Geoff Pender

Mississippi Today's politics team outlines some challenges lawmakers face in the final month of their session from uncertainty of the affects Trump administration moves will have on the state level. They also discuss what lived and died with last week's deadline for committee passage.

Analysis: Some of Trump's threatened or enacted policies, tariffs and slashing of federal spending appear tailor-made to hammer Mississippi's economy.

Dr. Randy McCoy, a retired longtime public school superintendent and member of the state employee retirement system board, says a plan passed by the Senate aimed at financially stabilizing PERS would cause long-term problems in hiring and retaining teachers and other state employees. He says the system can be shored up with less drastic reductions in benefits for future employees.

Bill, now headed to full House, would increase taxes on Mississippi casinos from 12% to 16%.

Senate Elections Chairman Jeremy England defends his early voting bill, for which his fellow Republican Gov. Tate Reeves slammed him on social media. England said it's time Mississippi join 47 other states in allowing the convenience of early voting, and the issue should not be partisan.

House votes to make entire state wet, approves Sunday liquor sales; Senate passes kratom ban; PERS retirement changes advance.

Palazzo, who served in Congress from 2011-2023, faced ethics and campaign finance scrutiny for several years while in office.

House votes to make entire state wet, approves Sunday liquor sales; Senate passes kratom ban; PERS retirement changes advance.

Kevin Felsher of Biloxi discusses the bill he authored, and the House passed unanimously, to provide eight weeks of paid maternity or adoption leave, two weeks for fathers/secondary caregivers for state employees.

Similar legislation has been considered or passed in other states and has become known as the "Tim Tebow Act," named for the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback who was home schooled in Florida

Catch up with the latest from the Mississippi legislative session with our weekly recap from the politics team.

Most other states, including all those surrounding Mississippi, have searchable databases of campaign contributions, as there also are for federal candidates.

Catch up with the latest from the Mississippi legislative session with our weekly recap from the politics team.

State Rep. Zakiya Summers discusses with Mississippi Today's Anna Wolfe, Maya Miller and Geoff Pender some of the issues the Capitol city of Jackson and the Metro Area face, and legislative priorities to deal with them.

The top potential contenders for governor in 2027 -- at least to date -- appeared to up their fundraising efforts last year.

Catch up with the latest from the Mississippi legislative session with our weekly recap from the politics team.

Scores of lawyers have worked for decades to make legislative rules and jargon confusing. If it weren't, we might not need scores of lawyers.

Mississippi Department of Transportation Director Brad White tells Mississippi Today's Geoff Pender and Taylor Vance he's staying "in his lane" and out of the politics of a House tax overhaul that would eliminate the income tax and raise sales and gasoline taxes, but that he's pleased lawmakers are trying to address the long running need for a steady new stream of money to help cover highway maintenance needs.

Paul Gallo, longtime host of "The Gallo Radio Show" on SuperTalk Mississippi, died on Sunday. He was 77.

Sen. Dean Kirby, second ranking leader of the state Senate, says many of the issues Mississippi lawmakers will be tackling this year are recurring ones: tax cuts, education funding, Medicaid expansion, and issues with the Public Employees Retirement System. He's also helping lead court mandated redistricting that will likely result in do-over elections later this year for numerous lawmakers.