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. 

 

Monday, March 11, 2019

• • SB 2012: This bill deletes a repealer. This bill allows for burn care hospitals to put liens against the causes of burns without necessarily affording due process. I voted No, the motion passed 108-3.

 

• • SB 2116: This bill, referred to as the “Heartbeat Bill,” was monumental progress for the rights of the unborn. This bill prohibits abortions if a heartbeat is detected except in situations that endanger the life of the mother. This is a similar bill to the one we passed earlier in the session that died on the Senate calendar. I voted Yes, the motion passed 76-37.

 

• • SB 2365: This bill defines biological product in relation to pharmacies. The purpose is to expand the availability of medicine by allowing products biologically similar to medicines which would already by prescribed. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-0.

 

• • SB 2687: This undermines the conservative principles of limited government and free enterprise by extending a repealer on a regulatory board for water utilities. The state should reduce regulations to encourage business and infrastructure development. I voted No, the motion passed 111-3.

 

• • SB 2766: The State Board of Cosmetology shall terminate its student testing contract with proper notice and shall be authorized to administer and monitor examinations for cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists and instructors. This should decrease costs. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-3.

 

• • SB 2770: This bill is a pay raise for public school teachers. I support ensuring that state employees are compensated fairly for the jobs that they do. However, I could not support this bill because it increased state spending without a commensurate reduction in unneeded programs. We cannot continue asking taxpayers to pay more of their hard-earned dollars while we still spend millions on programs that are outside the proper role of government. Reducing wasteful spending is the appropriate way to increase compensation for state employees, not simply asking the taxpayers to pay more. I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

 

• • SB 2892: This bill expands the healthcare and business opportunities of community hospitals by allowing them to take care of patients in counties are parishes which border the county. I voted Yes, the motion passed 79-28.

 

 

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

• • SB 2030: This bill seeks to add 5 year residency requirements for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, district attorneys, and the State Highway Commission. Any candidate for any municipal, county or county district office shall be a resident for 2 years. I voted No, the motion passed 86-25.

 

• • SB 2043: This bill seeks to raise revenue by increasing the cost that citizens must pay to be permitted to marry. I voted No, the motion passed 97-19.

 

• • SB 2046: This bill exempts sensitive information such as source codes and security policies from the MS Public Records Act of 1983. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2049: This bill allows the children and spouses of our armed forces to be considered state residents for the purpose of in state tuition at colleges. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • SB 2050: 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.

 

• • SB 2053: This bill requires our state institutions of higher learning and community colleges to give credit for courses part of military training. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2056: This bill allows new businesses which invest a certain amount of capital to pay 1/3 of an ad valorem tax. This undermines the conservative principles of limited government and free enterprise. The state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. Lower tax rates for new businesses are a tacit admission that current tax rates are cost prohibitive for business formation. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2141: This bill creates additional punishments for already existing crimes. The state should seek to protect schools, not create additional prison time that would impose an additional tax burden on residents of the state. I voted No, the motion passed 86-27.

 

• • SB 2193: This bill seeks to gradually redistribute the share of sales taxes that tourists and locals must already pay to eat in restaurants, to the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Advertising Fund. The taxes are meant 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 106-6.

 

• • SB 2210: This bill allows for those who donate to certain nonprofits to have their income tax reduced. While a step in the right direction, the state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-2.

 

• • SB 2229: This bill seeks to exempt the transfer of motor vehicles from sales taxes unless one of the brothers is a licensed motor dealer. Currently, other family members are exempted. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-2.

 

• • SB 2237: This bill seeks to to disqualify candidates from running for office if they have misappropriated funds. I voted Yes, the motion passed 103-6.

 

• • SB 2271: This bill decreases the requirements to be a tax exempt business enterprise for data centers. While a step in the right direction, the state should seek to decrease the tax burdens on citizens at all levels of government, not just for particular institutions. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 2447: This bill expands the size of government by taking taxes and giving them to students studying for careers that the state deems appropriate. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on education. I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

• • SB 2449: This bill defines the education responsibilities of juvenile detention facilities. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-1.

 

• • SB 2451: This bill extends a repealer allowing for the state to control the real estate appraisal market. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 113-3.

 

• • SB 2452: This bill relaxes regulations for military spouses seeking a license to work in the state. While this is a step in the right directions, the state should seek to decrease these regulations on everyone, equally, whenever possible. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2491: This bill revises the authorization and reauthorization of drug courts to alleviate the burden on the Administrative Office of Courts. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2561: This bill amends the Temporary Domestic Abuse Protection Order  appeal process so that reports are not redirected to other courts. I voted No, the motion passed 109-4.

 

• • 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 116-0.

 

• • SB 2679: This bill increases certain fines on commanding officers for nonjudicial punishment. I voted No, the motion passed 108-2.

 

• • SB 2680: This bill conforms to the UCMJ updated on Jan 1, 2019. I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 2704: If a cell phone is identified through the managed access system or other monitoring system used by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the circuit court is authorized to issue an order to disable the cell phone service from the carrier. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2716: This bill protects property rights by clarifying the procedures for eviction. The state should cut taxes and regulations so that rent is more affordable. I voted Yes, the motion passed 72-40.

 

• • SB 2737: This bill states that first priority for the use of surety bonds shall be given to students impacted by the closing of the proprietary school. Also, the bond can be used for administrative costs incurred by the Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2749: This bill removes being employed in the field of education as a disqualification for serving on the board. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • SB 2839: Beginning July 1, 2019, any reference in this code to the State Veterans Affairs Board shall also mean the Mississippi Veterans Affairs. I voted Yes, the motion passed 112-0.

 

• • SB 2840: This bill seeks to implement changes to the law from the supreme court commission on children’s justice. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2863: This bill clarifies that state hiring preference for disabled veterans over other veterans will only be applicable if the veteran has 30% disability rating or a Purple Heart. Previously, it was any percentage of disability rating. All veterans are shown preference for hiring currently. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 2898: This bill will require additional taxes to rename and post markers on a memorial highway or will result in taxes not otherwise being lowered. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2900: This act renames part of Mississippi Highway 16 as the “Carson W. Bounds Memorial Highway. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2916: This bill changes the deadline to qualify for judicial offices from the first Friday after the first Monday in May before the general election for judicial office to March 1st. I voted No, the motion passed 105-7.

 

• • 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 113-2.

 

• • SB 3065: The state should prioritize existing tax dollars and reduce the debt. I voted No, the motion passed 109-6.

 

• • The House also considered these commemorative resolutions. I voted Yes, they all passed unanimously: HR 68, HR 69, HR 70, HR 71, HR 72, HR 73, HR 74, HR 75, HR 78, HR 79, SC 598, SC 599, SC 600, SC 601, SC 602, SC 604, SC 605, SC 607, SC 608, SC 609, SC 610, SC 611, SC 612, SC 613, SC 614, SC 615, SC 616, SC 617, and SC 618.

 

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

• • SB 2196: This bill authorizes state to create the Mississippi Foster Care Fund, to be administered by the Attorney General. The fund allows taxes to be invested to accrue interest which puts it at risk of losing the principle investment. The state should use taxes to fund programs and should reduce taxes and regulations so that the private sector can fund these types of programs. I voted No, the motion passed 113-1.

 

• • SB 2268: This bill seeks to expand Medicaid coverage to include a licensed freestanding psychiatric hospital in Harrison and Jackson counties, but limited to 134 beds, that had previously been able to accept Medicaid payments. The intent of this bill is to be cost neutral. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on healthcare. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-0.

 

• • SB 2282: This bill increases the scope of government by creating an investment fund to repair ports and puts it under the authority of the MDA. This could lead to additional taxes to cover the losses in the event of a poor investment. I voted No, the motion passed 108-4.

 

• • 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 115-0.

 

• • 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 111-3.

 

• • SB 2400: This bill allows county coroners to contract with privat pathologists to perform autopsies. I voted Yes, the motion passed 97-12.

 

• • SB 2445: It is unlawful for a person to possess a scanning device or re-encoder without the permission of the cardholder of the credit card from which the information is being scanned or re-encoded with the intent to defraud the cardholder, the issuer or a merchant. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • SB 2470: This bill removes gold and silver from being protected from forgery in 97-21-13;15;17 by replacing them with the word, “currency.” Code Section 97-21-23 already covers any promissory note, bill of exchange, draft, check, certificate of deposit, or other evidence of debt issued by any bank under the laws of the state, the USA, or foreign state. “Lenin was certainly right. There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency. The process engages all the hidden forces of economic law on the side of destruction, and does it in a manner which not one man in a million is able to diagnose.” -John Maynard Keynes, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, Chapter VI pg 236, 1919. I voted No, the motion passed 109-2.

 

• • SB 2524: This bill extends the scholarship to includes residents in psychiatry. While the State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations on healthcare, to the extent that the state does offer tax funded scholarships, those scholarships should be open to all fields of medicine. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • SB 2525: This bill allows for advocates, people with training to help victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse, to keep victims information confidential for their well being. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • SB 2532: This bill mandates that employers with employees with sex offenses who have direct, private and unsupervised contact with minors under the age of eighteen years must notify the parents. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • SB 2625: This bill changes the regulatory structure of the Mississippi School of the Arts. Employees are no longer classified as State Service under the authority of the State Personnel Board. They become employees of the Mississippi School of the Arts. The bill clarifies that there shall be no interruption of service with the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2697: This bill adds additional regulations for occupational licensing boards. The state should enforce contracts and rights, not limit contracts and willing business opportunities through licensing, taxation, and regulations. I voted No, the motion passed 108-4.

 

• • SB 2723: This bill authorizes the state Veterans Affairs Board to provide services to state veterans homes. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • 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 114-.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 114-2.

 

• • SB 2783: This bill seeks to allow the state to designate natural/public reefs available for private lease. This will expand economic activity for oyster harvesting. I voted Yes, the motion passed 104-8.

 

• • SB 2817: This bill clarifies the general parity and open-end parity provisions in the Mississippi code. I voted Yes, the motion passed 115-0.

 

• • SB 2818: Campaigning within 150 feet of a polling place is illegal in the state when in uniform or while passing out printed material. This bill seeks to further prohibit people from talking about politics within 150 feet of a polling place or from wearing a political shirt while voting in a political election. I voted No, the motion passed 105-7.

 

• • 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 $7,500. “Consumer,” is also redefined to include the receipt of a text message from a telephone solicitor. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • SB 2828: This bill revises the Guard and Protect vulnerable children and adults Act; revise guardianship and conservatorship laws. I voted Yes, the motion passed 114-0.

 

• • SB 2831: This bill seeks to protect consumers data by creating additional regulations for insurance companies. The State should seek to reduce costly taxes and regulations, not raise costs. When consumers decide which businesses will succeed or fail, the resulting profit motive will greatly reduce bad business practices and costs and reward those who put the interest of their patients first. I voted No, the motion passed 112-0.

 

• • SB 2835: This bill seeks to expand the medical benefits for first responders. I support ensuring that state employees are compensated fairly and treated well for the jobs that they do. However, I could not support this bill because it increased state spending without a commensurate reduction in unneeded programs. We cannot continue asking taxpayers to pay more of their hard-earned dollars while we still spend millions on programs that are outside the proper role of government. Reducing wasteful spending is the appropriate way to increase compensation for state employees, not simply asking the taxpayers to pay more. I voted No, the motion passed 114-1.

 

• • SB 2869: “Each appraisal management company doing business in this state shall certify to the commission on an annual basis that it has a system in place requiring payment to an independent contract appraiser for the completion of an appraisal service within 30 days.” Currently, independent appraisers are paid within 60 days. The state should enforce contracts, not limit and regulate willing business opportunities. I voted No, the motion passed 111-2.

 

• • SB 2876: This bill extends a repealer for the MDA to determine who is prequalified energy service provider for public entities and private nonprofit hospitals. This bill adds an extra layer of cost for public entities and private nonprofit hospitals to employ energy saving devices and suppliers. I voted No, the motion passed 110-3.

 

• • SB 2898: This bill will require additional taxes to rename and post markers on a memorial highway or will result in taxes not otherwise being lowered. I voted Yes, the motion passed 116-0.

 

• • 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 113-1.

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 with the agency receiving tax dollars, and the vote totals.

• • SB 3005: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3006: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3007: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3008: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3009: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3010: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3011: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3012: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3013: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3014: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3015: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3016: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3017: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3018: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

• • SB 3019: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3020: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3021: I voted No, the motion passed 112-1.

• • SB 3022: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3023: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3024: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3025: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3026: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3027: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3028: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3029: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3030:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3031:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3032:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3033:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3034:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3035:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3036:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3037:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3038:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3039:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3040:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3041:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3042:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3043:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3044:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3045:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3046:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3047:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3048: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3049: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3050: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3051: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3052: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3053: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3054: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3055: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3056: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3057:  I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

• • SB 3062: I voted No, the motion passed 112-2.

 

Thursday, March 14, 2019

• • HB 1683: 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 98-4.

 

• • HB 1706: This bill extends a repealer from 2019 to 2022. A tax funded economy only works until you run out of other peoples money. I voted No, the motion passed 105-3.

 

• • HB 1715: This bill authorizes the City of Canton and the Madison County Economic Development Authority to provide exemptions to properties within 2 miles of the city boundaries. I voted Yes, the motion passed 111-0.

 

• • HB 1718: The governing authorities of the City of Waveland, Mississippi, are authorized, in their discretion, to offer the public a 12 year lease of the Waveland Business Center. This should increase tax revenue without increasing taxes on residents. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • HB 1721: The governing authorities of the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi, is authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to enter into lease agreements with any corporation, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture or individual under which the city may agree to lease a facility for use by the lessor for the purpose of waterfront area park improvements and related amenities for a primary term not to exceed 20 years. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • SB 2185: 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 92-6.

 

• • SB 2275: This bill allows the city of Natchez to donate land to the United States of America. This moves decision making from smaller government to larger. I voted No, the motion passed 107-2.

 

• • SB 2279: This bill changes the annual valuation date for Lowndes County Reserve and Trust fund. I voted Yes, the motion passed 113-0.

 

• • SB 2583: This bill authorizes the City of Saltillo to levy taxes on gross sales of hotels and motels. I voted No, the motion passed 95-6.

 

• • SB 2896: 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 93-5.

 

• • SB 2989: This bill allows the City of Diamondhead to designate the road and streets upon which golf carts and vehicles may be operated. I voted Yes, the motion passed 110-1.

 

 

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