By a vote of 81-36 in the House and 34-14 in the Senate, nearly identical bills were passed that would prohibit abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Both bills contained exceptions for when the life of the mother was in danger. Mississippi joins at least three other states—North Dakota, Iowa, and Arkansas—that have adopted similar measures. All have been challenged in federal court, and Mississippi’s is likely to be no different.
Of special import to rural communities, the House also passed Bill 444, which authorizes and funds another round of trucks for the Rural Fire Truck Fund. Continuing to fund this program is essential to keeping homeowner’s insurance rates affordable for rural Mississippians.
House Bill 654, which I authored, would require runoffs in school board elections when no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. This passed the House 116-0 and now goes to the Senate. Some counties in Mississippi had scenarios in years past where several candidates ran and splintered the vote; in fact, I have been made aware of one instance where a victor received less than 25% of the total vote. This bill would require the top two vote getters to go to a runoff three weeks after the first election.
The House and Senate will now exchange the bills which have passed out of the opposite chamber. They will be debated in committee and, for those that survive the committee process, on the floor.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve. Please contact me if I can be of any help.
