|
The 2024 Regular Legislative Session
The Third week of the 2024 Regular Legislative Session is now complete. The Deadline for making requests for general and constitutional amendments to be drafted is Wednesday February 14, 2024.
This Week at the Capitol
Major Economic Development Project Passes Both Chambers in a Special Session
On Thursday, January 18, 2024, members of the Mississippi State Legislature passed House Bill 1 from the 2024 “Extraordinary” Special Session. This measure consists of a $350 million economic investment of at $!.9 billion green energy plant to be located in north Mississippi. The plant is a joint venture of Paccar Inc., Cummins Trucking Holdings, and Germany-based Daimler Truck Holdings, and China-based Eve Energy will build batteries to power electric commercial vehicles. This measure will now head to the Governor for consideration.
Measure Introduced with the Potential to Negatively Impact Inter-Local Agreements
On Wednesday, January 17th, House Bill 180 was introduced in the House Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency Committee. This measure amends Mississippi code section 17-13-11. It provides that when an interlocal agreement between local governmental units pertains to the provision of services or facilities by certain county officials, then such agreement must be approved by the county officials and the attorney general before the agreement is enforced. NOTE: This measure take power away from the board of supervisors. For example, the legislature gave the board of supervisors (and the municipality) the power to determine the amount of compensation when collecting taxes on behalf of a municipality (see code section 25-3-3(6) and 25-7-21(1). The amount of compensation should be set by the majority vote of a board, and not be positioned to he held hostage by a single individual. Additional Note: Currently, no action has been taken on this measure.
Other Measures Introduced
Impacting County Government
House Bill 308: This measure revises the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program by removing one of the criteria requirements of requiring that a county has to have received funding for no more than eight (8) rounds from the program in order to receive rural fire truck assistance. NOTE: This measure is double referred to the House Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency Committee and the House County Affairs Committee. No action is taken on this measure.
House Bill 143: This measure amends Mississippi code section 23-15-805 and provides that campaign finance reports from candidates for local government offices shall be made available on county and municipal websites. NOTE: This measure is referred to the House Apportionment and Elections Committee. No action is taken on this measure.
House Bill 142: This measure amends Mississippi code section 23-15-805 and 23-15-815. This measure requires candidates for county, county district and municipal offices and their political committees to file all reports of contributions and expenditures with the Office of the Secretary of State. NOTE: This measure is referred to the House Apportionment and Elections Committee. No action is taken on this measure.
Senate Bill 2032: This measure amends Mississippi code section 27-41-77. This measure requires counties to retain in the county general fund any excess in the amount bid for a sale of land for taxes and prohibits the landowner from requesting payment thereof. NOTE: This measure is referred to the Senate County Affairs Committee. No action is taken on this measure.
Bills in bolded, underlined blue contain a hyperlink to the legislative website with further bill information.
*Copyright. All Rights Reserved
Authors, Steve Gray and Derrick Surrette
HOUSE & SENATE will reconvene on Monday at 4pm.
| 
