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2009 Regular Session
Legislative
Recap
The 2009 Regular Session
Ended June 3
After being extended for the second time,
the legislature returned on May 26 to complete actions on
various budgetary, appropriations and local and private bills.
However, no budget agreements were reached and the 2009 regular
session adjourned sine die on June 3, 2009.
Major Bills Passed of Interest to the Greater Jackson Chamber
Partnership
SB
3268: Local Option Sales Tax:
This bill will allow any municipality with
150,000 or more in population (Jackson is the only one in the
state) to call an election on whether or not to levy a sales tax
up to one percent on the sale of certain products currently
taxed at 7%, to fund infrastructure and public safety services
SB
3281: Old Capitol Green Project:
This bill will allow the Mississippi
Development Authority to loan $20,000, 000 to Hinds County for
infrastructure improvements in the defined project area. The
loan will be repaid from property taxes on facilities in the
project area.
Other Bills Passed and Signed by the Governor during the 2009 Regular
Session of Interest to the Business Community
HB
348: The bill authorizes
a “Sales Tax Holiday” on the last Friday in July on the sale of
clothing and foot ware products if the sale price of the article
is $100.00 or less.
HB
364: Both houses have
approved a conference report that will increase the state’s
cigarette tax from 18 cents per pack to 68 cents per pack. The
bill also proposes a tax credit toward the purchase of a
vehicular tag of the rate of 4.24 % of the accessed value of the
motor vehicle. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor
Barbour and is due from him by May 14.
HB
680:
Revises the
Mississippi
Nonprofit Corporation Act.
HB
874: Revises violations,
penalties, and applications of trademarks and copyrights.
HB
1441: Authorizes the City of
Flood
and the West Pearl Tax District to call an election on whether
or not to be designated as a “Resort Area” and permit the sale
of liquor by the drink.
HB
1623: Authorizes any city
or county to designate “entertainment districts” and provide
incentives for developments in such districts.
SB
2641: Trademarks, revise
Mississippi
model enactment.
SB
3052: Expands powers and
duties of State Auditor.
SB
3060: Revises Mississippi
Business Corporation Act.
Key Proposal that did not pass
The governor’s proposal for an eminent
domain bill that would allow taking property for private
purposes, such as major economic development projects, in
limited situations with oversight by the Mississippi Development
Authority, Governor’s
Office, and both houses of the legislature, was not passed
during the Special Called Session.
Two Special sessions Called after June 3 Since Die
Various budgetary matters not resolved during the regular
session necessitated special sessions to finalize the state
budgets. Governor Barbour called a Special Session to convene
June 28 to consider all budgetary matters except Medicaid. This
call for a special session was extended twice to deal with other
minor matters.
A second Special Session was called to convene on July 10 to
resolve budgets for the Public Service Commission and the Public
Service Commission Staff. Budget agreements were reached on all
matters during the Special Sessions.
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