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. 

 

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

• • HB 1720: This bill allows taxes to be spent on services for those left dependent on taxes and regulations. (1) Central Mississippi Prevention Services, Inc: $ (1)125 (2) Triumph Ministries, Inc: $ 11,250 (3) Vicksburg Family Development Service, Inc: $ 4,500 (4) Warren, Washington, Issaquena, Sharkey Community Action Agency, Inc: $ 6,750 (5) Women’s Restoration Shelter of Mountain Faith Ministries: $ 4,500 (6) We Care Communities, Inc: $ 5,625 While well-intentioned, reducing taxes and regulations would allow for greater personal independence by allowing people to spend more of their money on charity and business development. I voted No, the motion passed 102-6.

 

• • SB 2274: This bill allows the City of Newton to permit low-speed vehicles on its roads at the city’s discretion. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 3086: This bill seeks to increase the tax burden on industries that attract tourists to fund a marketing program to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 95-9.

 

• • SB 3106: Notwithstanding the provision of Section 65-7-95 that prohibits contracts for the working, construction, reconstruction and maintenance of the public roads of a county from extending beyond 30 days from the termination and end of the term of office of the members of the board of supervisors awarding it, the Board of Supervisors of DeSoto County, Mississippi, may enter into all necessary contracts to complete the road projects, including, but not limited to, contracts which extend beyond 30 days from the termination and end of the term of office of the board of supervisors awarding it. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 3111: The Board of Supervisors of Warren County, Mississippi, in its discretion, is authorized to contribute during fiscal year 2019 an amount not to exceed $15,000.00 to a local, nonprofit Veteran’s Transition Center facility to aid and assist qualified veterans in financial need. While well-intentioned, reducing taxes and regulations would allow private citizens the industry and capital to take care of their neighbors independently. Mississippi is not poor because the government is small enough to fit inside the Constitution. However, taking care of veterans is a legitimate function of government. I voted No, the motion passed 108-2.

 

• • SB 3116: Instead of lowering impoverishing taxes, this bill seeks to keep impoverishing taxes to use the money to help those who have been impoverished because of taxes and regulations. “It is easy to be conspicuously ‘compassionate’ if others are being forced to pay the cost.” -Economist Murray Rothbard. I voted No, the motion passed 102-5.

 

• • SB 3118: This bill seeks to increase the tax burden on industries that attract tourists to fund a marketing program to attract tourists. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted No, the motion passed 97-15.

 

• • SB 3120: The Board of Trustees of East Mississippi Community College District is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to enter into a long-term lease agreement of any unimproved real property owned by the board that is located in Lowndes County, Mississippi, for the purpose of facilitating the construction of a state-of-the-art multimillion dollar facility which may include a museum, a conference and learning center, classrooms, meeting rooms, a kitchen and/or a catering kitchen and other facilities that will complement the public and educational purposes of East Mississippi Community College. The term of the lease shall not exceed 60 years and may include 1 renewal option. I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • SB 3121: The trustees of the district are authorized and empowered to convey the tank and related water system to the city. The district will grant the city a properly surveyed utility easement through the property extending from the well site and along or parallel to the existing electric power easement to Bowen Road. The conveyance shall be void, and the conveyed tank and related water system and easement shall immediately revert to the district, if the city does not have the well and tank operative within 365 days of the date of the initial conveyance, or if the city has not incorporated the subject water system into its municipal water system within 3 years of the date of the initial conveyance. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 3123: The Board of Supervisors of Clay County, Mississippi, is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to expend an amount not to exceed $50,000 to assist the Institute of Community Services (ICS), also known as Head Start, with the purchase of a school bus. I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Each of the following votes were appropriations bills to fund various state agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. One repeated concern that I hear from constituents is that our government is too big. While I appreciate the efforts of our leadership to craft these appropriations using a limited budget, our government is too large. We should practice the conservative principle of limited government by decreasing the tax dollars that are spent on these dozens of agencies and regulatory boards. For these reasons, I voted against state government spending bills. Below I’ve listed each appropriation bill and the vote totals.

• • HB 1667: I voted No, the motion passed 106-8.

 

• • HB 1660: I voted No, the motion passed 111-4.

 

• • HB 1658: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • HB 1657: I voted No, the motion passed 111-3.

 

• • HB 1656: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • HB 1654: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • HB 1653: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • HB 1652 : I voted No, the motion passed 113-2.

 

• • HB 1651: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

 

• • HB 1650: I voted No, the motion passed 109-2.

 

• • HB 1649: I voted No, the motion passed 108-5.

 

• • HB 1647: I voted No, the motion passed 110-4.

 

• • HB 1645: I voted No, the motion passed 100-11.

 

• • HB 1644: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • HB 1642: I voted No, the motion passed 110-3.

 

• • HB 1641: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • HB 1640: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • HB 1639: I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

• • HB 1638: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

 

• • HB 1637: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • HB 1636: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • HB 1635: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • HB 1634: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • HB 1636: I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

• • HB 1624: I voted No, the motion passed 108-5.

 

• • HB 1622: I voted No, the motion passed 110-3.

 

• • HB 1618:  I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • HB 3056: I voted No, motion passed 114-2.

 

• • HB 1613: This bill seeks to award tax credits to businesses or individuals who donate money to nonprofit organizations for orphans, for foster care, or for children with health problems. The senate amendment lowers the aggregate tax credits from $15,000,000 to $5,000,000. However, the Department of Revenue is supposed to notify those applying for credits that they do not qualify if the credit limit has been reached by others already. The state should seek to reduce taxes on everyone. The repealer is extended to 2021. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-0.

 

• • HB 1307: A senate amendment reads, “No purchaser of land at any tax sale, nor holder of the legal title under him by descent or purchase, shall have any right of action to challenge the validity of the tax sale.” Further, “No county or municipal officer shall be liable to any purchaser at a tax sale or any recipient of a tax deed for any error or inadvertent omission by such official during any tax sale.” I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • HC 100: This resolution was passed to commemorate Representative David Baria for her service to her district. I voted Yes, it passed unanimously, 112-0.

 

• • HR 136: This resolution was passed to commemorate Representative Margaret Rogers for her service to her district. I voted Yes, it passed unanimously, 112-0.

 

• • JR 202: This bill revises the composition of Senate Districts 22 and 13. I voted Yes, the motion passed 78-37.

 

• • SC 596: This bill concurs with other states for a Convention of the States for the purpose of forcing a balanced budget in our National Congress. I voted Yes, the motion passed 70-46.

 

Each of the following votes were appropriations bills to fund various state agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. One repeated concern that I hear from constituents is that our government is too big. While I appreciate the efforts of our leadership to craft these appropriations using a limited budget, our government is too large. We should practice the conservative principle of limited government by decreasing the tax dollars that are spent on these dozens of agencies and regulatory boards. For these reasons, I voted against state government spending bills. Below I’ve listed each appropriation bill along and the vote totals.

• • SB 3055: I voted No, the motion passed 111-1.

 

• • SB 3054: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3053: I voted No the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3052: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3051: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3050: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3048: I voted No, the motion passed 113-2.

 

• • SB 3047: I voted No, the motion passed 113-2.

 

• • SB 3046: I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 3045: I voted No, the motion passed 113-3.

 

• • SB 3043:  I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3037:TI voted No, the motion passed 111-4.

 

• • SB 3031:I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 3029: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1 .

 

• • SB 3028: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3027: I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 3026: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3025: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3024: I voted No, the motion passed 110-1.

 

• • SB 3022: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • SB 3021: I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

• • SB 3020: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 3019: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 3018: I voted, no the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3017: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3014: I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

Thursday, March 28, 2019

• • SB 2706: This bill restores suffrage for James Gregory Banana of Clay County. I voted Yes, the motion passed 104-0.

 

• • SB 2957: This bill restores suffrage for Amanda Hamblin of Clay County. I voted Yes, the motion passed 104-0.

 

• • SB 2997: This bill restores suffrage for James Maurice Mallett of Hinds County. I voted Yes, the motion passed 104-0.

 

Each of the following votes were appropriations bills to fund various state agencies for the upcoming fiscal year. One repeated concern that I hear from constituents is that our government is too big. While I appreciate the efforts of our leadership to craft these appropriations using a limited budget, our government is too large. We should practice the conservative principle of limited government by decreasing the tax dollars that are spent on these dozens of agencies and regulatory boards. For these reasons, I voted against state government spending bills. Below I’ve listed each appropriation bill along and the vote totals.

 

• • SB 3065: I voted No, the motion passed 102-6.

 

• • SB 3057:  I voted No, the motion passed 111-3.

 

• • SB 3049: I voted No, the motion passed 63-43.

 

• • SB 3024: I voted No, the motion passed 110-1.

 

• • SB 3023: I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 3016: I voted No, the motion passed 107-1.

 

• • SB 3015: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3013: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 3012: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3011: I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 3010: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3009: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3008: I voted No the motion passed 113-3.

 

• • SB 3007: No, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 3006:  No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 3005: I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 2541: I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

• • HB 1659: I voted No, the motion passed 113-2.

 

• • HB 1648: I voted No, the motion passed 116-1.

 

• • HB 1646: I voted No, the motion passed 115-1 .

 

• • HB 1643: I voted No, the motion passed 114-2.

 

• • SB 2955: This bill seeks to exempt the sale of tangible personal property or services to the Junior League of Jackson from sales taxes. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-0.

 

• • SB 2928: This bill creates an Energy High School Academy in Warren county with an unnamed nuclear facility so that students in Warren and Claiborne counties can pursue careers in the energy industry. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-1.

 

• • SB 2867: 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 Yes, the motion passed 112-1.

 

• • SB 2840: 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.

 

• • SB 2821: This bill seeks to exempt those who seek charity from needing to purchase the “no-calls” database from the Mississippi Public Service Commission or the entity under contract with the commission. The bill further raises the penalty from $5,000 to $10,000. “Consumer,” is also redefined to include the receipt of a text message from a telephone solicitor. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2781: This bill seeks to reduce the unintended consequences of licensing and criminal law. This bill states that licensing shall not be denied someone based on past crimes, unless the past crimes directly relates to the licensed job. I voted Yes, the motion passed 109-1.

 

• • SB 2770: This bill will result in either more taxes or a cuts in other services to pay for a teacher pay raise. A free market in education would result in better schools at cheaper prices with higher pay for teachers. I voted No, the bill passed 96-20 .

 

• • SB 2744: This bill seeks to eliminate spoofing whereby someone causes a caller identification service to transmit misleading or inaccurate phone numbers to a subscriber. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2604: This bill seeks to eliminate the savings necessary to justify a variable rate refunding bond used to pay off old bond debts. The state should seek to reduce spending. I voted No, the motion passed 107-5.

 

• • SB 2603: This bill creates tax credits and incentives through Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Act. While I want to make Mississippi the best place to do business, the proper role of government is not to pick any type of business over another. I voted No, the motion passed 101-13.

 

• • SB 2576: This bill clarifies when CPS may reveal the identity of someone who made a false allegation of abuse or neglect. I voted Yes, the motion passed 117-0.

 

• • SB 2570: This bill allows certain individuals to buy the Gold Star license plate. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2561: This bill amends 93-21-15, the Temporary Domestic Abuse Protection Order (TDAPO) appeal process, by creating code section 93-21-15.1. This bill also makes TDAPO effective in the other 49 United States, territories, and tribal lands. 93-21-13 is amended to clarify that those seeking emergency relief shall not have their case delayed by being directed to another court and that the de novo appeal process is revised. However, Emergency Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (EDAPO) are only valid for 10 days or until a hearing may be held, and may be extended for no more than 20 day. Further, EDAPO are said to be made effective in the other 49 United States, territories, and tribal lands. (Note: The issue of whether other states would have to recognize and enforce such orders, under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, would be up to the courts to decide. Protection orders issued in one state are generally recognized by other states). Additionally, Procedures for an appeal of the issuance or denial of a final domestic abuse protection order are set forth in Section 93-21-15.1. I voted No, the motion passed 115-2.

 

• • SB 2328: This bill provides for people who have been charged with a felony and have been judged to be mentally incompetent to be civilly committed to a mental hospital. If and when they are released, their alleged victims or a family member are to be notified. Everyone should be equal before the law. I voted No, the motion passed 114-3.

 

• • SB 2305: This bill seeks to clarify and change the laws in regards to human trafficking and involuntary servitude. It significantly increases the penalties from 5 to 30 of years of prison to 20 years to life in prison for forced labor or sex trafficking of a minor. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2272: This bill allows for tax backed debt to finance tax transfers to special businesses because there is not enough taxes available for all the programs that the state administers. The state should seek to reduce the taxes and regulations stifling business growth, not use future taxes to fund special groups. I voted No, the motion passed 109-4.

 

• • 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. A study committee for whether hemp should be legalized is created. Hemp would greatly enrich the state. I voted Yes, the motion passed 110-1.

 

• • 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 1352: This bill renames Drug Courts as Intervention Courts and seeks to use corrections resources more effectively by redirecting prison-bound offenders whose criminal conduct is driven in part by drug and alcohol dependence to intensive supervision and clinical treatment available in the intervention court. The goal is to have less people prosecuted for vices in prison and instead rehabilitate them to be productive members of society. An amendment adds that one may petition a justice, county, circuit or municipal court to expunge the record of any case in which the person was acquitted or found not guilty at trial. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-5.

 

• • HB 1249: This bill allows local governing authorities, if they so choose, to pay for the expense of additional insurance benefits paid to public employees as compensation for work. While this may result in additional taxes, local government is best suited to administer laws and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 109-3.

 

• • HB 1247: This bill allows for another person to be assigned or for the county superintendent of education to decline to serve on the community college districts boards of trustees. I voted Yes, the motion passed 68-44 .

 

• • HB 980: This bill requires that all state agencies have cancellation clauses in their contracts in case there are not enough taxes to cover the expense. Further, Contractual obligations, such as salary contracts, from a prior fiscal year that do not meet the requirements for payment under subsection (2) of this section may only be paid upon approval by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • HB 961: This bill seeks to use the Department of Finance and Administration to fulfill a land transfer from the Department of Mental Health to the Board of Supervisors of Tate County, Mississippi. The bill states that the Department of Finance and Administration shall only transfer and convey the unused and undeveloped portion of the property specifically designated for use by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to the Board of Supervisors of Tate County. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • HB 904: This bill changes the residency requirement for the 3rd Circuit Court judgeships from specific areas to anywhere in the 3rd Circuit. I voted Yes, the motion passed 108-0.

 

• • HB 779: The board of supervisors may, in its discretion, use any funds heretofore or hereafter raised by bond issue or otherwise for working, constructing, reconstructing, maintaining and improving the public roads and for building bridges as herein provided. Except for contracts that receive funding from the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund or 2018 Transportation and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, no contract provided above shall be awarded that shall extend beyond 30 days from the termination and end of the term of office of the members of the boards of supervisors awarding same. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • HB 698: This bill calls for public works by any state agency or division, on or before the date and time established to receive bids for any contract, to be budgeted. Additional allocations to the budget can occur at any time. I voted No, the motion passed 111-4.

 

• • HB 578: This bill changes how the State Board of Education is run and how hearings for revoking licenses are to be administered. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-0.

 

• • HB 150: This amended version amends 37-106-57 instead of 37-106-71 which was amended in the original bill. The bill is amended to read, “Awards granted under the William F. Winter Teacher Forgivable Loan Program shall be made available to nontraditional licensed teachers showing a documented need for student loan repayment and employed in those school districts designated by the State Board of Education as a geographical area of the state or in a subject area of the curriculum in which there is a critical shortage of teachers. Repayment and conversion terms shall be the same as outlined in Section 37-106-53 except that the maximum annual amount of this repayment should not exceed Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) and the maximum time period for repayment shall be no more than four (4) years.” I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

Friday, March 29, 2019

• • SC 652: This acknowledges March 30th as National Doctors’ Day. I voted Yes, the motion passed 107-1.

 

• • SC 663: This commemorates the bicentennial of extending the Mississippi border to include Jackson County and Pascagoula. I voted Yes, the motion passed 98-2.

 

• • HB 740: From and after July 1, 2019, the board shall be allowed to maintain a balance in the Oil and Gas Conservation Fund in the amount of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for the purpose of paying expenses incurred by the board due to a material change in the number of permits sought from the board in any fiscal year. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the fees collected by the board shall be deposited into the Oil and Gas Conservation Fund until the fund has a balance of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or until the amount collected in the fiscal year equals Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), whichever occurs first. Any excess money earned shall not be redistributed to the General Fund. The state fiscal officer replaces the state auditor as being the person who can draw money from the fund. I voted Yes, the motion passed 106-3.

 

• • SB 2781: This bill seeks to reduce the unintended consequences of licensing and criminal law. This bill states that licensing shall not be denied someone based on past crimes, unless the past crimes directly relates to the licensed job. I voted Yes, the motion passed 109-1.

 

• • SB 2827: The conference report for this bill creates a task force to study the wages of public officials. It will be comprised of public officials. I voted No, the motion passed 99-10.

 

• • SB 2835: This bill seeks to expand the medical benefits for first responders. While this bill will result in a greater need for taxes, tax funded services do need to be paid. I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

 

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