Archive for January 2023
HB 868: Authorize mobile barbershops
House Bill 868, sponsored by Rep. Tracey Rosebud, would authorize licensed barbers to operate mobile barbershops in the state. Barber regulations in Mississippi, among other things, prevent barbers from operating a mobile barbershop. Mobile barbershops are not a new idea. Over the past decade, entrepreneurial barbers have come up with an idea to bring haircuts…
Read MoreHB 722: Decriminalize possession of fentanyl testing strips
House Bill 722, sponsored by Rep. Christopher Bell, decriminalizes fentanyl testing strips. Currently, fentanyl testing strips are categorized as paraphernalia under the Uniformed Control Substance Law, making them illegal to possess. However, testing strips could be used to prevent drug overdoses and reduce harm if they were decriminalized and available. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic…
Read MoreFrom the football field to the battlefield, Lockridge overcomes drug addiction
Growing up in Tupelo, Dietrich “Big Truck” Lockridge had dreams of playing football in the NFL. On the field at Tupelo High School, Dietrich was named an All American and as a senior the scholarship offers began to roll in. He found himself at Jackson State University where the accolades continued. He was named an…
Read MoreHB 668: New pathways to teacher licensure
House Bill 668, sponsored by Rep. Charles Busby, would help with Mississippi’s teacher shortages by creating new pathways for qualified professionals who would like to teach in Mississippi’s classrooms. Under the proposed legislation, an individual would be able to receive a teachers license under the nontraditional teaching route if they earned a graduate degree in…
Read MoreHow bad is crime in Mississippi?
The real answer might surprise you. Crime is an important social issue. Criminal acts can spread fear, destroy our sense of justice, lead to impoverishment, and even end lives. Policymakers have an obligation to consider serious solutions that address this issue in Mississippi. But to address any issue, it’s first important to understand the scope…
Read MoreHB 27: Allow students with dyslexia to receive ESA
House Bill 27, sponsored by Rep. Larry Byrd, would allow students with a dyslexia diagnosis to be eligible for the education scholarship account program. The program is designed to help students with special needs but it is limited only to students with an Individualized Education Program. This would allow students with dyslexia, who often do…
Read MoreSB 2052: Regulatory reduction pilot program
Senate Bill 2052, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Blackwell, would require five state agencies to begin a regulatory reduction program over the next three years. It would also prohibit each pilot agency from adopting a new regulation unless they eliminate two or more. Economists have estimated that if regulations had been frozen at 1980s levels, the…
Read MoreCelebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Each January 9, citizens across the country come together to celebrate National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The celebration is designed to show support for members of the law enforcement community who have chosen a profession that puts their lives on the line every day. Crime is at the forefront of conversation in Mississippi, and law…
Read More