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Wednesday Morning Tip Sheet
Gov. Phil Bryant will speak today at the Department of Public Safety Fallen Officer Memorial which is held at MDPS headquarters in Jackson. This honors DPS officers who have fallen in the line of duty; Bryant will also lay a wreath in honor of those fallen officers.
Here are three stories that are driving the day in Mississippi:
Tuesday Morning Tip Sheet
Later this morning, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will be the keynote speaker at the Pearl River Community College commencement. The graduation begins at 10 a.m. and is held at the J. L. Cartlidge Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg.
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee was at the bill signing of the Child Protection Act, which was signed in to law by Gov. Phil Bryant. As a state Senator, Rep. Nunnelee championed the bill for many years, only to see if die under the previous leadership in the House.
“The passage of the Child Protection Act is an important step in protecting the children of Mississippi,” Rep. Nunnelee said. “I had introduced this act for several years, and it passed the Senate only to die in the House committee. Because of new leadership in the House, this bill passed the Legislature this year. I would like to thank Speaker Gunn and Chairman Gipson for their leadership as well as Lt. Gov. Reeves and Chairman Hobson. I also want to thank Gov. Bryant for signing this bill in to law. Protecting vulnerable children from those who would exploit them is one of the most important functions of government.”
Here are three stories that are driving the day in Mississippi:
1. WLBT: Gov. Bryant signs business bills
With his signature, Governor Phil Bryant inked four pieces of legislation into law Monday, all of them part of his Mississippi Works Agenda.
“This was the most job friendly, business friendly legislative session in modern Mississippi history,” said Bryant.
First to get the approval of the governor was the Health Care Industry Zone Act, aimed at expanding the state’s healthcare economy and improving access to it. The new law creates health care zones throughout the state and provides tax incentives for health care businesses that create new, permanent jobs.
“I’m very proud of that innovative piece of legislation. I think it’s going to create thousands of jobs in the healthcare industry,” said Bryant.
With those anticipated jobs, comes a need for a skilled workforce, which Bryant says can be accomplished with a dual enrollment program which also got his signature. It allows high school dropouts and those on the verge to attend classes at junior and community colleges.
See also: Gov. Bryant signs legislation to enhance Mississippi’s business climate
2. Delta Farm Press: Gov. Bryant: Agriculture’s economic role often underrated
Agriculture continues to be the mainstay of the economy in Mississippi and other Mid-South states, and, as such, it should be promoted and protected — not neglected.
That was the message Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant brought to the annual meeting of the Delta Council Friday, a day which many Delta residents couldn’t help but contrast with what was happening in the region almost a year before.
“We had an Agribusiness Summit in Jackson not long ago,” the newly elected governor told an audience of more than 800 assembled in the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the Delta State University Campus in Cleveland, Miss.
“We learned some interesting things, and one of those was that agriculture in the Delta accounts for $1.5 billion in annual income and employs more than 55,000 people. That’s like having 55 Toyota plants,” he said, referring to the new manufacturing facility in northeast Mississippi that is expected to eventually employ 1,000 persons.
3. Commercial Appeal: Rep. Tommy Woods will leave Mississippi House after 25 years
Veteran state Rep. Tommy Woods of Byhalia said Monday he is retiring from the state House of Representatives after 25 years in office.
Woods, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered on Dec. 26, said he made his decision to retire after consulting with his physicians.
Monday Morning Tip Sheet
Today, Gov. Phil Bryant will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m. to sign four bills that were components of his Mississippi Work’s agenda. The news conference will be held at the Woolfolk State Office Building.
Legislation that will be signed into law includes:
• House Bill 1537, the Health Care Industry Zone Act expands Mississippi’s health care economy and improves access to health care. The legislation creates health care zones throughout the state and provides tax incentives for health care businesses that create new, permanent jobs.
• Senate Bill 2792, creates balance in Mississippi’s worker compensation program.
