Donnie Scoggin
State Representative Mississippi House District 89
Serving the People of Jones County
As voters in Mississippi go to the polls in November, they will be faced with a unique decision ahead of them, which is whether or not to legalize medical marijuana. Many questions have been raised about the difference between Initiative 65 and 65A, which are the two versions of a medical marijuana amendment that will be on the ballot. I will attempt, to the best of my knowledge, to provide some clarity regarding these two initiatives and how the ballot is set up for voting on this issue.
COVID 19 RESOURCES
Links to help you during the Covid 19 Pandemic
February 21st Update
This was the eighth week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Wednesday, Feb. 23 marked the deadline for original floor action on House appropriations and revenue bills. The Appropriations committee considered most budget bills last week, but the Ways and Means committee took up several revenue bills to meet this week’s deadline.
February 14th Update
This was the seventh week of the 2022 Legislative Session. With general bills out of the way, representatives began working on appropriations and revenue bills. The appropriations bills will determine how much money is given to various state agencies.
February 7th 2022 Update
Abby Howard and Mary B. McCardle are students at South Jones High School. They served as pages alongside Donnie this past week. Thursday, Feb. 10 was the deadline for members to introduce and discuss these general bills. Any bills not discussed in session by this deadline died on the calendar.
January 31st 2022 Update
The Second Amendment Preservation Act (House Bill 1418) would preempt any federal legislation seeking to ban firearms
Back to Work in 2022
On January 4, 2022, the Mississippi State Legislature began the third session in its four-year term. Though it is early in the session, there were a few items taken up and passed on the House floor. House Bill 384 was introduced on Thursday morning. The bill contains the new Magnolia 1 Plan for congressional redistricting as proposed by the Joint Redistricting Committee.
Teacher Raises and State Income Tax
This is the second week of the 2022 Legislative Session. Even though it is early in the session, two monumental pieces of legislation were passed out of committee and were debated on the House floor.
January 24th 2022 Update
House Bill 1509 would prohibit state and local officials from imposing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. After much debate, HB 1509 passed the House by a vote of 75-41. The bill was then held on a motion to reconsider.
Happenings Week of Jan 17th 2022
Senate Bill 2095, or the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, was introduced to the House on Wednesday. The bill is a follow-up to Initiative 65, which was passed by Mississippi voters in November 2020 but was struck down by the Mississippi Supreme Court over a technicality in the ballot initiative process. SB 2095 outlines a medical marijuana program that will treat conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, Crohn’s Disease, glaucoma and seizures, to name a few. After a committee amendment was adopted by the House, the program will be overseen by the Department of Health, and eligible patients with a registry ID card will be able to purchase no more than six MCEUs (Medical Cannabis Equivalency Units) a week and no more than 28 MCEUs a month.
Location is everything
Mississippi House District 89 Serving the People of Jones County
Think You May Have Unclaimed Property?
The Office of the State Treasurer is responsible for the administration of the Unclaimed Property Act. The law requires that “holders” such as banks, credit unions, insurance companies, retail stores, utility companies, and business associations turn over to the Office of the State Treasurer any assets such as money, cash, checks or stocks that have been abandoned for which there has been no contact for a period of five years. The Unclaimed Property Division is charged with trying to locate the rightful owners of such assets.