The Mississippi legislature worked until late Monday attempting to pass all of the state’s appropriations bills, however, there remain several dozen measures that have not yet been addressed. Lawmakers are also working to spend part of the state’s $1.8 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds. Senator John Polk of Hattiesburg presented Senate Bill 3060, which cleared both chambers. It will provide grants for hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients.
“The first [part of this bill] is $12 million for our hospitals that increase the number of ICU beds and their negative pressure beds,” says Sen. Polk. “The second part of this is the $25 million appropriation for a local provider innovative grant program. And this will ensure that doctors, hospitals and clinics will be able to increase the ability of telehealth.”
Funding is also being allocated to address the state’s aging water infrastructure, and lawmakers estimate it will account for half of the state’s ARPA spending this year. Two measures that have cleared the house include a bill to fund rural water programs through the Department of Health. And Representative Karl Oliver of Winona presented another bill that will fund additional water improvement projects.
Rep. Oliver says “They will be administered through the Department of Environmental Quality, DEQ. They will handel, set up the portal to receive the applications from the different cities, municipalities and counties that have projects that they want to submit to it.”
Lawmakers will return to the Capitol today to pass the remaining appropriations bills and spend ARPA funds.
