Mississippi Lawmakers Make Progress on Campaign Finance Reform Bill for 2024 Legislative Session
Campaign finance reform has been a hot topic in Mississippi, even before the start of the 2024 Legislative Session. Lawmakers have been working diligently on a bill aimed at addressing this issue, and some progress has been made this year.
Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, who defeated former State Senator Chris McDaniel in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, has expressed his commitment to tackle campaign finance reform.
State Senator Jeremy England is set to introduce the bill on the Senate floor once it has been fully drafted. He revealed that he has collaborated with Hosemann, Secretary of State Michael Watson, and Attorney General Lynn Fitch in developing the bill.
This comprehensive legislation incorporates input from all parties involved and seeks to strengthen Mississippi’s historically lenient campaign finance laws.
Speaking about the proposed bill, Senator England explained, “We do increase some of the penalties on people who either don’t file or file incomplete or incorrect reports. We definitely add some more teeth and increase some penalties to make sure that candidates running are filing the way they should.”
One primary criticism of the state’s campaign finance laws has been the lack of enforcement from the Attorney General’s Office. However, if this bill passes, enforcement of these laws would be assigned to the Secretary of State’s Office, eliminating the need to solely rely on the Attorney General’s Office to report violations.
Moreover, if the bill is enacted, it would also allow for third-party prosecutors to ensure compliance with campaign finance laws.
With the upcoming 2024 Legislative Session, Mississippi lawmakers are making strides towards reforming campaign finance laws. The proposed bill aims to address concerns and add robust enforcement measures to ensure candidates adhere to filing requirements. This development signals a promising step forward for campaign finance transparency in the state.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Mississippi lawmakers are making progress on a campaign finance reform bill for the 2024 Legislative Session. The comprehensive legislation aims to strengthen the state’s historically lenient campaign finance laws and increase penalties for violations. If enacted, the bill would assign enforcement to the Secretary of State’s Office and allow for third-party prosecutors, signaling a promising step towards campaign finance transparency. The market is likely to view this news positively, as it demonstrates efforts to address a long-standing issue and enhance accountability in campaign finance.
