[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6361926,"mediaKeyId","2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894","parentId",2169209,"title","Committee reports out bill to name sweet potato state vegetable","audioSeconds",38,"startMs",288000,"endMs",326000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894&start=288&end=326","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894/thumbnail_288000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361926/Mississippi/Committee-reports-out-bill-to-name-sweet-potato-state-vegetable","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361926-73de396f669cc933fe4e320cb4437f77/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194682&Signature=XOim10j5C4iB1VF6Mqa~fhyHdTGZz4G~C8y95WpyKIE1kNRIoyKNF4-sURdIa-A3wX7wsBUM0eTjo7teCrhDQUOTd-l2K2mjgMe1y~Oe1zE9yueSsz2hQLHyeV5VzhsPrnczLsWTDpw0YYpnqA2Q~w9GcGtUuw7-8YaD5EWGVB0CXj0sG5WJqjQK1wM~nTPa5XHhwTV7PxZaqVLi4ViqH-8BtOZM7XQsiIRsKMLTYdrzpBxqcOrYbp29tt7hYsx6qvj-YFkUBUtkbik9fFNUzQUbQzy3O8jPEilC53UJYJD9GxaLzIQ5I7z0aPd7DNRdGiTecHNjj0q9hnlgyXuMRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Legislature","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Tait introduced Senate Bill 2383, a measure to designate the sweet potato as the official state vegetable. He said the bill recognizes Vardaman — described as the sweet potato capital — and presented the bill with minimal discussion.

The motion was declared titled sufficient to pass, the committee approved it by voice vote and the bill was reported out for further consideration. The transcript shows the measure was advanced without substantive amendment or a recorded roll-call tally in the provided record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tourism - Room 210; 30 January, 2025: 9:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2383, declaring the sweet potato the official state vegetable, was reported out of committee with minimal debate and will be sent forward.","taxTitle","Tourism, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Mississippi","taxId",29467,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361931,"Committee advances bill to let MDA grant counties funds to staff welcome centers",67,472000,539000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894&start=472&end=539","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894/thumbnail_472000.jpg","/articles/6361931/Mississippi/Committee-advances-bill-to-let-MDA-grant-counties-funds-to-staff-welcome-centers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361931-e8302432a742afc1a9d335d17af47636/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194682&Signature=hTI--FZ93vjGjpWQMOleq383mER399XI2PSSmiNGoKXJ4bLrEeHWNA1L-s-r-yNbo-gAwAUBfFpqoYNHn4LIXjxTmXqvh5j4RAw3Z7Ag0UIrlZP-en4dNOxbVka7KIG1Cehpcy8lSPmjPu~e0Y88QHYD1pMqyeWMGdaht1cM2N4pDpRX2N3k62DVXZUC9BF1ksY5BelwhuEIH450JbAY1LLAoX80gP8-KzvQpqkfCd47t4D712tnv-1PGrHU6IE3iuzfjgkxLr7ry36pQjSUQZfvHbVrkPxlGGf9qsZjkSrZtLH1pSGPiYCPOKjEnrgk0Q~-23BQi1KAxOGzPyhEvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Robinson, chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, presented Senate Bill 2883, which would allow the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to contract with counties and award grants to fund staffing for the state’s welcome centers.

“As you know our current situation is that the Welcome Centers are staffed by people who are working 40 hours a week,” Robinson said, adding the bill would enable counties to hire local people — including students or part-time workers — through county contracts rather than keeping all positions on the PERS system.

Under the bill as described in committee, MDA would determine reasonable compensation for employees and would create a Mississippi Welcome Center Staff Grant Fund from which grants could be distributed. The transcript shows the sponsor said any funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year would remain in the fund rather than reverting to the general fund.

Senator Robinson said counties would apply for grants and that the process should be straightforward for counties that have welcome centers. The chair characterized the change as a streamlining effort intended to preserve services — visitors’ access to restrooms and informational brochures — while reducing the need for 40-hour PERS-staffed positions at all centers.

The committee voted to report the bill out after a motion described as “titled sufficient to pass.” The transcript does not show a roll-call tally or identify the motion’s mover and seconder in the provided record.","Senate Bill 2883 would authorize the Mississippi Development Authority to award grants to counties to staff state welcome centers, allowing counties to hire local staff outside the current 40-hour PERS staffing model; the committee approved the bill for further consideration.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361936,"Committee advances bill to add craft spirits and expand distillery sales",76,336000,412000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894&start=336&end=412","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894/thumbnail_336000.jpg","/articles/6361936/Mississippi/Committee-advances-bill-to-add-craft-spirits-and-expand-distillery-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361936-a7d5fddce6ad5afe2580e52011b6fb9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194683&Signature=X9WvxhnTFeOQY0QNEI0YK-xy0EBBBUYgRxY0SdT5yXieXbr3AK~AJaMaD3k~ObNOqL1NF8QDgooozSjmx1RmPKL1Q2OtlHqnqFPm4tNmcea2uk1JGe3OzJQohzsMZ9aguvOaC6BNWjjrNWg42fo7uzAlX~zWEvq240sfcsc39M7V7o8~~M8X4T9xIRbQLxfRa~9zHP4Kizw~C9rdYNxWg65oBP6qL924GWG0QGOYm3tFBPVfmGtb6DbMOV5YOc3DcpQO8dn3zlr4sg32DwjElXAA-Mqf7sqmikPzbBKA6cZLN1~TRGe6BEWG8ofJIkeO4REW7gsz4WB4Akm8txjCEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Robinson, chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, presented Senate Bill 2869 and told the committee the tourism industry had a strong 2023 year, citing visitor and spending figures as context for the bill.

“This year we had 43,700,000 visitors, $11.5 billion in visitor spending, $17.5 billion in total economic impact and $1.1 billion in state and local taxes,” Senator Robinson said while introducing the bill, which would add “craft spirits” to the state’s native distillery language.

Under the bill as explained in committee, the measure would (1) define craft spirits within the native distillery statute; (2) allow native or craft distilleries to distribute to any licensed retail permittees in the state; (3) permit native or craft distilleries to maintain tasting rooms at secondary locations within Mississippi where sales are legal; (4) allow craft distilleries to participate in festival permits similar to wine festival permits; and (5) allow craft distilleries to sell other alcoholic beverages at their retail establishments.

Senator England asked whether the bill allows direct shipment out of state to customers; the transcript shows differing recollections in committee and the record does not definitively state whether out-of-state direct-to-consumer shipping is authorized by this bill.

The motion to report the bill out was called “titled sufficient to pass,” and the committee approved it by voice vote. The committee record does not show a roll-call tally or identify a mover and seconder for the motion in the provided transcript.

If enacted, the bill would change state law to broaden distillery privileges for craft producers; the committee discussion did not specify licensing fee changes, enforcement details or whether the bill would preempt local ordinances on tasting rooms and festival sales.","Senate Bill 2869, which expands the state's native distillery definition to include craft spirits and loosens distribution and tasting-room rules, was reported out of committee after discussion about tourism impacts and out-of-state shipping.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6361941,"Senate committee backs bill to create entertainment industry workforce task force",256,0,256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894&start=0&end=256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169209-5b4df62105fc2fbacde1ef887f514894/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6361941/Mississippi/Senate-committee-backs-bill-to-create-entertainment-industry-workforce-task-force","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361941-edffa3a36c24531e61fb490cb79646b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194682&Signature=NMWoO~oVQkNTmK96MeNrN-35mDcvpyIWnBpYvDE96P5RO3rgKHq0uOlrj4x8EzlWSgaGDQL4iUhYlpFDIcA5vnVulG8Z3XZpk6PaMOugxMZwez0saHQTOe~r5g-LuiZk15dUHtee1IPYiSEUyU2TZXd6Pj2RaU9NrTx6uKwkYMqNbSTirqOgBEVaUGXxW~ymnAJOXNU9KAaTP~QUMcBOzGDYJeVuzpgh4cAylWxSGkow8nqNvkkC61H1X2LXwR2DEjcFlnJVQY5naRST6TEAc7RsVX4cLC5Tu2lfvAMRXT2TW~YQR-7Wgwl9g5I6tdH3Ay33et7YDQTsEJD4pfnmIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2424, which would create an entertainment industry and workforce development task force, was reported out of committee after members voted in favor of sending the measure on for further consideration.

The bill would establish a task force charged with examining methods to grow Mississippi’s creative economy and to increase revenue derived from the entertainment industry, according to material presented to the committee. The measure’s sponsor said the goal is to position Mississippi for increased opportunity in the creative economy.

Rochelle Hicks, a representative of the Mississippi tourism department, told the committee the state is promoting its music heritage under a new brand and marketing campaign. “We’ve adopted the brand of My Perfect America Music,” Hicks said, adding the campaign includes highway signage, a television spot and an international video project produced with Playing for Change.

Several senators voiced support and noted the state’s musical traditions across regions. “I have to represent my folks, and we have great music down on the coast,” said Senator Wiggins. Senator Norwood also voiced support and said he hoped protections for artists would be part of the lawmaking conversation about the industry and new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The committee chair called the motion “titled sufficient to pass,” and members voted to report the bill out. The record in the transcript shows the motion was approved by voice vote and the bill will be sent forward for further action.

The measure as discussed in committee focuses on creating the task force and directing it to study workforce and revenue opportunities for Mississippi’s creative sector; specific membership, deliverables, timelines and any funding for the task force would need to be determined in subsequent proceedings.

No formal mover or seconder was named in the committee record provided, and the transcript does not record a roll-call tally of individual votes.","The committee voted to report out Senate Bill 2424, which would create an entertainment industry and workforce development task force to study ways to grow Mississippi’s creative economy, drawing support from tourism officials and several senators.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reports out bill to name sweet potato state vegetable

Committee advances bill to let MDA grant counties funds to staff welcome centers

Committee advances bill to add craft spirits and expand distillery sales

Senate committee backs bill to create entertainment industry workforce task force