Bills in the 2018 Regular Session, Senate.
Michael Watson
Sponsored
Became law1
Criminal immunity; provide for persons when requesting assistance for medical emergency due to alcohol consumption.
Passed the Senate1
Alcoholic beverages; allow direct shipment of wines to package retailers and on-premises retailers.
Out of committee1
Human trafficking; clarify notice to coordinator.
In committee41
State Board of Education; transfer powers and responsibilities to the Governor.
Educational expenses at qualified private schools; individual income tax credits for.
Abortion; prohibit an abortion of an unborn human individual with a detectable heartbeat.
Employment Protection Act; revise and clarify.
Intercept gaming winnings of parents with a child support arrearage; provide procedures for.
Common Core educational standards; parents can opt out.
"Pay for Success Contracts Act"; authorize DFA and public school districts to only pay providers when results are successful.
"Mississippi Unborn Infants Dignity Act"; enact.
Refugee resettlement; impose civil liability on sponsor organizations under certain circumstances.
Health care insurance; no person, employer or health care provider shall be required to participate in any health care plan.
Presidential Executive Orders; prohibit the State of Mississippi from enforcing unless enacted by U.S. Congress.
Legislature; reduce size beginning with 2019 statewide general election.
Student test results; testing companies shall notify schools not later than the 21st day after the test is given.
Illegal immigration; Attorney General to seek federal reimbursement of costs incurred by state.
Sales tax; remove requirement that certain taxpayers pay June liability for the tax on or before June 25.
Trusty status; offenders ineligible to work at Governor's Mansion if incarcerated for a violent crime.
School board members; elected in all districts.
Use of public or grant funds for abortion or family planning services; strictly prohibit.
Charter schools for special needs students; may be approved without approval of local school board.
Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS); parents may opt out.
Gaming commission; certain investors consider in the aggregate to satisfy scrutiny thresholds.
Federal Affordable Care Act; prohibit implementation of ACA and prohibit expansion of Medicaid Program.
Elections; revise procedure for examining certain records and for filing certain election contests.
Tax evasion; limit prosecution's authority to plea bargain.
Health insurers; require to release certain claims data upon request of group policyholder.
Student transfer from school or school district which has lost accreditation; provide for mandatory transfer.
Elections; authorize procedures to promote full investigation and detection of election law violations.
Local school district budgets; require at least 75% to be expended for instructional purposes.
"Mississippi Educational Improvement Tax Credit Act of 2018"; establish.
"Mississippi Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2018"; establish.
Chemical endangerment of a child or fetus; create crime of.
Mississippi Education Savings Scholarship Accounts Program; establish.
Homeschool students; authorize participation in extracurricular activities in public school.
Human trafficking; revise penalties and definitions.
Federal Firearm, Magazine and Register Ban Enforcement Act; create.
Compulsory school attendance; revise to remove certain excused absences.
Voter registration; require applicants to submit acceptable documents to verify U.S. citizenship.
MS Coastal Strategic Investment Fund program; establish Trust and Board of Trustees.
Gulf Coast Restoration Fund; administered by planning and development districts.
Jackson County Utility Authority; reconstitute board of directors and revise provisions relating to the board.
Birth certificate; adoptee may obtain certified copy of original after 40 years.
Co-sponsored
Became law · 2
2018 First Extraordinary Session · BP Settlement Funds; deposit into State BP Settlement Fund and Gulf Coast Restoration Fund.
Group health insurance plan coverage for prescription drugs; authorize medication synchronization for beneficiaries.
Passed the Senate · 4
Campaign finance reports; to be available on county and municipal websites.
BP Settlement Funds; transfer into Gulf Coast New Restoration Reserve Fund.
Counties, municipalities and school districts; require to publish their annual budget online.
State parks; exempt veterans who have been adjudged to have a total 100% service-connected disability from entry fees.
Out of committee · 1
Commission on Marine Resources; establish a shell recovery and replenishment program.
In committee · 2
Common Core National Education Standards; State Board of Education shall replace with ELA Standards in 2018-2019 school year.
Pseudoephedrine; require written log of pharmacy sales; revise prescription quantity.