Bills in the 2014 Regular Session, Senate.
Michael Watson
Sponsored
Out of committee1
Controlled substances; enhance penalty for illegal sale in proximity to drug rehab facility.
In committee35
Trusty status; offenders convicted of murder or any other crime of violence shall not work at Governor's Mansion.
Homestead exemption; increase for persons 65 years of age or older or totally disabled.
Legislature; reduce size beginning with 2015 statewide general election.
Unlawful absences from school; no promotion or graduation if student has accumulated 21 or more absences in preceding school year.
Local school district budgets; require at least 75% to be expended for instructional purposes.
Sales taxation; exempt retail sales of school supplies during the last weekend in July.
School board members elected in all districts; superintendents appointed after January 1, 2016.
Alcoholic beverages; allow direct shipment of certain wines, authorize a wine only package retailer's permit and allow wine tasting.
Public Trust Tidelands; auth. leases for residential purposes on Lowry Island and auth. SOS to share sublease income with city.
Pawnshop transactions; require electronic transmission if law enforcement supplies software.
Property insurance; prohibit hurricane deductible unless damages arose from a named storm.
School accreditation; include financial accountability rating system and student achievement in performance-based accreditation.
Charter schools for special needs students; may be approved with approval of local school board.
Health care insurance; no person, employer or health care provider shall be required to participate in any health care plan.
Chemical endangerment of a child or fetus; create crime of.
Taxation; limit prosecution's authority to plea-bargain.
Intercept gaming winnings of parents with a child support arrearage; provide procedures for.
Distinctive motor vehicle license tag; authorize for epilepsy awareness.
Income tax; authorize a deduction for certain retrofitting or upgrades to homes in Coastal Area of Mississippi.
Mississippi State Seal; insert "IN GOD WE TRUST."
Homeschool students; authorize participation in extracurricular activities in public school.
"Mississippi Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act of 2014"; establish.
"Mississippi Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2014"; establish.
Mississippi Education Savings Scholarship Accounts Program; establish.
Employment Protection Act; revise and clarify.
Digital privacy; enact protections.
Student transfer from school or school district which has lost accreditation; provide for mandatory transfer.
Sales tax; remove requirement that certain taxpayers pay June liability for the tax on or before June 25.
Student test results; testing companies shall notify schools not later than 21st day after the test is given.
Constitution; create procedure for selection of delegates to U.S. Constitution convention.
Contractor's liens; revise stop notice law.
Smoke-free school zones; revise penalty for employees violating law; require "no smoking" signs.
Educational expenses at qualified private schools; individual income tax credits for.
Youth sports concussions and head injuries; provide procedures and education requirements.
Jackson County; may establish satellite office in each supervisors district of the county.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 10
2014 Second Extraordinary Session · Disaster response and recovery costs; authorize transfer to disaster trust fund.
"Mississippi Asthma and Anaphylaxis Child Safety Act"; enact.
MS Windstorm Underwriting Association; revise certain laws regarding the nonadmitted policy fee.
Municipalities; revise method of calculating maximum amount that may be assessed for cleaning dilapidated private property.
Sales tax; exempt sales of firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies during Mississippi Sportsman Weekend.
Firemen; may purchase helmet and badge upon retirement or death in the line of duty.
Marine Resources; create Marine Resources Accountability and Reorganization Act.
Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act; enact and modify the great seal.
Sales taxation; exempt sales to the Mississippi Children's Museum.
Sales tax; exempt certain guided tour activities and certain livestock admissions and parking.
Passed the Senate · 5
Elections; prohibit candidates from appearing in publicly funded ads during statewide general election years.
The Equal Opportunity for All Students with Special Needs Act; create to establish IEFs for certain students.
Law Enforcement Officers Death Benefits Trust Fund; increase amount of benefits.
Sales taxation; sales of aircraft used in oil or natural gas exploration or production are exempt.
Coast Coliseum Commission; authorize expenditure of money in its trust fund for certain purposes.
In committee · 26
Parental access to online curriculum programs in which child is enrolled; State Board of Education to provide for.
Official dating standard to be used by public museums and publications; require "A.D." and "B.C."
Health Care Freedom Of Choice Act; enact.
Cursive writing; direct State Board of Education to require in elementary education curriculum.
School board members; all elected beginning with the November 2016 general election; appoint all local school superintendents.
Income tax; reduce the rate of tax.
Vexatious Litigant Law; enact.
Inventory; phase in an ad valorem tax exemption for.
Homestead exemption; extend to unremarried surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans.
Department of Revenue; require to conduct a feasibility regarding the elimination of ad valorem taxation.
Health insurance exchange; prohibit State of Mississippi from establishing.
Firearms; prohibit state cooperation with federal effort to ban.
Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Law; repeal.
Corporation franchise tax; phase out effective January 1, 2019.
Common Core National Education Standards; prohibit State Board of Education from implementing without full evaluation.
Attorney-member of Legislature; automatic continuance upon application.
Student freedom of religion; protect student association at university/college campus.
Property Insurance Clarity Act; create.
Parole; provide for conditional release of an offender to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in certain circumstances.
Common Core National Education Standards and P.A.R.C.C.; prohibit State Board of Education from implementing.
Federal Affordable Care Act; prohibit implementation of ACA and prohibit expansion of Medicaid Program.
Courts; prohibit application of foreign law.
Public benefits; agencies administering programs for must verify lawful presence in U.S. of applicants for.
Duties of article V; convention delegates define.
TANF benefits; require applicants to participate in mandatory community service programs to qualify.
Income taxation; allow a deduction for amounts contributed to accounts established to pay for uninsured wind damage to homesteads.