Miss. legislators’ biggest split: tax proposals

But several bills passed, including special education voucher approval

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers finished their threemonth session last week and returned home with plenty of campaign fodder as most of the 122 House members and 52 senators seek re-election.

The parties were sharply divided on the biggest headline grabber of the session — tax-cut proposals that failed.

Here’s a look at some of what legislators passed and killed: PASSED TEXTING & DRIVING: House Bill 389 will ban people from texting or using social media sites on a cellphone or other hand-held electronic device while driving. The fine will be $25 the first year the law is in effect and $100 after that. Gov. Phil Bryant has signed the bill, which becomes law July 1.

INSPECTION STICKERS: House Bill 982 will eliminate the $5 annual vehicle inspection sticker, starting July 1. Drivers with tinted windows will still need to get a one-time inspection. Bryant has signed the bill.

EDUCATION CHEATING: Senate Bill 2258 would tighten sanctions against schools where cheating occurs. The state Board of Education could issue subpoenas to investigate cheating on standardized tests. School principals would be required to swear that tests were given following state rules, and they would have to report all potential violations. If Bryant signs it, the bill would become law immediately.

SPECIAL EDUCATION VOUCHERS: Senate Bill 2695 would create $6,500-a-year vouchers for up to 500 special education students the first year. The program would increase by 500 a year until it reaches 2,500 students. Money could go toward private school tuition, tutoring or other education services outside the public schools. Bryant plans to sign the bill, which would become law immediately.

GUNS: Senate Bill 2394 would eliminate the need for a concealed-carry license to have a gun in a purse, briefcase or enclosed satchel. It also would reduce the fee for a new concealedcarry license to $80 from $100, and the renewal fee for people younger than 65 would drop to $40 from $50. For people 65 and older, the renewal fee would drop to $20 from $25. Bryant plans to sign the bill, which becomes law July 1.

HOSPITAL BOARDS: Senate Bill 2407 would require boards of publicly owned hospitals to keep most of their meetings open to the public. The boards could hold closed meetings to discuss patient information, competitive business matters or employment contracts. The bill was filed in response to losses in the Singing River Hospital pension program. Problems existed for months before becoming publicly known, partly because the hospital board was meeting in private. Bryant says he intends to go to the Gulf Coast to sign the bill, which will become law Jan. 1.

PRISON EMPLOYEES: Senate Bill 2804 would remove civilservice protection from Mississippi Department of Corrections employees for one year, making it easier to hire or fire workers. If Bryant signs the bill, it would become law July 1.

LONG-TERM TRUSTS: House Bill 153 will allow people to put real estate into trusts for up to 110 years and stocks or other financial assets into trusts for up to 360 years. It becomes law July 1. KILLED VACCINATIONS: House Bill 130 would have let a doctor grant a patient’s request for an exemption to vaccination requirements to enter school or day care, without seeking permission from the state Department of Health. People who are skeptical about childhood vaccination schedules sought the change. Opposition came from the state health officer, Dr. Mary Currier, who said the Health Department already grants exemptions. The bill passed a House committee but died without coming up for a vote in the full House.

HOME SCHOOL SPORTS: Senate Bill 2329, called the “Tim Tebow Act,” would have let home-schooled students participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at a local public school. It was named for the Heisman-winning quarterback who was home-schooled but played school sports in Florida. The bill was defeated in the Senate.

CHURCH BUSES: House Bill 132 would have exempted drivers of church buses with 30 or fewer seats from the requirement to have a commercial driver’s license. Dubbed the “Jesus, take the wheel” bill, it passed the House but died in the Senate Judiciary B Committee.

PRIMARIES: House Bill 1069 would have made it a misdemeanor to vote or try to vote in another party’s primary. It passed the House and died in the Senate Judiciary A Committee.

WRONGFUL DEATH: House Bill 1338 would have allowed civil lawsuits for wrongful death for any fetus, no matter how young. The bill passed the House but died in the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.