JACKSON — Mississippi’s House of Representatives introduced 185 house bills, two house concurrent resolutions and two resolutions Wednesday. Mississippi’s senate introduced four new bills Wednesday and adopted a pair of senate resolutions commending country group Chapel Hart and Dr. Lisa Allen-McLaurin for achievements. 

One of the bills could create early voting in Mississippi. House Bill 53 would authorize an early voting period starting six days before an election for each primary, general election, runoff, special election and municipal election for public office. 

Under the bill, a notice about early voting would have to be provided in three public places eight days before early voting. It was referred to the Appointment and Elections committee and the Rules committee. 

Two other bills would allow for the voter registration of any person disqualified by a criminal conviction. House Bills 67 and 68 would reinstate these people upon completion of their sentence. No. 67 would add a waiting period of five years upon their completion of their sentence. The bills were referred to the Judiciary B committee and the Constitution committee. 

Education

Legislators introduced legislation for the state’s future generation in school yesterday. One of the bills would require all public schools to have metal detectors. House Bill 97 would require the metal detectors at all public entrances to a public school and provide training for the devices by 2023-2024. It was referred to the Education Committee. 

Another bill would create a prekindergarten program statewide which would be publicly funded under House Bill 112. It was referred to the Education and Appropriations committees. 

House Bill 147 would allow adopted, foster or ward of the state children to attend a state supported institution of higher learning with a tuition waiver. This bill was also referred to the Education and Universities and Colleges committees. 

Domestic Violence would be addressed under House Bill 167 as it would require schools to adopt a policy and educate students about dating violence.