2012 Legislative Accomplishments

This legislative session was historic. Republicans controlled the House and the Senate for the first time in 140 years, and we have a Republican governor. You can be proud of the work we did. Here are some of the conservative, pro-business, pro-family policies we put into law.

Better Schools, Government Accountability, Less Spending

BUDGET:

• State sent $200 million to rainy day fund.
• Rule change limited the ability of rank and file legislators to increase spending without naming offsets.
• THE STATE AUTHORIZED NO NEW DEBT THIS YEAR, ending years of credit card spending sprees.

EDUCATION:

• Increased public education spending by $30 million over last year.
• Provided $30 million more for K-12, including $19 million more to MAEP.
• Passed school rating systems to rank schools A, B, C, D or F. Will help parents understand their schools’ performance.
• Consolidated and reformed some failing school districts, sending some $1.2 million in administrative costs back to the classroom.
• Prohibit school personnel from inflating students' grades.
• Passed Dyslexia screening guidelines for kindergarten and 1st grade students. Allows elementary students with Dyslexia to attend a school with Dyslexiaspecific instruction.
• Created Mississippi Dyslexia Education Scholarship Program to train teachers.

VOTER ID: Passed laws implementing 2011 ballot initiative, requiring ID to cast vote.

SAVING TAXPAYER MONEY:

• Placed a moratorium through 2013 on state purchase of new cars (with certain law enforcement exemptions).
• DFA and Personnel Board will now have statewide contracts for services, not just commodities; this will allow more bulk purchasing and reduced costs.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Increased transparency and set rates in legal contracts. Gives state agency heads other options when they disagree with attorney general on legal issues, all within existing agency budgets.

REDISTRICTING: New maps were drawn and adopted. Increases majority-minority seats. Could cause some Democratic incumbents to face each other for seats.

PEARL RIVER VALLEY BOARD: Changed makeup of reservoir board, giving residents greater voice.

VOTER FRAUD: You are now disqualified from voting if you commit voter fraud.

Economic Growth

WORKERS' COMPENSATION: Makes changes to the state's workers' compensation system. Make the system fairer to employers, reduces costs and improves benefits & workplace safety.

INVENTORY TAX RELIEF: Reduces tax burden by letting businesses claim tax credit on inventory.

HEALTH CARE ZONES: Provides incentives for businesses to locate near current hospitals, including R&D, biotech, diagnostics, medical supplies & equipment, labs and medical supplies.

REGULATORY RELIEF: Passed Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act, allowing small businesses to propose changes to new and existing regulations that harm business.

WORKFORCE TRAINING: Lets potential high-school dropouts dual-enroll in community college workforce training programs while completing high school.

UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD PREVENTION: Will reduce unemployment fraud and create an entrepreneurial mentoring program for unemployed Mississippians.

SCHOOL START DATE: Moved school start date past 3rd week in August starting 2014.

BEER BILLS: Passed three measures loosening beer laws; helps grow the economy.

REDUCED MARRIAGE WAITING PERIOD: Reduced from 3 days to 1 day. Will increase "destination weddings"in Mississippi.

Child Protection & Quality of Life

EXEMPT CHURCH TAX: Exempt churches from paying sales tax on their utilities.

CHILD PROTECTION: Creates new reporting requirements for suspected sexual abuse of children. Also requires fetal tissue to be saved as potential DNA evidence of statutory rape when girl seeking abortion is 14 or under.

ABORTION: Requires doctors who work at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges to a local hospital and be certified OB-GYNs.

ADOPTION: Improved adoption laws to make it easier to adopt a child.

JUDICIAL & PROSECUTOR PAY RAISE: Used user fees to bring judges & prosecutor pay off the bottom, and to retain & attract talent in our justice system.

THANKING VETERANS: Authorized a "veteran" designation on drivers licenses.

HEALTH & WELLNESS: Makes school playgrounds and athletic facilities more available for public use through joint use agreements.

FARMERS' MARKETS: Lets city and county governments support farmers' markets.