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Dear Friends,

I want to take a moment to update you on the work being done at your State Capitol in Jackson during the opening weeks of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session.

You elected me to represent you, and I believe it is important to remain open, communicative, and transparent about that work.

The Mississippi Senate convened the 2026 Regular Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 6.

Since then, we have been moving quickly on several major priorities that impact our state’s future.

One of the most significant actions taken was the passage of Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. This legislation commits a historic $500 million stabilizing infusion into the Public Employees’ Retirement System and dedicates an additional $50 million annually through 2036. This step is critical to strengthening PERS and protecting the retirement security of Mississippi’s public servants.

The Senate also passed three major education bills aimed at strengthening our schools and supporting educators. Senate Bill 2001 provides a minimum $2,000 pay raise for all K–12 teachers, assistant teachers, community college instructors, and university faculty statewide.

Senate Bill 2002 improves education portability by removing a sending district’s ability to block a student transfer once the receiving district has accepted the student.

Senate Bill 2003 addresses Mississippi’s teacher shortage by making it easier for retired educators to return to the classroom, increasing their take-home pay, shortening the required sit-out period, and expanding eligibility statewide.

Additional actions during these first two weeks included passing Senate Bill 2018 to create the Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program, passing Senate Bill 2016 to establish a stand-alone Mississippi Department of Tourism, and passing Senate Bill 2019 to continue directing the first $80 million in lottery proceeds each year to the State Highway Fund.

All of the legislation passed thus far now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

I remain committed to keeping you informed and to working hard on the issues that matter most to our district and our state. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or ideas you would like to share.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely,
Kevin Blackwell
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