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 28, 2017

 

• HB 938: The House considered the conference report for this bill. This bill attempts to curb spending by placing a freeze on the purchase of new vehicles and requiring state agencies to use the most efficient routes when traveling. This bill is a step towards reducing state spending. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• SB 2649: The House considered the conference report for this bill. This bill brings forward a number of code sections relating to the state budget. The conference report increases appropriations from various funds. I voted No, the measure passed 105-7.

 

• HB 1447: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which expands qualified resort areas to provide more freedom to localities by exempting areas from alcohol regulations. I voted Yes, the measure passed 84-32.

 

• HB 455: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which extends state regulations on how nuisance animals may be hunted in the state. This is outside the proper role of government. I voted No, the measure passed 116-1.

 

• HB 467: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which makes a number of updates to the election code recommended by the Secretary of State. The bill staggers the terms of election commissioners, reduces the number of paper ballots required to be printed, and makes a number of other improvements to the existing law. I voted Yes, the measure passed 121-0. 

 

• HB 694: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which allows particular interest groups to pay for special license plates. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

• HB 849: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which places new regulations on the way that individuals can interact with brokers concerning electronic accounts. The state should not dictate how private businesses handle these matters. I voted No, the measure passed 109-2.

 

• HB 907: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which renames a number of memorial highways. I voted Yes, the measure passed 121-0.

 

• HB 1026: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which creates a special fund to hold money that’s appropriated for emergency actions of the Mississippi National Guard. This is a core function of state government, and these funds should exist outside of general fund restrictions to ensure they are available in the event of an emergency. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

• HB 1088: The House considered the conference report for this bill which names memorial highways. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

• HB 1089: The House considered the conference report for this bill which establishes a mental health court system in the state which helps divert individuals with mental health issues from incarceration. It also requires that individuals are made aware of the right to call a parent and of drug court options when they are arrested.  I voted Yes, the measure passed 98-14.

 

• HB 1092: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which expands the qualifications for Medicaid director, which will give future governors more discretion to appoint directors to this position. I voted Yes, the measure passed 87-29.

 

• HB 1106: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which increases efficiency in bidding by requiring governmental entities to accept bids electronically. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-1.

 

• HB 1213: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which will expand freedom and help protect children by allowing for volunteer, certified advocates to advocate for children in youth court proceedings. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• HB 1330: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which abolishes a number of defunct task forces and study committees that are authorized in the code. This will help simplify the law and reduce the number of statutes on the books. I voted Yes, the measure passed 100-20.

 

• HB 1340: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which property tax increases on farmland at 4% annually as assessed by the Department of Revenue. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

• HB 1356: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which establishes a type of restraining order for individuals who are victims of sexual assault to file against perpetrators. This will help protect individuals who are victims of sexual assault. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• HB 1425: The House considered the conference report for this measure, which imposes new supervision requirements on occupational licensing boards. Occupational licensing restrictions serve to diminish employment and suppress competition. This bill imposes new oversight measures from the Governor on the commissions. I voted Yes, the measure passed 78-39.

 

• HB 1426: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which increases transparency in asbestos proceedings by requiring that asbestos trusts are discoverable in civil suits. This bill helps further the interests of justice by mandating that these funds be disclosed in a trial. I voted Yes, the measure passed 71-44.

 

• SB 2271: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which decreases fees on Mississippians by exempting service veteran from hunting licensing fees. The legislature should further seek to decrease the burden of these fees on all Mississippians. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

• SB 2398: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which adds new qualification options for school superintendents by requiring that they have prior administrative experience in high-performing districts, or in districts that raised their performance levels. It expands freedom for local districts by expanding the pool of applicants. I voted Yes, the measure passed 69-49.

 

• SB 2431: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which modifies procedures for change in failing school districts to encourage positive reform for the students in the district. I voted Yes, the measure passed 76-45.

 

• SB 2432: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which eliminates a government program. I voted Yes, the measure passed 108-4.

 

• HB 1033: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which implements recommendations of the re-entry council to help promote employment among those who have had an interaction with the criminal justice system. It limits driver’s license suspensions for those convicted of controlled substance violations, and expands access to parole and drug court for nonviolent offenders. This bill will increase employment opportunities and provide significant cost savings to the state, upwards of $10 Million over 10 years. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-0.

 

• SB 2673: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which sets up a Youth Court Task Force to study the issue of guardian ad litem fees. I voted Yes, the measure passed 118-1.

 

• SB 2680: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which expands the rights of children by clarifying that courts have the authority to appoint a relative as a guardian for abused or neglected children. It also ensures that domestic violence is understood as a cause for divorce in the state. I voted Yes, the measure passed 121-0.

 

• SB 2685: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which makes some technical corrections to the DUI statute, clarifying the prosecutor’s duty to collect information, and adding several members to a task force. I voted Yes, the measure passed 117-2.

 

• SB 2861: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which provides additional accountability in government by establishing a task force to examine all E911 fees charged in the state, along with how the fees are spent. I voted Yes, the measure passed 119-0.

 

• HB 1090: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which promotes accountability and tempts to rein in government welfare programs by identifying fraud disbursements from these programs. A motion was made to recommit this bill to conference, and then a motion was made to table that motion. I voted Yes on the motion to table, the motion passed 67-50. A motion was made to postpone debate, and then a motion was made to table that motion. I voted Yes, the motion to table passed 69-47. I voted Yes on the conference report, the measure passed 67-47.

 

• SB 2836: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which increases the minimum cost for items that require a requisition filing from $1,000 to $1,500 and decreases transparency in these transactions. I voted No, the measure passed 118-1.

 

• SB 3016: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which extends a local tax. The proper role of the legislature is to protect property at all levels of government. I voted No, the measure passed 104-6.

 

 

Wednesday March 29, 2017

 

• HB 1046: The House considered the conference report for this measure, which expands choice in education by making the dyslexia therapy scholarship program available to students in 7-12 grades. Currently, it’s only available through 6th grade. The state should seek to expand choice in education, and this does that for a small number of students. I voted Yes, the measure passed 90-20.

 

• SB 2402: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which revises public contract laws regarding energy services to ensure that cost savings are prioritized and to assemble a list of approved providers with a record of cost efficiency. I voted Yes, the measure passed 116-0.

 

• SB 2461: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which increases efficiency in the government by requiring the consolidation of district schools in Perry County. The state should seek to decrease administrative costs in district schools. I voted Yes, the measure passed 84-29.

 

• SB 2463: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which increases efficiency in the government by requiring the consolidation of district schools in Chickasaw County. The state should seek to decrease administrative costs in district schools. I voted Yes, the measure passed 67-47.

 

• SB 2107: This bill restores voting rights to an individual who was convicted of larceny and has completed his sentence, paying his debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 102-4.

 

• SB 2951: This bill restores voting rights to an individual who was convicted of forgery and has completed his sentence, paying his debt to society. I voted Yes, the measure passed 100-4.

 

• HB 1226: The House considered the conference report for this bill, which creates an improvement district to make improvements to the capitol complex in Jackson, funded from existing tax revenue in the city. I voted Yes, the measure passed 105-13.

 

• SCRs 669, 670, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 679, 680, 681, 685, 686, 687, 688, 689, 690, 691: The House considered these ceremonial resolutions in a block. I voted Yes, the measures passed 114-0.

 

• HR 117: The House considered this ceremonial resolution honoring the service of Representative Mark Formby. I voted Yes, the measure passed 120-0.

 

 

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