Video: Mississippi Legislature Wraps Session with Unfinished Business

JACKSON, Miss. (WCBI) –The Mississippi Legislature has wrapped up the regular session for 2017, but they’re leaving some unfinished business.

A Number of bills passed this year, including House Bill 645 which would increase penalties for anyone who intentionally harms a first responder, and the consolidation of a number of school districts, including the Chickasaw County, and Houston in our area.

The legislature did not develop a new funding formula for public education, nor did this year’s budget fully fund schools under the current M-A-E -P model.

Lawmakers failed to pass budgets for the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Attorney General’s Office.

Now, it’s up to Governor Phil Bryant to call a special session to address those issues. On Wednesday he hinted at one possible item for the anticipated session.

“Arkansas looked at about $85 million in their general fund from their lottery. A lot of Mississippians are going to Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee and buying lottery tickets. This is something we can’t stop people from buying lottery tickets, we can only make them travel. So, it’s something I’m interested in. I hope to talk to the leadership about it.”

“The infrastructure of the state being maintained and improved upon. I’m hoping to see the renovation repair for our institutions for higher learning and other agency buildings being cared for. I’m hoping to see the attorney general’s budget be provided for and I’m hoping to see the educational piece be put in place that we need in order to educate our children.”

Bryant says now is a cooling off period. He says once a plan is worked out with House and Senate leaders, legislators will be called in for the special session.