Mississippi Senate adopts resolution to set roll call for governor's State of the State; schedules committee meetings

The Mississippi Senate convened and adopted a resolution to set procedures for the governor’s State of the State address and handled routine calendar and committee business, including scheduling numerous committee meetings and a recess until 5 p.m.

Senator Kirby moved the resolution and described it as a procedural item establishing the governor’s State of the State for the following day: “this is simply a resolution for this, state of the state by the governor tomorrow at 05:00 on the South Steps. No questions asked for you, just 1 roll call,” Senator Kirby said. The resolution (item 2 on the calendar) was adopted by morning roll call, the clerk reported.

The action followed a series of procedural motions to streamline the day’s work. Senator Black moved to dispense with the reading of the journal, saying, “I move we dispense with the reading of the journal.” The motion carried. Senator Blackwell moved to dispense with committee reports and the reading of bill and resolution titles; those motions were also approved without recorded opposition.

Senators used the floor to introduce visiting groups and program participants. Delegations welcomed to the chamber included the leadership class of the Mississippi Truckers Association and Hal Miller, president of the Mississippi Truckers Association; members of the Mississippi State Medical Association including physicians, residents and medical students; and representatives from the Mississippi Physicians Workforce and Forrest General Hospital.

Senators announced a busy committee schedule. Senate leadership noted roughly 900 bills had been assigned to committees and urged senators to attend their assigned hearings. Several committees set meeting times and rooms for the coming days, including: MEC legislative breakfast with Senator Harkins at 7:30 a.m. at the Mississippi Museum of Art; a joint meeting of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks with the Energy Committee at 9:00 a.m. Thursday in Room 216; Veteran and Military Affairs at 1:00 p.m. Thursday in Room 216; Drug Policy at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Room 409; Medicaid at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in Room 216; and numerous other standing-committee meetings announced on the floor.

Senator Kirby moved to pass and retain items 3 through 16 on the calendar; the items were retained in place for later consideration. Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5 p.m. or until the last committee report was filed; the motion passed and the Senate recessed.

Members also offered several requests that the Senate adjourn in memory of recently deceased residents; senators introduced names for those observances and the Senate agreed to adjourn in their memory.

The Senate concluded routine business and stood recessed until the stated time; the journal will reflect adjournment until 10 a.m. the following day if committee work concludes earlier.