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Summary of the 2016 Legislation Supported by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office
Election Code Update – Proposes technical updates to the Election Code but also includes some substantive revisions such as the implementation of a certified poll manager training program, the staggering of election commissioner’s terms and reduction in the number of paper ballots required to be printed and machines to be used.
HB 797 (sponsored by Rep. Bill Denny) passed the House and transmitted to the Senate. The bill passed out of the Senate Elections Committee and is awaiting action on the Senate calendar.
Pre-Election Day Voting –The Pre-Election Day voting period would begin fourteen (14) days before and continue until 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday immediately preceding Election Day. Voting must take place in the Circuit Clerk’s Office where the elector is registered to vote.
HB 796 (sponsored by Rep. Bill Denny) passed the House and transmitted to the Senate. This bill died in the Senate Elections Committee.
SB 2513 (sponsored by Sen. Sally Doty) died in the Senate Elections Committee.
Online Voter Registration – Allows any qualified Mississippi elector to change their existing voter registration record through a secure website established by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
HB 809 (sponsored by Rep. Bill Denny) passed the House and transmitted to the Senate. The bill passed out of the Senate Elections Committee and is awaiting action on the Senate calendar.
Election Crimes – Currently, the Election Code contains sections related to criminal penalties for various violations of State election laws. This bill proposes to revise and codify these sections in Title 97 of the Mississippi Code along with other criminal provisions.
HB 866 (sponsored by Rep. Bill Denny) passed the House and transmitted to the Senate. The bill passed out of the Senate Elections Committee and is awaiting action on the Senate calendar.
Tax Forfeited Modernization – Modernizes and streamlines tax forfeited sales procedures, increases efficiency and reduces the burden on Circuit Clerks: 1) Recognizes the validity of electronic certification by the chancery clerk, 2) Allows the Secretary of State to adopt administrative rules for the online sale of tax forfeited properties, 3) Extends the sunset provision (repealer) that allows the sale of tax forfeited property to corporations, and 4) Deletes the requirement to send duplicate property patents to the local tax assessors, when patents are filed with the local chancery clerk.
SB 2111 (sponsored by Sen. David Blount) passed the Senate and transmitted to the House. The bill passed the House Public Property Committee and the House Judiciary A Committee and is awaiting action on the House calendar.
Charity Filing and Deadlines – Creates a more uniform and efficient charitable filing deadline by requiring charitable organizations to file in conjunction with federal agencies.
SB 2447 (sponsored by Sen. Sean Tindell) passed the Senate and transmitted to the House. The bill passed the House Judiciary A Committee and is awaiting action on the House calendar.
Appeals from Administrative Decisions –Establishes an appeals process for administrative decisions made by the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office.
SB 2649 (sponsored by Sen. Sean Tindell) passed the Senate and transmitted to the House. The bill passed the House Judiciary A Committee and is awaiting action on the House calendar.
Securities Filings – Proposes to conform the Mississippi Securities laws to provide for notice filings for certain federally regulated securities.
SB 2200 (sponsored by Sen. Gray Tollison) passed both chambers and is currently headed to the Governor for his consideration.
Thank You,
Delbert Hoseman
