John Polk, Senator Chris Johnson, and Representative Ken Morgan, on Wednesday,
April 3, 2024, led presentation of Senate Resolution 23, commending Purvis High School
“Tornadoes” Baseball Team and Head Coach Tony Farlow for winning the Class 4A State
Baseball Championship.
Senator Chris Johnson on Thursday, April 4, 2024, led presentation of Senate Concurrent
Resolution 537, honoring the sports program achievements, and academic successes of William
Carey University.
On Thursday, April 4, 2024, the Sumrall High School A Capella Choir, Traces of Blue,
performed at the second-floor rotunda of the Capitol, and visited with Senator Chris Johnson,
who invited them, and Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann. Traces of Blue has advanced to the
finals of the ICHSA competition in New York City, where they will compete against the top nine
A Capella groups in the nation. It marks the first time a Mississippi group has advanced to the
finals in NYC. They were accompanied by choir director Jeffrey Coulter and assistant choir
director Susan Albert.
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