Reeves vetoes bill, cites risk to rural health funding
Gov. Tate Reeves said he vetoed Senate Bill 2477 because it would jeopardize already approved federal rural health funds and hinder future awards.
Reeves wrote on Facebook that the bill would “significantly slow down the awarding of RHTP federal funds by imposing redundant and unnecessary requirements on subgrants,” putting $205.9 million in approved funding at “immediate risk of clawback.” He also said the measure could cost the state a minimum of $800 million in potential funding in years two through five of the grant cycle and that the total loss could exceed $1 billion.
Reeves said he worked closely with the Trump administration on rural health funding initiatives and that his staff and teams at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been in regular contact to meet federal goals. He quoted CMS Director Dr. Oz in correspondence as saying, “The program has a firm obligation deadline of October 30, 2026…and any legislation that seeks to impede or restrict the procurement process will put Mississippi at serious risk of obligating its funding on time.”
Reeves also said he personally likes State Sen. Hob Bryan and acknowledged policy differences with the liberal Democrat, noting he has vetoed four bills so far this legislative session, three of which advanced through the Public Health Committee Bryan chairs. Reeves said the fiscal risk from SB 2477 compelled his veto. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
