The 2024 Mississippi Legislative Session is now complete and the NGAMS legislative committee and staff is happy to report another very successful year for our Service members. Please check out our “Successes” under this tab for a full accounting of the new laws from previous years.
Through the efforts of the Legislative Committee, the members of the NGAMS, the Director of Legislative Affairs and Economic Development for the Adjutant General, and our leadership in the Mississippi Legislature we had an incredibly successful legislative session. The following proposals have passed and been signed into law.
First, we are ecstatic to announce that we obtained an increase of the Mississippi Military Department budget. Over the past seven years we have seen an increase in the budget for six of those years. Further, the Mississippi Military Department gained $2,000,000 in additional appropriation for planning, construction, repair, renovation, replacement, furnishing and equipping readiness centers around Mississippi. Another $5,000,000 was obtained for upgrades and additions at the Youth Challenge Academy at Camp Shelby. $1,500,000 was obtained for renovations and upgrades to the Corinth Armory facility. $6,000,000 was awarded to assist in paying the costs associated with land acquisition, site development and construction of the Southaven Armory. Finally, an additional $2,000,000 per year was added to the $2,000,000 per year provided last session to offset the educational expenses of our Service members.
We are also excited to report the following successes in the nonrevenue bills.
HB 1001
House Bill 1001 amends Section 35-1-41 to provide interments in the veterans cemeteries under the federal Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act. Traditionally eligibility criteria for interment in the cemeteries is the same as required for interment in a national cemetery as provided by federal law and rules and regulations.
However with the update the following are now also eligible for internment: (a) Any member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable or whose death occurs under conditions other than dishonorable while a member of the reserve component; (b) Any member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard who was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable while a member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard; (c) Any member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) of the Army, Navy or Air Force whose death occurs under conditions other than dishonorable while a member of the ROTC; (d) Any spouse of any member described above in the new subsection; and (e) Any minor child or unmarried adult child, as defined in 38 USC Section 2402 (a)(5) of the individuals described above in this subsection.
Why this matters to us: Our men and women of the Mississippi National Guard deserve the same honors and recognition for their service. This amendment is a huge step in recognizing the sacrifices of our Service members.
HB 1378
Amends Section 27-33-75, to provide that a qualified homeowner who is an honorably discharged veteran and has reached 90 years of age on or before January 1 of the year for which homestead exemption is claimed, shall be allowed an exemption from all ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of the homestead property.
Why this matters to us: More and more of our members of the Mississippi National Guard are federally recognized veterans. This change further expands the recognition of their service to our country.