Archive for February 2021
Don’t backtrack on freedom for hair braiders
More than 15 years ago, the Mississippi legislature voted to set hair braiders free of unnecessary and irrelevant cosmetology regulations that had previously kept them from legally practicing their craft. Today, the industry is flourishing, but new legislation may put an end to that growth. The action of the legislature in 2005 came after a…
Read MoreOn Parole: Providing Deserved Second Chances are a Part of Justice
The day is February 10, 2021 and a man sits in a cell staring at a calendar that seems never-ending. Twenty years ago, he made a poor decision that landed him in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Understanding his mistake and realizing that he wanted to become a better person, he totally…
Read MoreMississippi House Scores Big Reforms
The Mississippi House of Representatives recently passed several reform bills, which will help Mississippians by reducing occupational licensing barriers and expanding access to healthcare. The first reform is the passage of a universal recognition of occupational licenses. House Bill 1263 will make it easier for people to move to Mississippi. Unlike most other southern states…
Read MoreMississippi may be next state to recover jobs lost during pandemic recession
Mississippi is well-positioned to be the next state to recover the jobs lost during the 2020 pandemic-related recession. In December, Idaho and Utah became the first two states to enter the plus side on the job recovery tracker over the past 12 months. Idaho has now experienced a net gain of 4,600 jobs since last…
Read MoreSB 2792: Expand the Fresh Start Act
Senate Bill 2792, sponsored by Senator John Horhn, expands the provisions of the Fresh Start Act in order to make it more applicable to all Mississippians in search of joining the workforce. In 2019, Mississippi passed the Fresh Start Act geared towards the prevention of using criminal conviction history to deny approval of occupational licenses…
Read MoreKristie Rushing
What do you think of when you think of Mississippi? Most people think about Elvis Presley, the birthplace of the Blues, and good food. Some may think of negative things like inequality, poor access to health care, and the fact that we were voted 50th by Becker’s Hospital Review in ‘50 States Ranked from Healthiest to Unhealthiest.’ When…
Read MoreTwo life sentences for seven boxes of Sudafed
Three strikes and he’s out. But does the punishment fit the crime? James Vardaman is serving two life sentences under Mississippi’s habitual offender law, for seven empty boxes of Sudafed. He’s an offender convicted of a crime not ordinarily considered a crime of violence but is included in the state’s habitual offender laws. Vardaman had…
Read MoreHouse takes action on unnecessary licensing requirements
The state House passed multiple bills today to reduce unnecessary licensing requirements. Together, these bills will expand access to healthcare and make it easier for Mississippians to earn a living. House Bill 1303, sponsored by Rep. Donnie Scoggin, will expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners in Mississippi. Currently, a nurse practitioner is required…
Read MoreSenate Committee Advances Legislation Aimed at Making it Easier for Professionals to Move to Mississippi
The Senate Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency committee has advanced legislation that will require the state to recognize occupational licenses obtained in another state. Occupational licenses, which are government regulated, are intended to recognize the qualifications of a worker to provide certain services. Over the years, licensing requirements have been extended to nearly a quarter of all jobs,…
Read MoreMississippi takes on red tape
The extent of occupational licensing in Mississippi makes it difficult for everyday Mississippians to enter professions and improve their lives. But a new law which provides more oversight for the Occupational Licensing Review Board gives Mississippi a chance to remove needless and burdensome barriers while still protecting consumers when it is needed. When we think…
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