2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UNDERWAY

By Sen. David Blount

JA Guest Writer

The 2026 regular session of the Mississippi Legislature begins on Tuesday, January 6. It is scheduled to end on April 5. Here are a few of the issues I will be working on:

1. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, I start by building on the great progress our state has made in public education: 

• Expand focus on reading and math curriculum, training, and support to middle school (8th grade). This follows the success of our intensive focus on reading proficiency from kindergarten to 3rd grade.

• Increase career education and college level class options by working with our community colleges. We can have more high school graduates ready for high wage skilled jobs if they choose not to go to college immediately after high school.

• Reduce the absentee rate so more children are in school every day. The number of students missing school grew rapidly during COVID and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. We need our children in school. 

• Raise teacher pay. Even with the recent state raise Mississippi still ranks 46th in teacher pay after adjusted for cost of living in each state. 

• Allow greater flexibility to school districts seeking to redevelop former school buildings. This is needed in school districts like Jackson that have closed some older facilities.

• Oppose efforts to send public money to any school that is not subject to the same academic accountability standards and financial oversight as public schools.

2. Restore a real pension for the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Last year, the law was changed to end the traditional retirement system for public employees hired after March 1, 2026. This will hurt teachers, first responders, corrections workers, and countless other people in essential jobs where pay is low and a stable pension is the best recruiting and retention tool. We need to repeal Tier 5 and restore a real pension that preserves the system for the long-term. 

3. Allow early voting and online voter registration. 47 states allow in-person absentee voting. 42 states allow online voter registration (showing an ID at the polls is still required). These are common sense reforms that streamline the process and make it easier to vote.

4. Protect Medicaid and childcare from impact of federal cuts. The impact from recent changes at the federal level are going to be substantial and will hurt hospitals and families needing help with childcare.

5. Move state agency offices to Jackson. State taxpayers can save money and we can revitalize our capital city by locating state agencies where rents are lower and government is based.

A few other quick updates:

I was pleased to see Gov. Reeves announce a $27,100 site development grant for the Wynndale Industrial Park in Hinds County. This funding will be used to develop a master plan, prepare mapping, and conduct a wetlands assessment. This park can be an asset to economic growth in our county.

MDOT Update: Seven miles of mill and overlay of I-55 from Byram to McDowell Road is now underway. The $8.7 million project has an expected completion date of summer 2026.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve the people of Hinds County. If I can help you or your family, please contact me by email (dblount@senate.ms.gov) or by calling my office at the Capitol (601-359-2220). I am also on Facebook and Twitter (@sendavidblount).