In the 2023 legislative session, 65 bills that aimed to improve the City of Jackson never made it off the cutting room floor. That total represents each and every bill submitted by the Jackson delegation.
Not one saw the light of day in the full House or Senate.
Bills that would help with city schools, universities, roads, update community hubs and provide development funds all failed in committee, while other funds were cut from the state’s bond issuance bill.
This year, members of the Jackson delegation have submitted about 20 bills aimed to do what couldn’t be done last year. Those bills include additional funds for elderly and community center renovations, money for a new Hinds County Court building, equipment to the Jackson Police Department and road upgrades to help attract more economic development.
Hinds County Democratic Rep. Chris Bell is the leader of the House of Representative’s Black Caucus. He told the Clarion Ledger the issues his delegation plans to face this year have been the same issues for many years.