Mississippi Legislature First bills: $1k teacher raise, new state song, state flag mandate

Some measures are perennial favorites that won't get far in the lawmaking process

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann was sworn in last week. He takes over as the new leader of the state Senate, which filed its first batch of bills for 2020 on Tuesday, including a measure that would raise teacher pay by $1,000.

The first bills of the 2020 Mississippi legislative session have been filed and they include a Senate measure that would increase teacher salaries by $1,000.

Other Senate bills posted this week include a wildlife trafficking ban, authorization for a second state song, a requirement universities display the state flag or have their funding pulled, and a reduction of the size of the Legislature starting in 2024.

About 50 measures have been posted thus far, many perennial favorites that won't get far in the lawmaking process.

But Senate Bill 2001, filed by Sen. Dennis DeBar, R-Leakesville, and Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson — newly-named leaders of the Senate Education Committee — should quickly gain traction. It would increase teacher salaries by $1,000 in the coming year. Starting teacher salaries would raise from 35,890 to $37,000.

The bill would also raise starting assistant teacher pay by $1,000, to $15,000. A separate bill, SB 2016 from Sen. Robert Jackson, D-Marks, proposes raising assistant teacher salaries higher, to $16,500.

Magnolia State teachers make among the least in the nation. Their average pay has been approximately $45,000 in recent years — about $6,000 below the Southeast average. Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who oversees the Senate, have said they want to increase teacher pay substantially in the coming years, to meet or exceed the Southeast average.

The Mississippi Association of Educators called SB 2001 "an important first step" in reaching the regional average, and said it looked forward to working with legislative leaders on the issue.

"This pay raise is not about lining teachers’ pockets," MAE President Erica Jones said. "None of us entered this profession to get rich. This pay raise is about helping combat the teacher shortage crisis, ensuring every Mississippi student has a highly-qualified educator in their classroom, and making certain that our state’s educators are being paid a salary reflective of their worth."

Other notable bills filed this week include:

SB 2002, stop wildlife trafficking — The Wildlife Trafficking Prevention Act from Sen. Sampson Jackson, D-Preston, would ban people from trafficking wildlife or wildlife parts or products, including elephant, rhinoceros, whale, tiger and more. Violators would face a fine up to $6,500.

SB 2008, stop towing company overcharging — This legislation from Robert Jackson would prevent towing companies from overcharging for towing and storing cars that are impounded or otherwise taken due to a law enforcement action.

SB 2014, carbon monoxide detectors — This bill, also from Robert Jackson, would require carbon monoxide detectors in all public and private schools in the state.

SB 2036, a new song — The act, a perennial bill, would allow a second state song to be designated. The present state song is "Go, Mississippi." The additional song would be "My Home Mississippi." A sampling of the new song: "From your northern hills a'rolling to your dazzling great gulf sand; From your eastern pines so stately to your fertile Delta land; With your fields and streams connecting — it is all so very grand! O what a sight to see!"

SB 2040, reduce Legislature's size — Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Jackson, filed a bill to reduce the number of representatives from 122 to 99, and the number of senators from 52 to 42, starting in 2024. It would require drawing new districts.

SB 2045, you must fly Confederate-emblazoned state flag — The bill from Sen. Joseph Seymour, R-Vancleave, would require government entities including colleges and universities to display the official state flag. Some have chosen not to in recent years. If they refuse, they could have their state funding withheld. The legislation also says homeowners associations and similar organizations can't prohibit people from displaying the flag.

Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter. Please support our work at the Clarion Ledger by subscribing.