The Capitol was littered with dead bills after a major passage deadline Tuesday, most notably the House and Senate teacher pay raise proposals.
The bills were victims of ongoing, and often inexplicable, political infighting between House and Senate Republican leaders.
But the House on Friday attempted to revive its $5,000 a year teacher pay raise by grafting it onto another bill and passing it. It appears, amid public finger pointing between Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Jason White, the two chambers will try to negotiate a teacher pay raise as next year’s statewide elections loom.
Otherwise, the Mississippi Legislature is stumbling into the final weeks of this year’s session having so far failed at the two main goals its leaders outlined in January: expanding “school choice,” including using tax dollars for private schooling, and providing the first large teacher raise since 2022.
In other news from a busy week under the dome on High Street:
The House, through an amendment, attempted to address the “alcohol crisis,” or shortage of wine and spirits from bungling at the state-run Alcoholic Beverage Control warehouse. SB 2838, now headed to the Senate, would allow businesses to – temporarily – buy alcohol directly from any licensed sellers in the country. Lawmakers are trying to rush passage of a bill that could allow Greenwood Leflore Hospital, on the brink of closure, to file for bankruptcy to aid the possible takeover of the hospital’s services by the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Tweaks to the Public Employee Retirement System were among the measures that died from feuding between the House and Senate GOP leadership last week. They were an attempt to address complaints from first responders, teacher and others about the sea change to the system lawmakers passed last year. The more austere retirement benefits passed last year, critics say, will make recruiting and retaining state workers even harder. Like the pay raise, the House is attempting to revive PERS changes.Quote of the Week
“I’d like to announce my disappointment.” – Sen. Daniel Sparks of Belmont, as his chamber wrapped up business on Tuesday, the last day for House and Senate committees to pass bills originating in the opposite chamber. Hundreds of bills died with the deadline. “It’s shared by all,” replied Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
In Brief
Casino revenue consistent as disruption looms
Mississippi casinos generated $2.43 billion in gross gambling revenue and $3.25 billion in total revenue in 2025, “nearly matching” the prior year, according to the Mississippi Gaming & Hospitality Association.
Gambling industry leaders convened at the Capitol for an annual state of the industry report, which outlined changes on the horizon that could prove disruptive.
As illegal online sports betting remains widespread in Mississippi, prediction market operators have expanded aggressively, arguing they are exempt from state laws banning mobile sports betting. The U.S. Supreme Court could curtail the expansion of prediction markets, but even if that happens, gaming regulators are even more concerned about the prospect of online casino gambling, or I-gaming, said Jay McDaniel, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.
Some of these disruptive forces have already led to casino closures. In 2025, another casino in Tunica closed marking further contraction in what was once Mississippi’s fastest-growing market. The Tunica region continues to struggle with decreasing demand and increased competition from Arkansas and Tennessee. – Michael Goldberg
Budget negotiations ‘fruitful’
The House and Senate have begun negotiating a $7-billion state budget.
The two chambers have passed the budget bills that originated in their chambers, and now they will start debating bills from the other chamber.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson said he recently had good discussions with his House counterparts and complimented them on negotiations so far.
“I think we’re working in really good faith right now,” Hopson said. “I think the discussions have been fruitful.”
Hopson, a Republican from Vicksburg, said he plans to take the House’s budget bills up by the end of this week or early next week. – Taylor Vance
Bill would expand industrial site grants
HB 1633 would expand eligible expenses under the state’s industrial site matching grant program to include utility improvements and buying easements.
Gov. Tate Reeves has said that making more industrial sites “project-ready” is one of his top economic development priorities. Last year, he announced over $28 million in projects under the site development grant program. The Madison County Mega Site received multiple grants through the program and eventually became the home to an Amazon data center.
The bill, authored by Rep. Trey Lamar, a Republican from Senatobia, passed the Senate Finance Committee last week and heads to the full Senate. – Katherine Lin
By the Numbers
$65.3 million
Amount that state revenue for February fell short of the estimate lawmakers are using to set a state budget. That’s a 13.3% shortfall for the month. But through February, seven months into the fiscal year, total revenue is $99.5 million above the estimate.
More Legislative Coverage
‘It’s incredibly disappointing.’ Teacher pay raise bills die from politics in Legislature
Bills that would have increased teacher salaries died with a deadline at the Capitol on Tuesday, despite pleas from educators and advocates who have said for years that a teacher’s salary in Mississippi is unsustainable. Read the story.
DraftKings and Entergy spent over $100K on a Super Bowl weekend for two Mississippi politicians, staffers and spouses
Sports gambling giant DraftKings and energy company Entergy spent a combined $107,398 on a 2025 Super Bowl weekend for House Speaker Jason White, House Public Utilities Chairman Brent Powell, White’s staff and a couple of their spouses. Read the story.
Senate committee advances plan to enhance transparency of pharmacy benefit managers
Independent pharmacists have warned year after year that their businesses could be forced to close because of low reimbursements from pharmacy benefit managers. Read the story.
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