Though lawmakers have gaveled out of the state capitol for the remainder of 2025, barring another special session, House Speaker Jason White is giving a litany of elected officials homework ahead of next year’s legislative session.
The second-year speaker announced Tuesday three new select committees tasked with assessing education freedom, the state’s public employees’ retirement system (PERS), and voters’ rights ahead of the next session’s launch in January. White has also given the green light for the Capital and Metro Revitalization Select Committee, which launched last summer, to continue its work in the offseason.
“The Mississippi House of Representatives has a strong track record of recognizing both challenges and opportunities within our state,” White stated. “We diligently study these issues, engage key stakeholders in meaningful dialogue, and cultivate widespread support to pass legislation that truly benefits Mississippians.”
Mississippi’s House of Representatives, under White’s leadership, rocked the boat in 2023 when the legislative body spearheaded a successful effort to ditch the former public school funding formula in favor of one deemed more equitable. To build on his vision, the speaker created the Education Freedom Select Committee intended to transform the academic landscape in Mississippi to “ensure that every child in our state has access to an education that caters to their unique needs and aspirations.”
The speaker has also kickstarted the PERS Select Committee to address the solvency of what is reported to be a $26 billion unfunded pension liability. This past session, lawmakers in both legislative chambers put their differences aside and moved forward with an income tax elimination bill. Part of the legislation addresses PERS and reforms the benefit structure for future state workers. However, it is not enough to keep the wheels from falling off, per White.
The PERS Select Committee will work to evaluate opportunities that “stabilize and secure” lawmakers’ commitment to current and future state retirees, while also keeping the pension system afloat.
With the Voters’ Rights Select Committee, the speaker plans to address two hot-button issues in Mississippi — easing the process of restoring voting rights for individuals who were convicted of certain felonies and bringing back the ballot initiative process.
Under current state law, those who paid their debt to society must contact a local representative or senator and ask them to introduce a voting restoration bill on their behalf. On average, hundreds of suffrage bills are filed, with around eight to 10 being approved. Sometimes, none are moved through the legislative process. White wants this select committee to explore possible ways to break down barriers for those who “served their time and desire to reengage with the community.”
As for the ballot initiative process, voters have not had the right to propose law changes at the state level since 2021 when the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down a citizen-led campaign to establish a medical marijuana program. The high court cited a technicality regarding a discrepancy in the number of congressional districts and signatures garnered in each region for its ruling.
Since then, efforts to restore the ballot initiative process have proven fruitless as lawmakers have been unwilling to agree on the number of signatures needed to bring a citizen-led measure to a vote, topics citizens are not allowed to address at the grassroots level, and more. However, White is open to using the new subcommittee to reopen a door that once allowed voters to influence public policy.
Finally, White joins a multitude of elected officials who have expressed a desire to improve Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson. This past session, five bills stemming from the Capital and Metro Revitalization Select Committee earned a signature from Gov. Tate Reeves and were etched into law.
Looking to build on the momentum, the elected leaders in this bipartisan select committee will further examine strategies to bring economic and social successes to Jackson while tackling aging infrastructure, crime, and other issues as outgoing state Sen. John Horhn begins his first term as the city’s mayor.
“After the conclusion of the 2024 Session, the House named four select committees that worked meticulously over the summer and fall, producing robust legislation for the 2025 Legislative Session,” White stated. “Once again, the House’s legislative priorities will be clear and informed from the start as we maintain our focus and energy on preparing for the 2026 Legislative Session.”
