Archive for February 2022
Giving second chances promotes public safety and fairness
When it comes to justice reform, Mississippi lawmakers must weigh two critical responsibilities: protecting public safety and simultaneously ensuring our justice system treats all Mississippians fairly. It is a delicate balance that carries heavy consequences for our communities and the men and women who police them. But done properly, good justice reform policies can and…
Read MoreHouse adopts legislation to protect home-based businesses
The Mississippi House of Representatives has adopted the Home-based Opportunity Freedom Act of 2022, designed to protect entrepreneurs right to earn a living from their homes. House Bill 917, authored by Rep. Jansen Owen, cleared the House today and heads to the Mississippi Senate for consideration. “Credit to Rep. Jansen Owen and his Senate counterpart,…
Read MoreWe should let home-based businesses thrive
As Mississippi continues to grapple with a declining population, the state needs to continue to look at the overall business environment and what is helping or hurting economic growth and job creation. Forcing Mississippians to look elsewhere for better opportunities. One of the brightest areas for potential is home-based businesses. We know that entrepreneurship began…
Read MoreWhat’s still alive after Tuesday’s deadline?
The legislative calendar is built on deadlines. Bills must be introduced by a certain date, and then they must move (and keep moving) by a certain date, or they are dead. We’ve seen early action on some big-ticket items. In the first couple weeks, we saw the legislature send Congressional redistricting and a medical marijuana…
Read MoreSB 2647: Apprenticeship program for barbers and cosmetologists
Senate Bill 2647, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, would allow barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, and manicurists to be eligible for a license by completing an apprenticeship program. Currently, you are required to complete a minimum number of hours in a school. The apprenticeship program, which requires twice the number of hours as school, removes a potential…
Read MoreHB 1416: Ensure freedom for students to engage in political activity
House Bill 1416, sponsored by Rep. Kent McCarty, would ensure that public school students can engage in political activities or discussions. The bill would allow for Students to organize partisan or nonpartisan political groups, political clubs, political rallies, or other politically themed gatherings before, during and after school to the same extent that students are…
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