Mississippi
Bill to protect women’s spaces moves forward in Mississippi
- The SAFER Act seeks to define sex-based terms by biological sex while providing protections for women’s spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
Mississippi Republican lawmakers continue to seek protections for women in the most vulnerable of spaces by advancing the SAFER Act, authored by State Senator Josh Harkins.
SB 2753 passed the Senate by a vote of 40-12 in mid-March.
The legislation was then amended in the House, passing on the floor by a vote of 80-31 on Wednesday after a robust challenge from Democrats opposing the bill, claiming it was nothing more than playing politics.
One Democratic lawmaker, State Rep. Zakiya Summers, said the bill would cause transgender people and their supporters not to move to the state while another Democrat, State Rep. Jeffrey Harness, warned of lawsuits should the bill become law.
The SAFER Act seeks to define sex-based terms such as woman, female, man, and male on biological sex instead of following trends in blue states that are using gender identify, or how a male or female view themselves, as the defining factor.
The SAFER Act also aims to protect women’s safe spaces, such as in bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms.
The legislation builds on the Mississippi Fairness Act, passed into law in 2021, which prevents males from competing in girls and women sports. Language that would have protected single-sex spaces was not in the final version of that bill, meaning for those seeking to protect those spaces for women additional legislation is needed.
Opponents of the legislation claim it’s an anti-transgender bill targeting an extreme minority. Yet, supporters point to recent polling of registered voters in Mississippi from the Independent Women’s Voice that shows 95% of respondents believe it is important that Mississippi law protect private spaces for women.
According to a 2022 report from UCLA’s Williams Institute, state-level estimates of person who identify as transgender in Mississippi is 9,600 over 18 years old and another 2,400 between the ages of 13 and 17.
The legislation now heads back to the Senate where lawmakers could concur and send it on to the Governor for his signature, invite conference to work out any differences, or let it die. Given the overwhelming support for the bill from the supermajority Republican chamber, the bill has a good chance of finding its way to Governor Tate Reeves’ desk.
Senator Harkins told Magnolia Tribune that he is glad to see that the Senate and the House of Representatives have now demonstrated that they support legislation defining sex according to biology and protecting safe public spaces for women and girls.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to get the SAFER Act on Governor Reeve’s desk to be signed into law,” Harkins said.
FAYETTEVILLE, AR — Mississippi State football found itself in a familiar position.
The Bulldogs were in another tight game in the fourth quarter, like three of their previous four SEC games. All of those ended in losses, with MSU seemingly finding different ways to lose each time.
But this time, Mississippi State came out on top. The Bulldogs overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Arkansas 38-35 on Nov. 1 at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
The MSU (5-4, 1-4 SEC) win was thrilling, with quarterback Blake Shapen throwing the game-winning touchdown to Anthony Evans III with 48 seconds remaining on a fourth down. Players were yelling and screaming in celebration as they entered the locker room afterward.
The win was more than an achievement on its own. It also snapped Mississippi State’s 16-game SEC losing streak that dated back to 2023 and was approaching the program record of 19. It was also second-year coach Jeff Lebby’s first SEC win.
The Bulldogs are one win away from their first bowl game since 2022 and can clinch it with one win in the next three games starting with No. 5 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 8 (11 a.m., ESPN).
“It feels good to get a win,” Lebby said. “It absolutely does. I’ve continued to focus on this football team, this season and who we are in the moment. Not comparing ourselves to any teams in the past. Who are we today and what gives us the best opportunity to win every single Saturday. That’s been our focus. I guess the streak will not be talked about anymore, which I do love because we have a happy locker room and the guys played their butt off to go win.”
Kamario Taylor gets an assist after Blake Shapen injury
The Mississippi State offense struggled in the first half and the Bulldogs trailed 13-7 at halftime. Then on the first play of the second half, Shapen was removed from the game after taking a hard hit that drew a roughing the passer penalty. He was evaluated for a concussion.
In came freshman Kamario Taylor, who made numerous big plays that lit a spark for MSU. Four plays after Shapen’s injury, Taylor threw a 45-yard touchdown to Evans for a 14-13 lead. Taylor also scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown that cut Arkansas’ lead to 28-21 with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.
Despite Taylor scoring touchdowns on two of his three drives, Lebby put Shapen back in the game once he was cleared in the third quarter.
“I just wanted to know what was going on with Blake and making sure he was OK,” Lebby said. “In that situation, I wanted to have the opportunity to have Blake, who’s done it and lived it and been around. I thought that was very important.
“What Kamario did was huge. It was big for us. We needed it in a big way, but I wanted to get back to Blake and it was able to work out.”
Shapen’s first play when he returned was an interception that deflected off the hands of his receiver. Arkansas (2-7, 0-5) turned that possession into a touchdown for a 35-21 lead with 13:43 remaining. However, the Razorbacks committed 15 penalties for 158 yards in the second half and that kept Mississippi State in the game.
Mississippi State scored 17 points on its next three drives led by Shapen — a Davon Booth rushing touchdown, a Kyle Ferrie field goal and Evans’ game-winner — to complete the comeback. Shapen also threw a 32-yard pass to a sliding Brennen Thompson on fourth down during the game-winning drive.
“It means everything because of the way the guy plays the game …” Lebby said of Shapen. “He puts it on the line every time he steps in between the white lines. That’s what leaders are made of. I just talked about it, tough people win. Blake’s a winner. He’s going to win in life because he has great toughness. He puts it on the line.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Pork Producers Association demonstrated several different ways to grill pork on the grill! Local Farmer Sean Boe also shared different facts about our state’s pork industry and how much it helps the economy and to feed people.
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The state’s top lawmakers and business leaders mingled at the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday morning – tradition for the annual Hobnob event.
The Mississippi Economic Council played host for the 24th and final time.
If you’re involved with politics or business, you’ve heard of these three organizations and the work they’ve been doing.
The Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.
“Mississippi needed a single authoritative and common voice for business,” explained MEC Chair John Hairston. “Policy makers were asking for clarity when it comes to legislative priorities. Business owners were asking for alignment of our policies, and our members were asking to become more impactful.”
So, these three groups will become one.
“Will represent every sector of Mississippi’s economy under one banner: the Mississippi Business Alliance,” said Scott Waller, MEC President and CEO.
The new rebranding was unveiled in front of the Hobnob crowd.
However, things officially began with the merged efforts on Jan. 1.
“Previously, you had legislators and policymakers trying to look for advice or input and they had three different organizations that were similar and overlapped,” described John McKay, current head of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.
McKay will lead the Mississippi Business Alliance.
The joint organization will build on the already existing work of the three groups – everything from policy to workforce development and vetting of business-friendly candidates.
According to policymakers, there will be a value in having a singular group for business interests.
“These three organizations are merging not just to consolidate, but to elevate,” Gov. Tate Reeves emphasized.
“To have a unified voice is very helpful to those of us who are supposed to implement public policy,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said.
And they’re looking at this as more than a simple merger.
“It’s really a transformation of how we operate and sponsor the business community moving forward,” Hairston continued. “It’s the uniting of our collective strengths into one clear and very decisive force for progress into the future, for the benefit of our grandchildren and those that come after them.”
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