Bills in the 2012 Regular Session, Senate.
Michael Watson
Sponsored
Became law1
Counterfeit controlled substances; prohibit sale, manufacture or possession.
Passed the Senate3
Controlled substances; enhance penalty for illegal sale in proximity to drug rehab facility.
Controlled substances; acquiring by theft, fraud and the like.
Youth sports concussions and head injuries; provide procedures and education requirements.
Out of committee1
Homeowners insurance; require premium discount for property built or retrofitted to resist hurricanes.
In committee43
Distinctive motor vehicle license tag; authorize for supporters of East Central High School.
Distinctive motor vehicle license tag; authorize for supporters of Resurrection Catholic School.
Pawnshop transactions; require electronic transmission if law enforcement supplies software.
Intercept gaming winnings of parents with a child support arrearage; provide procedures for.
Sales taxation; exempt retail sales of school supplies during the last weekend in July.
Alcoholic beverages; allow direct shipment of certain wines, authorize a wine only package retailer's permit and allow wine tasting.
Real estate transactions; require disclosure if meth production occurred on the property.
Corrections; prohibit trusty convicted of murder or any other crime of violence from working at Governor's Mansion.
Legislature; reduce size beginning with 2015 statewide general election.
Recall election procedures for local officials by referendum; specifically include local school board members.
Indecent assault; create crime of unlawful sexual touching.
Sex offense; revise definition (MPA).
Landlord tenant relations; require locks to be changed between residential tenancies.
Employment Protection Act; revise and clarify.
Licensed vessel pilots; limit liability of pilots and trainees.
Disorderly conduct at a funeral or memorial service; prohibit.
Taxation; limit prosecution's authority to plea-bargain.
Health care insurance; no person, employer or health care provider shall be required to participate in any health care plan.
Municipalities; city attorneys required to carry errors and omission coverage.
Privatization of school bus transportation; State Board of Education to issue regulations for contracts.
Alcohol-free motor fuels; ensure the availability of.
Unlawful absences from school; no promotion or graduation if student has accumulated 21 or more absences in preceding school year.
School board members elected in all districts; superintendents appointed after January 1, 2016.
Service of process; revise in justice courts.
Income tax; increase credit for ad valorem tax paid on inventory.
School accreditation; include financial accountability rating system and student achievement in performance-based accreditation.
Uniform Controlled Substances Act; revise forfeiture under.
Property insurance; prohibit hurricane deductible unless damages arose from a named storm.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program; require IHL to grant minimum credit to graduates of.
Local school district budgets; require at least 75% to be expended for instructional purposes.
Homestead exemption; increase for persons 65 years of age or older or totally disabled.
Physicians who self-refer diagnostic imaging tests; limit billing options.
Charter schools; authorize open-enrollment and conversion public charter schools in the state.
Public defenders; clarify authority over employees of the office.
Immigration Reform Act of 2012; enact.
Mississippi Digital Learning NOW Act; create.
"Mississippi Opportunity Scholarship and Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act of 2012"; establish.
Teacher Incentive Fund Grant Pilot Program; authorize salary supplements based upon student performance.
School start date; require local school boards to fix the opening of the school term no earlier than the fourth Monday in August.
Public assistance benefits; require applicants to verify United States citizenship and take drug tests to qualify.
Medicaid program; establish reciprocal reimbursement policy regarding payment of nonresident health care providers.
Hunting; require permit to hunt deer with dogs.
Public construction projects; require entities to have verifiable percentage goals for veteran business participation.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 17
Memorial highway; designate certain segment of U.S. Highway 78 as William R. "Bill" Minor Memorial Highway.
Vote fraud; constitute a disqualifying conviction.
School district consolidation; require in certain counties.
Vulnerable person act; clarify abuse and neglect under.
Beer; authorize manufacture of beer of more than 5% by weight for sale in another state.
Voyeurism; create felony offense when victim is under 16.
Mississippi Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act; create.
Highway Patrol; remove repealer on minimum qualifications and authorize designation of veterans on driver's license.
Statute of limitation; revise for prosecution of vulnerable person abuse.
Armed Forces Absentee Voting Law; applications may be signed by electronic signature.
Tidelands; residential property owners not required to obtain a tidelands lease.
Fiscal notes; shall be published on the Legislature website if prepared for certain bills.
Beer breweries; allow to provide samples subject to certain restrictions.
National Flood Insurance Program; revise laws regarding eligibility for.
Dual enrollment-dual credit work skills certificate program in high school and community college; establish pilot program.
Multi-modal transportation; include regional railroad authorities in Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Fund.
Beer; increase the amount of alcohol that it may contain from 5% by weight to 8% by weight.
Passed the Senate · 9
Ad valorem taxes; authorize counties and municipalities to exempt vehicles of military personnel who receive eminent danger pay.
Municipal and county law enforcement officer; allow spouse of officer killed in the line of duty to purchase officer's sidearm.
Local school superintendents; all appointed after January 1, 2016.
Accessory after the fact; revise punishment for the offense of.
State agency personnel; exempt from certain State Personnel Board procedures.
DUI; create child endangerment provision.
Election commissioners; provide that elections shall be nonpartisan.
Karen's Law; revise punishment for manslaughter of certain child victims.
Lonnie Smith Act; revise elements of the offense of felonious child abuse.
In committee · 24
Corrections; persons convicted of certain violent crimes not eligible for earned time or other time for reduction of sentence.
School board election; authorize absentee voting in certain types of districts.
State agencies; prohibit from using public funds for procedures that result in destruction or injury of human embryos.
Parole; provide for conditional release of an offender to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in certain circumstances.
Terrorism; add as an aggravating circumstance for capital offenses.
Manslaughter; increase maximum sentence.
Public benefits; agencies administering programs for must verify lawful presence in U.S. of applicants for.
Sanctuary cities; prohibit.
"Mississippi Student Religious Liberties Act of 2012"; enact.
Distinctive license tag; authorize a tax-free tag for World War II Veterans.
Homestead exemption; extend to unremarried surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans.
Requirements for enrollment of children in public schools; include proof of purchase of car tag in the proper county.
Random nicotine testing; require for Medicaid recipients.
Oil severance tax; revise distribution between state and counties.
Judicial and district attorney salaries; increase.
Homeschool students; authorize participation in extracurricular activities in public schools.
Homeschool and nonpublic school students; authorize participation in extracurricular activities in public schools.
Mississippi Veterans' Honor Medal Program; establish under Adjutant General.
Adverse possession; require reimbursement to defendant of value of property and taxes paid.
Abortion; prohibit an abortion of a fetus with a detectable heartbeat without informed written consent except in medical emergency.
MS Gulf Coast Region Utility Act; revise powers and duties of the county utility authorities.
Tourism Project Sales Tax Incentive Fund; increase maximum period of time that MDA may make payments from.
MS Wireless Communication Commission; revise authority regarding local government entities.
Parents who send children to private school or homeschool; provide state income tax deduction for.