Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Activity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House of Representatives passes a slate of local bills, approving county contributions, assessments and a 30‑year lease
Summary
The House passed multiple locally focused bills on final passage, including a $5,000 contribution by Jackson County to the Junior Auxiliary Program, creation of a county trust fund for sale proceeds, conviction-assessment fees for several jurisdictions, a 30‑year lease for Hattiesburg, and new local economic and emergency-response districts; all recorded votes were unanimous or lopsided and the chamber adjourned to reconvene at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
The House of Representatives convened and gave final passage to a package of local bills on voice and machine votes during a short floor session that included a prayer and guest introductions.
Representative from Wayne, who called and explained each bill on the calendar, said House Bill 4080 "just allows Jackson County to make a $5,000 contribution to the Junior Auxiliary Program," and the chamber adopted the committee substitute and approved the bill by a recorded vote of 115–0. The House then passed House Bill 4110, described as creating a trust fund for Octaviah County to receive proceeds from a medical-property sale, by a recorded vote of 119–0; the sponsor's floor explanation did not specify additional technical details of the fund.
Several additional bills addressing local assessments, leases and district governance followed in rapid succession. Representative from Wayne explained House Bill 4113 would permit judicial or conviction assessments of $25 on misdemeanors and $50 on DUIs in Perry County to support its Justice Court; the bill passed 117–0. House Bill 4115, sent from the city of Hattiesburg, was described as authorizing an extended lease term and was discussed as "a 30 year lease" on the floor; the bill passed, 117–0. The chamber adopted an amendment to House Bill 4130 that replaces the word "partnership" with "alliance" and authorizes the formation of the Yazoo County Economic and Industrial Development Authority, replacing the county's economic development district; final passage was 118–0. House Bill 4134 establishes an industrial zone emergency‑response district for Lowndes County intended for a large industrial park where residential fire‑district code sections do not apply; the bill passed 118–0. House Bill 4135, from the city of Waynesboro, creates conviction‑assessment authority similar to prior measures; it passed 118–0.
Floor action was routine and largely uncontested: votes reported on the floor ranged from 115–0 to 119–0 in favor of passage. The session also included ceremonial business: Representative Summers (the gentlelady from Hines) led the invocation, and members recognized students from JPS Tougaloo Early College High School for a mock‑trial competition. Representative Powell announced that Beam broadband staff would be available at the capitol to review awarded broadband grants and that a joint public‑utilities hearing with the Senate Energy committee is scheduled for tomorrow.
The House stood adjourned until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.
