JACKSON, Mississippi – Lawmakers in Mississippi are making decisions that could affect people’s wallets and alter some of their leisure time activities.

Teachers could get a salary increase. The 2001 Senate bill would give most teachers $ 1,000 and newer teachers $ 1,100 to increase base salaries. The bill was passed by the Senate and moved to the House for more work. Republican Governor Tate Reeves said in his state of state speech that he will sign any invoice for a teacher’s salary increase that lands on his desk.

Another proposal to make education more attractive is a university loan repayment program. Under Senate Bill 2305, the state would reimburse a portion of the student loan for anyone who teaches for up to three years at a Mississippi public school, with higher payments being made to those who teach in fields having critical needs. The bill was passed by the Senate and is moving to the House.

It has been 21 years since Mississippi increased cash assistance payments through Temporary Assistance to needy families. Current social assistance benefits are $ 146 for a family of two, $ 170 for a family of three and $ 194 for a family of four. Senate Bill 2759 would grant an increase of $ 90 per month to each category, based on a recommendation from the director of the Mississippi Department of Social Services, Bob Anderson.

“They are the poorest of the poor in our state,” Republican Senator Joey Fillingane of Sumrall said Thursday during a Senate debate.

Fillingane described the increase of $ 90 per month as “a small but reasonable amount that Mississippi could afford.” He said the state typically has around 2,500 to 3,000 families eligible for TANF; it’s closer to around 3,000 now.

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Fillingane said the increase would cost around $ 2.8 million per year, and that all of it would be federal money.

Republican Senator Melanie Sojourner de Natchez said during the debate: “Of course, those are all our dollars.”

Sojourner was one of nine senators, all Republicans, who voted against the increase.

Republican Senator David Parker of Olive Branch, who voted for the bill, said: “An increase can certainly help in this situation.”

Bill travels to the House for more work.

One of the bills that could affect leisure activities is Senate Bill 2787. It would eliminate the need for a passenger on a boat to be an observer when one person is driving the boat and another is skiing behind. The bill says that the operator of the boat could use a rear view mirror to observe the skier. Sojourner said other states already have similar laws. The bill was passed by the Senate, but was held up for the possibility of further debate.

Bill 1288 would allow charter boat operators to sell alcohol to passengers on board – what lawmakers call “alcohol cruises.” This would be limited to boats that carry at least 49 passengers and that operate in the waters off the three coastal counties. The bill has passed the House and goes to the Senate.

Running out of Merlot? Don’t want to bundle up to buy some bourbon? House Bill 1135 and Senate Bill 2804 allow home delivery of beer, wine and alcohol. Each chamber has adopted its own bill. They must finally agree on a single bill to send to the governor. Among those supporting the alcohol delivery proposal is the Shipt grocery delivery service, according to a lawyer who spoke to a Senate committee.

Two bills awaiting consideration – House Bill 1030 and Senate Bill 2313 – would allow college athletes to be compensated for their own name, image and likeness. It would affect the leisure of the fans and the wallet of the athletes.

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