Archive for March 2022
Empower releases video on tax reform
As the Mississippi legislature adopts the largest tax cut in state history, Empower Mississippi has released a video explaining the tax reform changes. The new law phases in the more than $500 million tax cut over the next four years. In the first year, it would eliminate Mississippi’s current 4 percent bracket that currently applies…
Read MoreNew prison work initiative could be coming to Mississippi
The Mississippi legislature is currently considering a bill that would authorize the creation of a new work initiative in the state’s prisons. Senate Bill 2437, authored by Senate Corrections Chairman Juan Barnett, would allow the creation of a pilot program at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility (CMCF). Located in Rankin County, CMCF houses over 3,800…
Read MoreMississippi considers easing restrictions on employees
Every month, tens of thousands of Mississippians are required by the government to travel to a meeting with their parole or probation agent. For those who are working, this requirement can get in the way of earning a living. The legislature is considering a measure that would remove this requirement for people who are employed.…
Read MoreWe must support and encourage the free exchange of ideas
It is a good thing when we are exposed to multiple points of view. And a bill moving in the legislature will ensure that freedom is honored and not restricted by your local school. House Bill 1416, sponsored by Rep. Kent McCarty, guarantees that public school students may engage in political activities or political or…
Read MoreOvercoming addiction and providing second chances
Recovery. So many things are factored into that word for someone who is coming out of addiction – recovering from trauma, recovering emotionally, recovering physically. Ryan Nicholas was addicted to opioids at age 20. He would spend the next five years battling his addiction. Ryan got the help he needed to get back on track.…
Read MoreLegislature sends tax relief bill to governor
A day after the House and Senate leaders came to an agreement on a tax relief proposal, both chambers overwhelmingly voted for the bill today. House Bill 531, the Mississippi Tax Freedom Act of 2022, will lower the top marginal income tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent over the next four years. The…
Read MoreHouse and Senate Leaders Reach Historic Tax Cut Deal
House and Senate conferees have reached a deal to provide Mississippians with the largest tax cut in the state’s history over the next four years. The agreement phases in the more than $500 million tax cut over the next four years. In the first year, it would eliminate Mississippi’s current 4 percent bracket that currently…
Read MoreMississippi legislature: Week 12 recap
Income tax relief/ repeal efforts continue to drive the story as lawmakers face a Saturday deadline for action to keep either the House or Senate vehicles alive. Last week, we saw both chambers move toward the other in amending the proposals that were in front of each body. But, as has been happening a lot…
Read MoreGov. Reeves enters the field with bold plan to eliminate income tax
With just three days to go before a final deadline to agree to a tax reform proposal in this legislative session, Gov. Tate Reeves has proposed a plan to fully eliminate the income tax within eight years. Under Reeves’ proposal, Mississippi would create a flat tax of 3.5 percent in the first year of the…
Read MoreStates with lowest taxes are growing
A new report details how states with the best individual tax climate are also growing at among the fastest clips in the nation. Unfortunately for Mississippi, the state doesn’t rank highly and it, not shockingly, continues to lose population. The Tax Foundation individual income tax component of their 2022 State Business Tax Climate ranks Alaska,…
Read MoreHouse adopts latest income tax repeal proposal
As we get to the last few days of the session, the House is bringing forward a new proposal to eliminate the income tax. The newest proposal is a $100 million buy down of the income tax rate until it has been eliminated. Speaker of the House Philip Gunn noted that is 1.5 cents on…
Read MoreClock is ticking for Mississippi legislature
The 2022 legislative session is headed down the home stretch with several major pieces of legislation hanging in the balance. Among the big items still to be resolved in the next week and a half are legislative redistricting, passing a spending plan for the $1.8 billion in federal funds allocated to Mississippi by Congress under…
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