Mississippi
MS House passes income tax cut after nearly 2-hour debate. Will Senate pass it next?

Democrats concerned about impact of raising taxes on local populations
Mississippi House passes bill to cut income and sales tax
Rep. Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, House Ways and Means chairman, presents the Build Up Mississippi Act to cut income and sales taxes.
The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a $1.1 billion tax cut bill on Thursday after nearly two hours of debate, sending it on to the Senate where leadership is considering a starkly different approach, and thus is unlikely to pass the House version.
House leadership after the vote said there really isn’t much room for compromise, but there is hope that because Senate leadership wants to cut taxes, both sides can hopefully come to an agreement.
“I’m encouraged by the fact that that (Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann) is talking about cutting taxes, I think that’s a good place to start, as opposed to somebody who wouldn’t,” House Speaker Jason White,R-West, said. “Now maybe we’ll figure out the best way to get there in this process.”
House Bill No. 1, dubbed the Build Up Mississippi Act, passed with 88 votes. Of them, at least nine were Democrats and two were independents. There were 24 no votes, consisting only of Democrats.
“It’s bipartisan to some extent. And you saw a lot of people, maybe they didn’t vote yes, they didn’t vote no, either,” White told reporters after the vote. “I’m proud of my Republicans for speaking as one, as a caucus, that this is important to them and to their constituency. It’s a good, strong vote for us, and it’ll be a strong position for me as speaker to advocate for its passage and advancement on the other end of the building.”
If passes both chambers as is, the bill would:
- Eliminate $2.2 billion in income tax revenues over 10 years. The cut would become active once the state’s income tax is phased down to 4% by Fiscal Year 2027.
- Reduce state sales tax on groceries from 7% to 2.5% while adjusting tax structure on other items to offset the costs.
- Removes state sales tax diversions to municipalities and replaces it with a local-option 1.5% local sales tax. Cities will have the option to opt-out of this tax structure. Lamar said this will result in local tax revenue increases across the state.
- Sales tax collected at 1.5% in counties will be diverted to road and bridge infrastructure needs at the county level.
- Add a fuel sales tax of 5% on retail sale of gasoline. This would be in addition to the state fuel tax already imposed. Lamar said this would add $400 million to the state budget, and all of those additional funds would go to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for road and bridge projects.
- The $80 million that was going to MDOT per year from gambling revenue will now be headed toward the Public Employee Retirement Systems of Mississippi to address a $25 billion deficit in future retirement benefits.
- Establishes a “budget stabilization fund” that will act as a secondary rainy-day fund.
“This is all about 10 years later, we’re finally at a place where we can tell the hard-working people of Mississippi that we are going to eliminate the tax on work for you, your children, your grandchildren and all future generations,” House Ways and Means Chairman and bill sponsor Trey Lamar, R-Senatobia, said.
The bill, however, will not include an income tax cut for sex workers in Mississippi, who will be taxed at 5% of their income once the tax cut is fully phased in.
Before voting on the bill, several Democrats questioned whether the tax package would actually end up costing the state more money down the road and causing revenue shortfalls. They also questioned whether moving to a consumption-based economy would result in poorer people paying more money out of pockets because of increases in costs due to the new gas tax and sales tax model.
Others pointed out growing needs to repair and replace existing government structures such as schools and offices.
“Has any thought been given, or was any thought given about not only for schools, but the age of infrastructure of all of the state buildings across the state?” asked Rep. Bryant Clark, D-Lexington.
Rep. Omeria Scott, D-Laurel, offered an amendment to just cut the sales tax immediately, calling on Republicans to not wait for the end of the 10-year phase-in of the tax cuts as proposed in the bill, but it was defeated.
After 2016 when the state passed several tax cuts, revenue shortfalls ensued, causing former Gov. Phil Bryant to make emergency budget cuts several times. Numerous county Mississippi State Department of Health County offices closed and state grant matches for federally funded infrastructure projects were put at risk.
Under the House plan, sales taxes excluding groceries would essentially amount to 8.5%, which still puts Mississippi at a lower sales tax than its neighbors.
House Speaker Jason White told reporters after the vote that he is optimistic about working with the Senate leadership, but he said he does not intend to compromise on fully eliminating the income tax or establishing infrastructure revenue streams.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

Mississippi
Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for May 28, 2025

Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at May 28, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from May 28 drawing
04-06-08-10-23
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 28 drawing
Midday: 2-6-1, FB: 3
Evening: 5-2-3, FB: 5
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 28 drawing
Midday: 2-2-0-4, FB: 3
Evening: 0-2-8-7, FB: 5
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 28 drawing
Midday: 11
Evening: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Mississippi
Mississippi State baseball playing much better, but history also big at Tallahassee Regional

STARKVILLE — Noah Sullivan had just wrapped up his news conference on April 29.
It was one day after Mississippi State baseball fired coach Chris Lemonis in his seventh season. The Bulldogs dismantled Memphis 18-5 in seven innings at Dudy Noble Field the next day. The focus of the news conference with one of MSU’s leaders, instead of the actual game, was centered on the previous 24 hours during which Lemonis was out of his job and Justin Parker named the interim coach.
As Sullivan, the designated hitter, began to stand up to leave the room, he added one last message.
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“Don’t let the Dawgs get hot,” he said.
Mississippi State did just that.
The Bulldogs (34-21) are 9-2 since firing Lemonis. They won SEC series against Kentucky, Ole Miss and Missouri to play themselves into an NCAA tournament at-large bid.
MSU is the No. 3 seed in the Tallahassee Regional — a familiar postseason place. Mississippi State hasn’t played any other opponent more in the postseason than Florida State (38-14), the No. 9 national seed that’s matched up with No. 4 Bethune-Cookman (37-21). First MSU must play No. 2 Northeastern (48-9) on May 30 (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN+) before possibly facing the Seminoles. But as history shows, playing Florida State has been a good omen for Mississippi State in the NCAA tournament.
“We hope history repeats itself,” Parker said. “And this time of year, even starting with Hoover, this is the time of the year where baseball can be magical and the moments can be special. We’ve talked a lot about that as a group.”
Why Mississippi State can use past for success at Tallahassee Regional
Outfielder Bryce Chance, a Ridgeland native, grew up a Mississippi State fan. The senior said he remembers well what happened the last time MSU was sent to the Tallahassee Regional.
It was 2018 when MSU also had an interim coach, Gary Henderson. The Bulldogs lost the first game of the regional and were down to their final strike against Florida State in an elimination game. Elijah MacNamee blasted a three-run, walk-off home run to keep the season alive. It sparked a run all the way to the College World Series.
Mississippi State also played in the Tallahassee Regional in 2007, which it won and later made the College World Series. The Bulldogs are 7-4 all-time against Florida State in the NCAA tournament, their most wins against any opponent in the tournament.
MSU assistant coach Jake Gautreau was on the 2018 staff. Chance said he asked Gautreau about that game in the dugout during practice on May 26.
“It was cool story, and obviously that radio call is stuck in your head from Jim Ellis every time I even think about Florida State,” Chance said. “It’s really cool growing up a Mississippi State fan. That’s a memory that sticks with you a lot.”
Why Mississippi State could be on the same path with Justin Parker
Mississippi State was projected outside of the NCAA tournament field at the time of Lemonis’ firing. It wasn’t by much, though. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, there was still time to salvage what was left.
After run-ruling Memphis, MSU also run-ruled Kentucky on the way to a sweep. It then lost the first game of the series to Ole Miss, but won the next two games to take the series. MSU closed the regular season with a blowout sweep of Missouri before losing 9-0 to Texas A&M in the first round of the SEC tournament.
“I wouldn’t say it’s much different,” shortstop Sawyer Reeves said. “I know that we all trust Parker in the same way. I’d say it’s business as usual. We know what the plan was at the start of the year. It’s kind of the same thing is to get to postseason ball, play the best ball we can and see how far we can go.”
The sample size is small, but Mississippi State has made marginal improvements in many places since Parker took over:
- Batting average improved from .300 to .307
- Slugging percentage is up from .521 to .537
- On-base percentage rose from .402 to .407
- Team ERA is down from 4.59 to 4.44
- Batting average against dropped from .231 to .228
- Fielding percentage is the same at .972
“As much as we’re preparing for other people there, they got their eye on us, too,” Parker said. “I’m not sure there’s anybody thrilled about seeing us in their regional.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
Mississippi governor calling lawmakers into special session to seek a budget deal

JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers are headed back to the state Capitol after failing to pass a budget in their regular session, called back by Gov. Tate Reeves for a special session starting Wednesday.
Reeves summoned the lawmakers earlier in the week, saying a proposed $7.1 billion deal before the legislators was ”fiscally conservative.” He expressed hope that a final agreement could be secured quickly for the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1.
”It is my belief that this should not take long. In fact, I believe the passage of these bills could be done in as little as one day,” Reeves said at a news conference Tuesday when he announced the special session.
Republicans, who control both chambers of the legislature, were unable to reach agreement on the next budget in their recent session. Mississippi Today reported GOP infighting led lawmakers to end their regular session in early April without passing a 2026 budget.
”There weren’t a lot of huge disagreements on funding of the core functions of government. There were quite a few disagreements on issues out here,” Reeves said, gesturing to the side, ”which led to them not funding the core functions of government.”
Reeves said the proposed budget would keep recurring spending at roughly the same level as the current budget. But he acknowledged that uncertainty over the federal budget has played a role in budget planning.
In Washington, House Republicans were jubilant after muscling through President Donald Trump’s ”big, beautiful” tax and immigration package by a single vote last week and sending it for what is expected to be long negotiations in the Senate.
”There are still a lot of unknowns about what the federal government budget is going to look like going into the next fiscal year, and so I think that it certainly makes sense for states — all states and certainly Mississippi — to be prepared for whatever may occur coming out of the one big beautiful bill,” Reeves said.
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