Mississippi Business Journal » legislation

Bill exempting small farms from fuel storage regs passes Senate

MBJ Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:11:26 +0000

WASHINGTON — Legislation to exempt small farms from Environmental Protection Agency fuel storage requirements has been incorporated into the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA), according to a release from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The Senate passed WRDA legislation (S.601), and with it also approved all the provisions included in the Farmers [...]

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Budget writer: Medicaid taking away from education funding

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:58:17 +0000

JACKSON — Funding for education is falling short because Medicaid is devouring a larger share of state money than it did a few years ago, a top Mississippi budget writer says in a letter to teachers and school administrators. House Appropriations Committee chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, wrote that expanding Medicaid would create more uncertainty about [...]

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Bill amendment aimed at giving state say in La. levee project

MBJ Staff — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:51:35 +0000

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — The U.S. Senate has accepted an amendment authored by U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) aimed at giving Mississippi a role in a proposed levee project that could result in new flood threats to the Mississippi Gulf Coast if not carefully studied with input from affected parties. The Cochran amendment was incorporated into [...]

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Dems crafting Medicaid proposal ahead of possible special session

Associated Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:40:15 +0000

JACKSON — Mississippi legislative Democrats say they’re working on proposals to keep Medicaid alive and funded in the budget year that starts July 1. They say they’re doing this in case Republican Gov. Phil Bryant calls a special session before the end of June. However, Bryant said last week he believes he can run Medicaid [...]

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Coast residents to vote on tax hike to fund recreation projects

Associated Press — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:00:38 +0000

PASCAGOULA — Gov. Phil Bryant has signed legislation allowing Pascagoula residents to vote on a proposed 2 percent prepared food tax, says city recreation commission chairman Mike McElhaney. The tax would fund recreation projects outlined in the city’s recreation master plan, which the board adopted in October. Senate Bill 2921 was signed into law April [...]

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PEER reviews wildlife programs, makes recommendations

MBJ Staff — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:11:04 +0000

JACKSON — Questions have arisen over the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ management of selected wild game in Mississippi (i.e., the waterfowl, turkey and deer management programs), according to the PEER Committee. Also, some citizens have questioned the expanded use of privately owned pens for deer management and whether the use of such [...]

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Terrorist acts now carry the death penalty with new law

Associated Press — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:40:07 +0000

JACKSON — Acts of terrorism will be added to the list of crimes in Mississippi that could lead to the death penalty, if a victim is killed. Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2223 this past week. It takes effect July 1. Mississippi prosecutors already can pursue the death penalty if a victim is killed [...]

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PSC has no authority over rural water system

Associated Press — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:20:13 +0000

JACKSON — Legislation that Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law clarifies that the three-member elected Public Service Commission does not have authority over rural water associations. Bryant signed Senate Bill 2322 this week. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports the bill includes an amendment by Rep. Jerry Turner, R-Baldwyn, to require the rural water associations’ [...]

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Law clears way for UMMC to take over hospital

Associated Press — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:14:23 +0000

GRENADA — Legislation that would allow the University of Mississippi Medical Center to take over a hospital in Grenada has been signed into law. Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1721. It takes effect immediately. Grenada County has been shopping around the county-owned Grenada Lake Medical Center since last summer. The bill would allow the [...]

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Governor signs anti-corruption bill, auditor pleased

MBJ Staff — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:35:59 +0000

JACKSON — State Auditor Stacey Pickering is applauding a new law that he says will help fight government corruption. Gov. Bryant approved Senate Bill 2625 and it is now law with an effective date of July 1. In a release, Pickering’s office wrote: “Under this important anti-corruption legislation, an individual who has been convicted or [...]

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