Jackson, MS – Speaker Jason White announces a fourth Select Committee and its appointments to study Capital and Metro Revitalization. Speaker Jason White shares, “The Select Committee on Capital and Metro Revitalization is comprised of House members that are passionate and dedicated to improving Mississippi’s Capital City for the betterment of the Jackson Metro Area and our entire state. I look forward to this Committee’s work as they seek strategic and innovative ways to improve and partner with the citizens and leadership of the Metro Area, recognizing the unique importance a vibrant Capital City means for all Mississippians.” Select Committee on Capital and Metro Revitalization: CO-CHAIR: Clay Mansell CO-CHAIR: Shanda Yates Chris Bell Lawrence Blackmon Angela Cockerham Ronnie Crudup Jill Ford Stephanie Foster Justis Gibbs Jonathan McMillan Fabian Nelson Gene Newman Brent Powell Fred Shanks Lance Varner Price Wallace Grace Butler Washington Lee Yancey Hank Zuber

Jackson, MS – Speaker Jason White names appointments for PEER Committee, Select Committee on Healthcare Reform: Certificate of Need, Select Committee on Prescription Drugs, Select Committee on Tax Reform, and Joint Legislative Committee on Compilation, Revision, and Publication. Speaker Jason White shares, “With the appointments made to these Committees, I feel confident that the Mississippi House of Representatives will thoroughly study current state laws and tax structures to make informed recommendations for the 2025 Legislative Session. The House will continue its pursuit of bold initiatives and policies to improve our great state, focusing on the betterment of Mississippi and all of her citizens.” PEER Committee Donnie Bell Kevin Ford Becky Currie Kevin Felsher Cedric Burnett Casey Eure Stacey Wilkes Joint Legislative Committee on Compilation, Revision and Publication: Jason White Manly Barton Fred Shanks Jansen Owen Shanda Yates Justis Gibbs Noah Sanford Select Committee on Healthcare Reform: Certificate of Need CO-CHAIR: Sam Creekmore CO-CHAIR: Hank Zuber Clay Mansell Missy McGee Kevin Felsher Doc Harris Joey Hood Jon Lancaster Tamarra Grace Butler-Washington Timaka James-Jones Fabian Nelson Robert Sanders Omeria Scott Ricky Thompson Donnie Scoggin Jim Estrada Brent Anderson Select Committee on Prescription Drugs CO-CHAIR: Jerry Turner CO-CHAIR: Beth Luther Waldo Andy Stepp Stacey Wilkes Chris Bell Andy Boyd Justis Gibbs Greg Holloway Jimmy Fondren Rodney Hall Stephanie Foster Tracy Arnold Gene Newman Jeffrey Harness Steve Lott Brad Mattox Zakiya Summers Elliott Burch Select Committee on Tax Reform CO-CHAIR: Trey Lamar CO-CHAIR: Scott Bounds Jansen Owen Karl Oliver Shane Aguirre Clay Deweese Angela Cockerham Billy Adam Calvert Kevin Felsher Randy Rushing Lee Yancey Hester McCray Dana McLean Ronnie Crudup, JR Otis Anthony Lawrence Blackmon  Justin Keen Tracey Rosebud

Jackson, MS – Speaker Jason White issues the following statement on Medicaid expansion. “Today, the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Senate recommitted HB 1725, the Medicaid expansion legislation, for further conference and in the morning the House will deliver to the Senate a signed conference report to proceed with a statewide ballot referendum on the issue. Moving through the final stages of the legislative process, it became apparent that opinions still differed on the best way to address our healthcare crisis. Throughout the negotiations on this issue, legislators faced challenging conversations and debates, and although we did not always agree on the best pathway, we are united in wanting to provide Mississippi’s low-income population access to quality healthcare. The referendum process will be two-fold; Mississippians will have the opportunity to vote if they are for Medicaid expansion or not, and if so, should the parameters of the program include a work requirement. This year marks my thirteenth Session and for the first time healthcare coverage for low-income Mississippians has been in a vehicle with real driving power. I applaud Medicaid Chairman Missy McGee for her tireless dedication and work on this issue, as well as House conferees Joey Hood and Sam Creekmore. I also want to express my appreciation to the business community, religious leaders, community officials, and voters for amplifying their support of a healthier Mississippi. This Session proved that a consensus has formed and we all share the same goal: to provide healthcare access to low-income Mississippians. Creating a referendum process for this issue is a clear direction forward. We hope that our colleagues in the Senate will take this opportunity to finally hear from the electorate once and for all. With a Presidential election on the horizon, a robust campaign season with high turnout can be expected. For years, the response to Medicaid expansion was not just no , but entirely dismissed; with this ballot referendum, Mississippians will now have a seat at the table on how we improve healthcare outcomes in our state.”

Jackson, MS – Speaker Jason White issues the following statement on the Mississippi Student Funding Formula and PERS legislation. “Mississippi’s education formula rewrite and the financial sustainability of our state’s retirement system passed out of both chambers and are heading to the Governor. Since the beginning of this Legislative Session, the House has remained adamant and determined to prioritize education funding, PERS, and access to quality healthcare in Mississippi. It is a great honor to see meaningful progress in two of our priorities and we hope to find a compromise on the third in the coming days. I am proud of my fellow Representatives who remain unified in advocating for equitable and transparent funding for our state’s K-12 public schools. HB 4130 was the fourth time this Session the House voted to repeal the antiquated MAEP formula and adopt an education funding formula that was student-centered, with this final vote resulting in unanimous support in our chamber. The passage of the Mississippi Student Funding Formula is not only monumental, but inspiring , as we make the greatest education investment in our state’s history. Much like reforming our education funding formula, addressing the employer contribution and long-term stability of PERS is a challenging issue to confront and tackle. With the passage of SB 3231, Mississippi will ensure we meet financial obligations to PERS current and future retirees without placing undue burden on our state’s taxpayers.  As we approach the end of the 2024 Legislative Session, I applaud my House colleagues for their resolve to create a better Mississippi. There is still work to be done in the final days we have at the Capitol and we remain steadfast to do right by Mississippians.”

Jackson, MS – Speaker Jason White issues the following statement on education formula rewrite. “Today, the Senate took an active role to deny an increase of more than $250 million to Mississippi’s K-12 public education system. The House has been willing and open to work with the Senate on their suggestions to move away from the archaic MAEP formula and build a formula that is equitable, fair, and student-centered. The Senate took the extraordinary and unusual step to kill the INSPIRE Act funding formula prematurely in addition to killing their own attempt to rectify the issues with MAEP. Mississippi’s public school children will be directly impacted by the Senate’s lack of willingness to engage in the debate to address the current broken and flawed formula. By refusing to have meaningful discussion on this issue and enter into the Conference phase of the legislative process, the Senate has moved to preserve the status quo which will result in less funds to public schools and inadequate distribution in an unfair and inequitable manner.  As Speaker of the House, I have clearly communicated with Senate leadership the House position that we have funded MAEP for the last time. As we near the end of the legislative session, the House will continue to look for ways to fund education with a student-centered formula.”