JACKSON — Lincoln County Rep. Becky Currie saw three bills she authored survive their respective committees Tuesday in the Mississippi Legislature. Two of the bills are for healthcare and one deals with PEER. 

House Bill 37 passed out of committee as sufficient. The legislation would delete the requirement for a referral from a physician or doctor before a physical therapist may provide therapy services to a patient. 

House Bill 177 passed out of committee as sufficient to create a dietitian licensure compact. Currie’s legislation states the goal is to increase public access to dietetics service and provide opportunities for interstate practices meeting uniform requirements. Dietitians are already required to have a license but this bill would allow for dietitians licensed in a different state to be able to practice in Mississippi. 

House Bill 1037 was sufficient with a committee substitute. The legislation would revise the process for state agencies to avoid the need for deficit appropriations. It passed the House with 121 yes votes Tuesday afternoon. 

Currie’s House Bill 1291 would create a statewide work release program at facilities that house state inmates. The bill survived the corrections committee and will move over to Appropriations A House Committee Wednesday. Her house bill 1600 would establish a post release reentry services pilot program and deemed sufficient by the corrections committee and sent to Appropriations A Wednesday.

Check back for updates from Mississippi’s 2024 Legislative Session.