LobbyComply Blog

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn have announced the Legislature will reconvene the 2020 Legislative Session at 1:00 p.m. on May 1.

In addition, the end-of-session report will be due 10 days after the adjournment sine die of the regular legislative session.

The expected adjournment date was extended to June 9 when the session was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has announced the special election to fill House District 87 will be held on November 3.

A runoff election is set for November 24 if needed.

The seat was vacated when Billy Andrews resigned in March.

The resignation, like Ramona Blackledge’s resignation in January, was due to House leadership ruling members could not collect state government pension while receiving legislative pay.

Gov. Tate Reeves has ordered the special election for House District 88 set for April 21 be postponed until June 23.

The seat was vacated when Ramona Blackledge resigned in January.

Due to the House leadership ruling members could not collect legislative pay while also receiving state retirement funds.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn have agreed to delay reconvening the 2020 legislative session.

Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 65, the Legislature will not convene on April 1 as initial scheduled.

Instead, the Legislature will reconvene on an unspecified date in the future, due to concerns about COVID-19.

The session, when reconvened, is not to exceed the limit of 125 days allotted for by the Mississippi Constitution.

The Legislature has announced the legislative session will be suspended.

The Senate met March 18 to pass House Bill 1647.

House Bill 1647 provides administrative leave to local government and school district employees in response to the effects of COVID-19.

The Senate also agreed to House Concurrent Resolution 65, suspending the session until April 1.

The resolution also extended the legislative session until June 9 and provided for a potential further extension until July 9.

The additional extension is needed if the Legislature is unable to reconvene in time for the June 9 deadline.

This does affect lobbyist reporting.

The end of session report due 10 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die will now be due on June 19 unless an additional extension of the session occurs.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special election on November 5 for Senate District 50.

A special judge for Harrison County Circuit Court vacated the August 6 primary results due to possible voter irregularities.

Five of the district’s 16 precincts will be allowed to re-vote during the special election to conclude the Republican primary.

No Democratic candidates ran for the vacant seat during the Democratic primary.

The winner of the special election will serve the full term for Senate District 50.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on March 29.

House Bill 1205 was passed, prohibiting public agencies from requiring 501(c) entities to provide the public agency with the personal information of its members, supporters, volunteers or donors.

While the bill has been negatively characterized as allowing dark money contributions, it does not affect any provision of the state’s campaign finance statutes.

An end-of-session report is due 10 days following adjournment sine die of the Legislature.

However, the Secretary of State’s Office has not yet announced a revision to the April 17 due date.

Gov. Phil Bryant signed three writ of elections today, declaring March 12 as the special election date for House Districts 32, 71, and 101.

If necessary, a runoff special election will be held on April 2.

Reps. Willie Perkins (District 32), Adrienne Wooten (District 71), and Brad Touchstone (District 101) were elected to different judgeships in the November 2018 election and had to resign from the House of Representatives.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special election for November 6, to fill a seat in House District 85.

The special election will fill the seat vacated by Rep. America Middleton.

The winner will complete the last year of Middleton’s term.

The Mississippi special session adjourned on August 29.

Lawmakers passed House Bill 1 to address infrastructure projects to repair, reconstruct, and provide maintenance to the state’s roads and bridges.

During the special session, lawmakers also passed bills related to the creation of a state lottery and the deposit of funds from the BP oil spill settlement.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special session to convene on August 23.

The session will address infrastructure funding for state roads and bridges.

Lawmakers have proposed funding infrastructure projects by diverting internet sales taxes, sports betting revenue, and creating a state lottery.

Gov. Phil Bryant announced a special election on November 6, to fill a seat in House District 31.

The special election will fill the seat vacated by Rep. Sara Thomas last month.

Thomas has served in the role for 21 years and cited the desire to spend more time with family as her reason for resigning.

The Mississippi Legislature adjourned sine die on March 28.

The 132^nd regular session adjourned with several unresolved issues, including a bill involving funding for roads and bridges.

Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to call a special session before July 1.

Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith to the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Thad Cochran.

Cochran is stepping down due to health problems on April 1.

Hyde-Smith will be sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence in April and will run for the remainder of Cochran’s term in the November 6 special election.