Mississippi Legislature to reconvene Thursday

The Mississippi Legislature is set to reconvene Thursday, May 7, at 1 p.m.

Other than a one-day session on Friday, May 1, to pass a bill stripping Gov. Tate Reeves of his authority to allocate $1.25 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds, the 2020 legislative session has been suspended since March 17. At that time, the session was to reconvene on April 1.

The 2020 session was originally scheduled to end May 3. At the time of the March suspension, the end of the session was pushed to June 9. At this point, it may be well into July before the end of this year’s session, after the new fiscal year begins on July 1.

In social media post, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said Senate and House leaders are working on the details of a program to help small businesses using part of the coronavirus relief bill. The details will be released later this week.

“We know Mississippi’s small businesses—our local restaurants, barber shops, hair salons and retail shops need our help to get back on track,” Hosemann wrote. “We intend to act to provide much needed relief immediately.”