Legislative weekly summaries
Note: The following information is provided by the Press Offices of the state Senate and House of Representatives.
STATE SENATE
In the 11th week of the 2025 Mississippi Legislative Session, the Senate passed several bills, mostly Local and Private, and passed a Rules Committee calendar saluting commendable Mississippians.
The Senate amended and passed House Bill 1, to eliminate the income tax, reduce the grocery tax, invest in infrastructure, and stabilize the Public Employees’ Retirement System’s (PERS) $26.5 billion unfunded liability while not raising sales tax.
Passage of House Bill 1897, allows the boards of supervisors of Tate, Panola, Lafayette and Yalobusha counties to create the Northwest Regional Alliance, (NWRA) – a partnership for economic development purposes. Their alliance would allow them to levy taxes or issue bonds “for the purpose of engaging in economic development projects of the NWRA, including land acquisition, road construction or improvements, and infrastructure development.”
Other bills passed included:
- House Bill 1896, imposes a 15% excise tax on kratom products.
- House Bill 733, establishes a “Property Cleanup Revolving Fund,” from which money could be taken to cleanup or demolish dilapidated properties.
- Senate Bill 3273, authorizes Sebastapol Natural Gas to expand territory.
- House Bill 1801, allows Sunflower County to increase contributions made to the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance Counseling Service, Inc.
- Senate Bill 2729, creates the “Mississippi Public Health Trust Fund,” to support public health programs funded from medical cannabis taxes.
The Pearl High School choir performed at the 2nd floor rotunda of the Capitol on Tuesday, March 18 as part of Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann’s tradition of allowing students to share their talents at the Capitol.
Senators presented several resolutions.
Senator Hillman T. Frazier, David Blount, and Sollie B. Norwood, on Wednesday, March 19 led presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 530, to Raymond Mayor Isla Tullos for serving in the post nearly 28 years, and being a champion of historic preservation.
Senator Robin Robinson on Wednesday, March 19 led presentation of Senate Resolution 99, honoring the legacy of former Mississippi Representative Icey Day of Attala County, as the “Father of Mississippi Industries for the Blind.” In 1942, Mississippi Industries for the Blind, was founded through legislation to provide employment and training for Mississippians who are blind or visually impaired, by Icey Wiley Day, (July 1, 1891 – December 21, 1955), who was blind, and a longtime Democratic member of the Mississippi House of Representatives.
Senator Lydia Chassaniol on Wednesday, March 19 led presentation of Senate Concurrent Resolution 539, to Taiwan Director General Yvonne Hsiao, encouraging further economic relations with Taiwan.
Senator John Horhn on Thursday, March 20 led presentation of Senate Resolution 78, to the Callaway High School Lady Chargers Basketball team for winning their first ever 6A state championship.
On Thursday, March 20 Senator Robin Robinson led presentation of Senate Resolution 98, commemorating the 125th Anniversary Celebration of First-Trinity Presbyterian Church of Laurel.
Senator Dr. David Parker, on Thursday, March 20 led presentation of Senate Resolution 93, honoring the heroic actions of DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Brian Brock for sacrificing himself by blocking the path of an oncoming speeding wrong way driver with his patrol car to avoid it from crashing into others on the night of March 4 on Interstate 269. The impact caused Brock to be briefly hospitalized.
The Senate met a Tuesday, March 18 deadline for original floor action on appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Other House, a Wednesday, March 19, deadline for reconsideration and passage of appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Other House, a Thursday, March 20 deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider appropriation and revenue bills originating in the Other House, and a Friday, March 21 deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from the Other House to appropriation and revenue bills, and deadline for introduction of local and private bills that are revenue bills.
The Senate faces a Monday, March 24 deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider concurrence or nonconcurrence in appropriation and revenue bills, a Thursday, March 27 deadline to concur or not concur in amendments from the Other House to general bills and constitutional amendments, a Friday, March 28 deadline for introduction of local and private bills that are not revenue bills, and a Saturday, March 29 deadline for conference reports on appropriation and revenue bills to be filed, and deadline to dispose of motions to reconsider concurrence or nonconcurrence on general bills and constitutional amendments.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Mississippi House of Representatives reconvened at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 17 for the 11th week of the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers began with a moment of silence for those lost in recent severe storms.
On Tuesday, March 18, the House met the deadline for action on appropriation and revenue bills from the other chamber. Several bills advanced to the conference stage, where the committee chairmen will appoint members to finalize legislation.
Two resolutions honored public service: HR 78 recognized former Rep. Wanda Jennings, and HR 82 paid tribute to Charles Lemuel Young Jr.
The House passed major fiscal policy bills and aimed to tax reform and infrastructure funding. SB 3095 proposes gradually reducing the state income tax rate to 2.99 percent by 2030 while cutting the sales tax on groceries to 5 percent starting in 2025. To offset revenue losses, excise taxes on gasoline and special fuels will increase from 2025 to 2027, with some redirected toward infrastructure.
HB 1, the “Build Up Mississippi Act,” introduces tax changes and revenue reallocations:
Tax Reform Measures
- • Income Tax Reduction: The state income tax rate will decrease by 0.25 percent annually from 2027 to 2030, reaching 3%, with further reductions contingent on revenue growth and budget conditions, aiming for full elimination.
- • Grocery Sales Tax: The sales tax on groceries will drop from 7 percent to 5 percent effective July 1.
- • Fuel Tax Adjustment: Gasoline and diesel taxes will increase by 9 cents over three years, reaching 27.4 cents per gallon. Beginning July 1, 2029, adjustments may occur biennially, capped at 1 cent per gallon, based on federal highway construction cost averages.
- • Legislative Compromise: The fuel tax adjustment was essential to securing legislative approval for the broader tax relief package.
- • Fiscal Impact: The plan delivers a net tax cut exceeding $1 billion. For most households, grocery tax savings will offset or surpass fuel tax increases.
- • Taxation Model: The changes promote a user-based taxation system, shifting the burden from direct taxation of labor to consumption-based contributions. PERS Reform
- • Current Members: No changes to benefits or cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for existing Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) members.
- • New Employees: Individuals hired after March 2026 will enter a Tier 5 hybrid retirement plan, integrating a reduced defined benefit with a defined contribution component, alongside additional state contributions.
- • Long-Term Stability: The new tier aims for full funding by 2064, preventing a projected $20 billion deficit by 2075 under the current structure.
Looking ahead, the next major deadline is March 27, to concur or not to concur on amendments from other house to general bills and constitutional amendments.
The House is set to reconvene Monday, March 24 at 4 p.m.
