The Mississippi Senate convened in a routine session that began with roll call, an invocation and a series of ceremonial recognitions before moving to committee scheduling and a motion to recess.

Presiding officers called the roll and established a quorum. Reverend Curtis Strong, pastor at Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Yazoo City, delivered the invocation, asking for guidance and unity for lawmakers: “We pray that you would grant them the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and the courage … to make decisions that would be beneficial for your peoples,” he said.

The Senate read a resolution recognizing the financial and athletic contributions of Commissioner Dr. Charles McClellan of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and commending his appointment to the board of governors of the NCAA. The resolution was to be presented to Dr. McClellan and made available to the press corps. The honoree addressed the chamber, thanked senators for the recognition and recalled his local roots: “This is indeed a pleasure, dream of a lifetime,” he said.

Senators used the opening portion of the day to introduce visitors and constituent groups. Senator Chisholm recognized members of the Convention of States Mississippi in the gallery. Senator Wiggins introduced a physician designated as the session’s doctor of the day (the transcript alternately spells the physician’s name as "Pete Aber" and "Avery"). Senator Barrett introduced Sally Doughty, identified in the transcript as the director of Beam, and thanked her for work to expand Internet access.

Leaders also announced a series of committee and subcommittee meetings. Among the listings: a community colleges and workforce subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting in Room 216 at 3:30 p.m.; multiple budget hearings beginning at 1:45 p.m. covering public defender, attorney general, judicial performance and related topics; and Appropriations Subcommittee 1 meeting tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. to review budgets for the Charter School Board, Library Commission, ETV and the Department of Education. Senator Williams invited senators to the rotunda at 11:30 a.m. for the Starkville High School Choir and reminded members of an Air Task Force meeting at 3:00 p.m.

On procedural motions, Senator Blackwell moved to dispense with the reading of the journal, to dispense with the reading of committee reports and to dispense with the reading of bill and resolution titles; each motion was approved by voice vote as recorded in the transcript. Later, Blackwell moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m. and adjourn to reconvene at 10:00 a.m. the following day; the motion carried by voice vote and the Senate recessed.

The transcript records several requests that the Senate adjourn in memory of recently deceased local citizens and officials. The clerk also read an extensive schedule of committee and subcommittee meetings. The transcript does not record bill debate, roll-call vote tallies on legislative measures, or the meeting date; announcements and ceremonial items comprised the substantive floor business captured in the record.