2018 Legislator Business & Jobs Report Card

voted for business/jobs position
voted against business/jobs position
NV = Not Voting or Absent
EA = Excused Absence
P = Present

* Points were not deducted for those voting Present (P) or for those with a Excused Absence (EA). Points were deducted for those Not Voting.


Representatives / Senators

Grade Office Holder Party District
HB 957When the senate took up their version of HB 957, a motion to recommit (kill) the legislation was voted on. That vote passed which killed the legislation for the session. The business vote was against the motion to recommit.
HB 1649This is the omnibus bond bill which included $45M for improvements to the state-owned shipyard in Pascagoula and $50M for the Local System Bridge Program. This legislation is important to support the largest private employer in the state as well as to maintain critical infrastructure. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2479This legislation lowers the investment amount needed to qualify for a fee-in-lieu agreement from $100 million to $60 million. It allows the local governing authorities to enter into these agreements with existing industries in their area that are looking to expand. This legislation is an important step towards giving communities more leverage in recruiting companies to their areas and helping their existing companies grow. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 3046Known as The BRIDGE Act, SB 3046 would have directed up to $1.5 billion of existing revenue and bonds to state, county and city roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs over the next five years. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1122This legislation restricts cities and counties from imposing regulations on farmers who are already regulated by state agencies. This is an important step to prevent overregulation by local governments. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2570This legislation prohibits local governments from adopting regulations, fees or taxes on the use, disposition or sale of a bag, cup, bottle or other packaging designed for transporting, consuming or protecting merchandise, food or beverages. This is an important step to prevent more regulation and taxation by local governments. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2097This legislation allows for a "free port warehouse" tax exemption to apply to property that is consigned to a licensed free port warehouse for storage pending transit. The granting of this exemption is at the sole discretion of the local governing authority. This change recognizes the critical nature of just-in-time supply chains and helps incentivize more development of warehousing infrastructure. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2418This legislation increases the axle tolerance allowed for vehicles operating under a harvest permit and certain vehicles loading and unloading at a state port. It increases the tolerance allowed on each axle from 5% to 10%, which will allow greater flexibility in the transport of forest products to manufacturing facilities. It also allows manufacturers to continue to use their harvest permit to transport products from a holding facility to the processing plant. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2473SB 2473 makes business/landlord-friendly changes to the Residential Landlord Tenant statutes. It protects the landlord’s rights to collect late fees as well as rent and allows the landlord to evict for any event for which the lease provides eviction as a remedy. Changes were made to speed up the eviction proceeding and allows for the termination of a lease in fourteen days rather than thirty days. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1476This legislation would have ensured that real estate brokers who are lawfully responsible for overseeing licensed salespersons have had ample opportunity to gain the experience that is necessary to oversee, train, and guide their agents. HB 1476 sought to ensure security for consumers, brokers and everyone involved in a real estate transaction. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2295SB 2295 provides regulatory predictability and clarifies governing jurisdiction by making clear that the Mississippi Public Service Commission has exclusive original jurisdiction over utility rate disputes, including those brought by the Attorney General. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2836This bill defines the state’s Medicaid services and reimbursement rates. This is critical for physicians and other healthcare providers as Medicaid reimbursement is a driver of economic output in Mississippi. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2455This legislation would have provided an additional sales tax diversion to cities from state sales tax revenue when general fund growth is more than 1%. The bill would have required that the extra funds be used by cities for infrastructure projects. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 354This legislation would have allowed for any growth of the general fund over 2% (up to $100M) to be dedicated to road and bridge repair/maintenance. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1488This legislation authorized funds to be used by the Mississippi Development Authority to incentivize companies creating new jobs and making corporate investments in the state. Incentives include grants and loans designed to meet the infrastructure needs of new and expanding businesses, workforce training programs, small and minority-owned business assistance programs, and statutory tax incentives. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
Grade Office Holder Party District
HB 957When the senate took up their version of HB 957, a motion to recommit (kill) the legislation was voted on. That vote passed which killed the legislation for the session. The business vote was against the motion to recommit.
HB 1649This is the omnibus bond bill which included $45M for improvements to the state-owned shipyard in Pascagoula and $50M for the Local System Bridge Program. This legislation is important to support the largest private employer in the state as well as to maintain critical infrastructure. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2479This legislation lowers the investment amount needed to qualify for a fee-in-lieu agreement from $100 million to $60 million. It allows the local governing authorities to enter into these agreements with existing industries in their area that are looking to expand. This legislation is an important step towards giving communities more leverage in recruiting companies to their areas and helping their existing companies grow. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 3046Known as The BRIDGE Act, SB 3046 would have directed up to $1.5 billion of existing revenue and bonds to state, county and city roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs over the next five years. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1122This legislation restricts cities and counties from imposing regulations on farmers who are already regulated by state agencies. This is an important step to prevent overregulation by local governments. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2570This legislation prohibits local governments from adopting regulations, fees or taxes on the use, disposition or sale of a bag, cup, bottle or other packaging designed for transporting, consuming or protecting merchandise, food or beverages. This is an important step to prevent more regulation and taxation by local governments. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2097This legislation allows for a "free port warehouse" tax exemption to apply to property that is consigned to a licensed free port warehouse for storage pending transit. The granting of this exemption is at the sole discretion of the local governing authority. This change recognizes the critical nature of just-in-time supply chains and helps incentivize more development of warehousing infrastructure. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2418This legislation increases the axle tolerance allowed for vehicles operating under a harvest permit and certain vehicles loading and unloading at a state port. It increases the tolerance allowed on each axle from 5% to 10%, which will allow greater flexibility in the transport of forest products to manufacturing facilities. It also allows manufacturers to continue to use their harvest permit to transport products from a holding facility to the processing plant. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2473SB 2473 makes business/landlord-friendly changes to the Residential Landlord Tenant statutes. It protects the landlord’s rights to collect late fees as well as rent and allows the landlord to evict for any event for which the lease provides eviction as a remedy. Changes were made to speed up the eviction proceeding and allows for the termination of a lease in fourteen days rather than thirty days. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1476This legislation would have ensured that real estate brokers who are lawfully responsible for overseeing licensed salespersons have had ample opportunity to gain the experience that is necessary to oversee, train, and guide their agents. HB 1476 sought to ensure security for consumers, brokers and everyone involved in a real estate transaction. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2295SB 2295 provides regulatory predictability and clarifies governing jurisdiction by making clear that the Mississippi Public Service Commission has exclusive original jurisdiction over utility rate disputes, including those brought by the Attorney General. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2836This bill defines the state’s Medicaid services and reimbursement rates. This is critical for physicians and other healthcare providers as Medicaid reimbursement is a driver of economic output in Mississippi. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
SB 2455This legislation would have provided an additional sales tax diversion to cities from state sales tax revenue when general fund growth is more than 1%. The bill would have required that the extra funds be used by cities for infrastructure projects. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 354This legislation would have allowed for any growth of the general fund over 2% (up to $100M) to be dedicated to road and bridge repair/maintenance. This legislation was an attempt to address the infrastructure needs of MS. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
HB 1488This legislation authorized funds to be used by the Mississippi Development Authority to incentivize companies creating new jobs and making corporate investments in the state. Incentives include grants and loans designed to meet the infrastructure needs of new and expanding businesses, workforce training programs, small and minority-owned business assistance programs, and statutory tax incentives. The business vote was in support of this legislation.
A
Kevin Blackwell Republican 19
A
Jenifer B. Branning Republican 18
EA
EA
A
Nickey Browning Republican 3
A
Terry C. Burton Republican 31
A
Videt Carmichael Republican 33
A
Joel R. Carter, Jr. Republican 49
A
Chris Caughman Republican 35
A
Lydia Graves Chassaniol Republican 14
A
Eugene S. Clarke Republican 22
A
Sally Doty Republican 39
EA
A
Joey Fillingane Republican 41
A
Josh Harkins Republican 20
A
W. Briggs Hopson, III Republican 23
A
Billy Hudson Republican 45
EA
EA
A
Dean Kirby Republican 30
EA
EA
EA
EA
EA
EA
EA
A
Chris Massey Republican 1
A
J. Walter Michel Republican 25
A
Philip Moran Republican 46
NV
A
David Parker Republican 2
A
Rita Potts Parks Republican 4
A
John A. Polk Republican 44
A
Gray Tollison Republican 9
A
Neil S. Whaley Republican 10
A
Brice Wiggins Republican 52
A
Charles Younger Republican 17
B
Juan Barnett Democrat 34
B
Bob M. Dearing Democrat 37
B
Dennis DeBar Republican 43
B
Tommy A. Gollott Republican 50
B
Angela Burks Hill Republican 40
P
B
Gary Jackson Republican 15
NV
B
Sampson Jackson, II Democrat 32
B
Chad McMahan Republican 6
B
Joseph M. Seymour Republican 47
B
Willie Simmons Democrat 13
B
Michael Watson Republican 51
P
B
J. P. Wilemon Democrat 5
C
David Blount Democrat 29
C
Albert Butler Democrat 36
C
John Horhn Democrat 26
C
Russell Jolly Democrat 8
C
David Jordan Democrat 24
C
Chris McDaniel Republican 42
P
P
D
Hob Bryan Democrat 7
D
Robert L. Jackson Democrat 11
D
Sollie B. Norwood Democrat 28
D
Derrick T. Simmons Democrat 12
D
Tammy Witherspoon Democrat 38
P
F
Barbara Blackmon Democrat 21
NV
F
Deborah Jeanne Dawkins Democrat 48
F
Hillman Terome Frazier Democrat 27
F
Angela Turner-Ford Democrat 16
Results: 52