Blog

*Note: This page will be continuously updated as votes are taken and posted. By clicking on the bill number, you can view the full text of the bill, current status, and vote totals. Vote totals are preliminary and may differ from the final totals. To view the vote by party, copy and paste the names from the vote totals pdf here. You can view upcoming votes, along with my explanation, on my House Calendar page here.

Monday, February 11, 2019

• HB 260: This bill proposes to join municipal police departments within the same county. The sheriff already has power over the county. This could create additional tax burdens on one municipality to serve the interests of the other. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 637: This bill creates a joint legislative committee to study the impact of voter enfrachisement. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-3.
•  HB 654: This bill provides regulations for holding a runoff election if no candidate for the county board of education wins a majority. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 689: This bill allows for the State to create a nonprofit organization for the purpose of collecting donations for the Mississippi School for the Deaf. Voluntary contributions could decrease the tax burden on the residents of this State. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 914: This bill changes the precinct boundary drawing until after the legislature redistricts the House and Senate districts. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 1116: This bill eases regulations by more easily allowing students of active duty military personnel to use their parents pending address for school registration. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0
• HB 1122: This bill clarifies the definition of a deficient bridge with the goal of focusing on the bridges in most need of repair. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 1206: This bill defines and exempts vending machines and micro markets from additional regulations. This decreases the price for food sold by said vendors. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 1290: This bill increases government transparency by requiring state agencies to post answers to certain questions, detailed in the bill, on their website within 30 days of proposing to amend or adopt regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 70-37.
• HB 1292: This bill seeks to create additional government transparency. It requires all real estate license holders to provide an up-to-date email and for the Real Estate Commission to email them proposed changes to regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-1.
• HB 1293: This bill changes around regulations for real estate appraisers and raises fees. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 106-6.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

• HB 21: All residents of the state should be afforded the same equal protection of the law for murder regardless of job description. I voted No, the motion passed 93-5.
• HB 130: This bill terminates the rights of a rapist parent for conceptions as a result of rape. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.
• HB 444: This bill seeks to fund the MS Windstorm Underwriting Association by allowing the Association to levy fees in the form of Recoupable and Nonrecoupable Assessments. Also, the Replacement Cost valuation for property is added to the definition of Essential Property Insurance along side Actual Cash Value. Additionally, $3,000,000 is to be used for the Rural Fire Truck Fund. While this bill would establish a Minimum Reserve for the salaries and other necessary expenses, it implies that higher payments are necessary for insured consumers. The state should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 97-21.
• HB 626: This bill reduces the power of the state to deny the construction of hospitals by allowing the applicant to seek judgement from the Court of Appeals. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on healthcare, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 78-34.
• HB 666: This bill raises the age that a child can be committed to the State Training School from 10 to 12 years old. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.
• HB 688: This bill relaxes school regulations by allowing schools within districts of innovation to be graded by the Cambridge Assessment or other nationally recognized assessment standards in lieu of the Mississippi Assessment Program or the State Subject Area Testing Program. This decreases the regulatory burden on the State. I voted Yes, the motion passed 107-4.
• HB 777: This bill repeals and adds regulations on notaries. While this bill does allow for electronic notarization, the state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB 819: This bill seeks to regulate the activity of students who plays sports. The state should focus on education by enforcing contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.
• HB 1067: This bill seeks to allow all persons admitted to the practice of law in Mississippi to observe youth court hearings. It requires all such persons to sign an oath of confidentiality upon entering the courtroom. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-5.
• HB 1074: This bill clarifies that any public school employee who sees an illegal activity must report it to the State Department of Education in addition to the police. The SDE should focus on improving education and leave discipline to law enforcement and local school districts. I voted No, the motion passed 111-6.
• HB 1075: This bill seeks to protect the handicapped from abuse by making mental anguish a felony. The state should not base felonies on something as subjective as mental anguish. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.
• HB 1101: This bill renames part of Highway 98 the “Maj. Ed ‘Too Tall’ Freeman Memorial Highway.” I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB 1117: This bill requires Department of Child Protection Services to notify the applicable military installation family advocacy program of a report of child abuse or neglect if the accused is on Active Duty. I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB 1149: Each circuit, chancery and county court in this state shall allow all pleadings and other papers to be served, filed, signed or verified by electronic means in conformity with the Mississippi Electronic Court System procedures by July 1, 2021. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-1.
• HB 1247: This bill allows for another person to be assigned or for the county superintendent of education to decline to serve on the board. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-3.
• HB 1268: This bill would clarify some confusion in the law regarding time limitations for constitutional litigation brought by those whose rights have been threatened by government action. This would protect and advance constitutional rights in Mississippi. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-2.
• HB 1269: This bill raises fees for aquaculture production of oysters. The state should seek to decrease the tax and regulatory burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 110-5.
• HB 1284: This bill allows for people with criminal convictions to get a license to work unless their criminal record directly affects the licensed job. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-2.
• HB 1285: This bill rewrites so much law that it must be read in its entirety. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.
• HB 1289: This bill decreases government transparency for law enforcement officers by creating a midemeaner offense for releasing information as to the identity of a law enforcement officer under investigation by the MBI for killing an individual while on or off duty. This raises free speech concerns. I voted No, the motion passed 86-30.
• HB 1296: This bill increases government transparency by stating that the minutes shall be kept of all meetings of a public body, which are required to record minutes per the Open Meetings Act, are to be posted to their website within 35 days. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-4.
• HB 1320: This act prohibits the crime of the sale of urine for the purpose of adulterating humane urine samples for chemical tests. I voted No, the motion passed 109-7.
• HB 1375: This bill seeks to regulate laws on inheriting property. The state should enforce contracts, not limit contracts. I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.
• HB 1400: This bill allows for school districts to use the motor vehicles other than school buses to transport children. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.
• HB 1425: This bill seeks to regulate laws on inheriting property. I voted No, the motion passed 111-6.
• HB 1493: This bill exempts containers in stand-alone ice machines from having to include the manufacturing labels on them. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 1530: This bill seeks to clarify that neither a franchisee nor a franchisees employee shall be deemed to be an employee of the franchisor for any purpose. While possibly a necessary clarification, the state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted Yes, the motion passed 80-33.
• HB 1540: This bill gives local boards of supervisors the authority to extend contracts related to solid waste. I voted Yes, the motion passed 109-6.
• HB 1547: This bill adds Fentanyl to the schedule 1 drugs and makes Marijuana regulated by the state for medical purposes a schedule 5 drug. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit rights and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. An amendment allows for the cultivation of hemp after getting permission from the Federal Government. I voted Yes, the motion passed 97-18.
• The house considered these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they were all adopted: HC55, HC56, HC58, HC59, HR25, HR35, HR36, HR40, HR41, HR42, HR44, SC545, SC563, SC564, SC566, SC567, SC568, SC569, SC570, SC571, SC572, SC573, SC574, SC575, SC576, SC577, SC578, SC579, SC580, and SC581.

• HB 1321: This bill seeks to change guidelines for the scholarship program and decreases the maximum scholarship to be awarded. I voted Yes, the motion passed 108-1.
• HB 1322: The purpose of this bill is to force all children to see an eye doctor unless the parents request the person in charge of the school to opt out. The state should reduce costly regulatory burdens on healthcare, not create additional costs on parents or insurance providers. I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.
• HB 1363: This bill limits tax grants from the MDA to shortline railroads. While this is a step in the right direction, the state should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on businesses, not subsidize businesses at taxpayers expense. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

• HB 98: This bill adds Haul Seine Nets to a list of nets prohibited from use for fishing within 1/2 mile of shore. I voted No, the motion passed 112-3.
• HB 390: This bill seeks to allow add qualified law enforcement officers to the class of citizens immune from civil liability for being members of a church security program. Currently, churches that exercise their right to have a security program must have firearm permits for their security members to be immune from civil liability. This raises concerns as churches which do not register armed members with the state are not immune from civil liability. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.
• HB 628: This bill seeks to protect consumers from health insurance providers who do not pay claims. The bill states that interest on the amount owed to the consumer shall go down from 1.5% per day to 3% per month and that three times the amount of unpaid claims must be paid if the provider did not pay because of bad faith. While well intentioned, this bill could raise insurance rates as insurance providers may be more discriminate to whom they provide insurance. I voted No, the motion passed 115-3.
• HB 732: This bill, referred to as the “Heartbeat Bill,” prohibits abortions if a heartbeat is detected except in situations that endanger the life of the mother. I voted Yes, the motion passed 81-36.
• HB 761: Regardless of the issue, this bill handicaps portfolio managers from making prudent financial decisions for state employees and retirees.  I voted No, the motion passed 93-17.
• HB 904: This bill removes residency requirements for the Third Circuit Court District. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-1.
• HB 940: This bill makes violating contracts and larceny illegal and provides a regulatory framework for selling cosigned motor fuels. Larceny and violating contracts are already illegal and the state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 81-27.
• HB 1069: This bill protects consumer rights by allowing for people to use a court of competent jurisdiction to stay a decision by the real estate commission, if the appeal is made within 30 days of the commissions decision. I voted Yes, the motion passed 110-1.
• HB 1084: A certified adult felony drug court in existence on December 31, 2018, must submit a recertification petition by July 31, 2019 and a certified youth, misdemeanor, family or chancery drug court in existence on December 31, 2018, must submit a recertification petition by July 31, 2020, and be recertified pursuant to the requirements of this section by December 31, 2020. I voted Yes, the motion passed 118-0.
• HB 1152: This bill seeks to address child porn and related crimes by allowing a district attorney, someone in charge of a law enforcement agency, or the Attorney General to provide a written certification when presenting a warrant to an internet service provider which would allow for them to search through an alleged criminal’s internet files while not disclosing the warrant to the alleged criminal. This raises concerns as it does not require that any additional warrants for searching through additional documents for 90-180 days so long as the document is on the internet. While child porn and related crimes are a serious problem, this bill essentially allows the state to circumvent the need for warrants on anything related to the internet by secretly issuing a warrant to an internet service provider and then not seeking additional warrants for additional searches for 90-180 days. I voted No, the motion passed 110-4.
• HB 1204: This bill seeks to streamline the procurement of contracts if a court has not ruled on a protective order for a competitive sealed proposal within 90 days while still allowing for protest after the contract has been awarded. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-1.
• HB 1205: This bill protects the personal information of individuals who donate to the causes and charities of their choice by prohibiting government employees from posting personal information online for anyone to search. I voted Yes, the motion passed 69-47.
• HB 1230: This bill authorizes hospitals, counties, cities, towns, supervisors districts, or election districts or combinations thereof which own a hospital to gamble in the market with hospital funds. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on healthcare, not take risks with hospital money. I voted No, the motion passed 111-5.
• HB 1293: This bill changes around regulations for real estate appraisers and raises fees. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 111-3.
• HB 1300: This bill makes universities into courts. Sexual assault is already illegal and the courts already exist to handle the cases. I voted No, the motion passed 115-3.
• HB 1307: Any board of supervisors or governing authority of any municipality may offer to any Medicare eligible employee of the county or municipality supplemental compensation, insurance and/or benefits if the employee chooses to secure Medicare coverage in lieu of participating in any county or municipal medical or health insurance program. Separately, Should a municipal clerk inadvertently fail to send notice as prescribed in this section for the sale of tax forfeited land, then the sale shall be voidable at the option of the owner and the clerk shall not be liable to the purchaser or owner upon refund of all purchase money paid. I voted No, the motion passed 115-2.
• HB 1337: This bill seeks to implement changes to the law from the supreme court commission on childrens justice. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.
• HB 1392: This bill seeks to reform the state oversight of public school sports. This bill will create a committee to review and create a not-for-profit profit corporation that will not be mandatory to be a member of and will not prohibit member schools from competing against nonmember schools. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-4.
• HB 1445: This bill raises the fees that the state can collect on those who do not consent to a warrantless blood or urine test. I voted No, the motion passed 107-9.
• HB 1465: This bill expands the definition of aggravated assault to include assaulting employees of a healthcare provider or facility. I voted No, the motion passed 110-5.
• HB 1474: This bill renames part of highway 759 as the “James Plemon ‘J.P.’ Coleman Memorial Highway.” I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.
• HB 1477: This bill seeks to allow counties and municipalities to clean and maintain nonprofit cemeteries. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 107-8.
• HB 1531: This bill streamlines regulations by removing state college construction projects from review by the Procurement Review Board and instead allows for the Board of Trustees for Institutions of Higher Learning to self administer subject to an agreement from the Department of Finance and Administration. I voted No, the motion passed 102-16.
• HB 1535: This bill removes the medical exemptions for window tinting cars. I voted No, the motion passed 93-23.
• HB 1561: This bill seeks to include Term Contracts as prohibited for use in reverse auctions. An amendment reads that the governing authority may designate the method by which the bids will be received, including, but not limited to, bids sealed in an envelope, bids received electronically in a secure system, bids received via a reverse auction, or bids received by any other method that promotes open competition and has been approved by the Office of Purchasing and Travel. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-4.
• The house considered this commemorative resolution. I voted Yes, it was adopted: HR 47.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

• HB 1411: This bill expands the power of the Pat Harrison Waterway District over the residents of any county that decides to join the district. Expansion leaves concerns for property rights in regard to eminent domain and condemnation of private property. I voted No, the motion passed 105-4.

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