Mississippi

No state has ended personal income taxes since 1980, but Mississippi and Kentucky may change that

Published

12 months ago

April 6, 2025

No state has ended personal income taxes since 1980, but Mississippi and Kentucky may change that

About 45 years have passed since a U.S. state last eliminated its income tax on wages and salaries. But with recent actions in Mississippi and Kentucky, two states now are on a path to do so, if their economies keep growing.

The push to zero out the income tax is perhaps the most aggressive example of a tax-cutting trend that swept across states as they rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic with surging revenues and historic surpluses.

But it comes during a time of greater uncertainty for states, as they wait to see whether President Donald Trump’s cost cutting and tariffs lead to a reduction in federal funding for states and a downturn in the overall economy.

Some fiscal analysts also warn the repeal of income taxes could leave states reliant on other levies, such as sales taxes, that disproportionately affect the poor.

The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to levy income taxes. It was ratified by states in 1913. Since then, most states have adopted their own income taxes.

Eight states currently charge no personal income tax: Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. A ninth state, Washington, charges no personal income tax on wages and salaries but does tax certain capital gains income over $270,000.

When Alaska repealed its personal income tax in 1980, it did so because state coffers were overflowing with billions of dollars in oil money.

Though income tax eliminations have been proposed elsewhere, they have not been successful.

“It’s a lot easier to go without an individual income tax if you’ve never levied one,” said Katherine Loughead, a senior analyst and research manager at the nonprofit Tax Foundation. “But once you become dependent on that revenue, it is a lot more difficult to phase out or eliminate that tax.”

Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves recently signed a law gradually reducing the state’s income tax rate from 4% to 3% by 2030 and setting state revenue growth benchmarks that could trigger additional incremental cuts until the tax is eliminated. The law also reduces the sales tax on groceries and raises the gasoline tax.

If cash reserves are fully funded and revenue triggers are met each year, Mississippi’s income tax could be gone by 2040.

Supporters of an income tax repeal hope it will attract both businesses and residents, elevating the state’s economy to the likes of Florida, Tennessee and Texas. Their theory is that when people pay less in income taxes, they will have more money to spend, thus boosting sales tax collections.

The tax repeal “puts us in a rare class of elite, competitive states,” Reeves said in a statement. He added, “Mississippi has the potential to be a magnet for opportunity, for investment, for talent –- and for families looking to build a better life.”

Mississippi is among the most impoverished states and relies heavily on federal funding. Democratic lawmakers warned the state could face a financial crises if cuts in federal funding come at the same time as state income tax reductions.

The income tax provides “a huge percentage of what the state brings in to fund things like schools and health care and services that everybody relies on,” said Neva Butkus, senior analyst at the nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

A 2022 Kentucky law reduced the state’s income tax rate and set a series of revenue-based triggers that could gradually lower the tax to zero. But unlike in Mississippi, the triggers aren’t automatic. Rather, the Kentucky General Assembly must approve each additional decrease in the tax rate.

That has led to a series of tax-cutting measures, including two new laws this year. One implements the next tax rate reduction from 4% to 3.5% starting in 2026. The second makes it easier to continue cutting the tax rate in the future by allowing smaller incremental reductions if revenue growth isn’t sufficient to trigger a 0.5 percentage point reduction.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear signed the legislation for next year’s tax cut but let the other measure passed by the Republican-led legislature become law without his signature. Beshear called it a “bait-and-switch” bill, contending lawmakers had assured the guardrails for income tax reductions would remain in place while pushing for the 2026 tax cut, then later in the session altered the triggers for future years.

New Hampshire and Tennessee already did not tax income from wages and salaries, but both states had taxed certain types of income.

In 2021, Tennessee ended an income tax on interest from bonds and stock dividends that had been levied since 1929.

New Hampshire halted its tax on interest and dividends at the start of this year.

Some other states also are pushing to repeal income taxes The Oklahoma House passed legislation in March that would gradually cut the personal income tax rate to zero if revenue growth benchmarks are met. That bill now is in the Senate.

New Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, also wants to phase out the income tax. The House and Senate have advanced legislation that would take an incremental step by exempting capital gains income from taxes.

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Mississippi

Lawmakers look to “Strengthen Mississippi Homes” with new mitigation program

Published

12 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers look to “Strengthen Mississippi Homes” with new mitigation program

(Photo from Shutterstock)

Mitigation grants could soon be available for Mississippi homeowners looking to fortify their roofs. The grants are not to exceed $10,000 and awards will be made through a lottery.

The Legislature has sent a bill to the governor that establishes the “Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program” to aid homeowners across the state in retrofitting insurable property to resist loss due to hurricane, tornado, hail, or other catastrophic windstorm events.

Both the state Senate and House unanimously passed the conference report creating the mitigation program on Wednesday.

The program outlined in SB 2409 will be administered by the Mississippi Insurance Department. It will provide grants to retrofit dwellings to resist loss from windstorms. The retrofits must meet or exceed the FORTIFIED roof standard of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).

While the program is being established for homeowners in all areas of the state, the Coast delegation was a driving force behind the measure authored by State Senator Walter Michel (R), chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee.

Jackson County State Senator Jeremy England (R) celebrated the legislation late Tuesday after it cleared his chamber, saying the goal of the bill is to lower insurance costs not only on the Coast, but for all of Mississippi.

“Today, we sent a bill to the Governor setting up a program that will allow incentives to homeowners to fortify to new requirements to ‘mitigate’ damage from wind storms (like stronger roofing and water protection),” England shared on social media. “Once enough homes on our coast and in our state take advantage of this program, we will see insurance rates start to drop.”

England added that the program is one “we all should be very proud of, and that we all should take advantage of.”

State Senator Scott DeLano (R) played a key role in getting the program through the Legislature. His Coast colleague England said DeLano “led the way” as he planned meetings with engineers and specialists in preparation for the legislation and setting up the grant program.

Eligible dwellings to be considered for a retrofit grant from the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program must be a single-family residence, not a condominium or manufactured home. The dwelling must be the applicant’s primary residence and it must be insured for windstorm loss, and if necessary, flood loss. In addition, the dwelling must be in “good repair” and has not previously been retrofitted to meet the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard. An inspection will be performed to verify the application and condition of the dwelling.

Grants are not to exceed $10,000 per recipient and awards will be made “through a lottery or other allocation mechanism established by the Mississippi Department of Insurance for eligibility requirements by source of funds and subject to the availability of funds.”

The state Insurance Department is allowed to contract out the implementation and management of the program at a cost of no more than 5% of annual deposits into the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program Fund. An annual report on the program is to be submitted by the department to the governor and the Legislature each December 1.

Lawmakers also established an advisory council to meet three times a year “for the purpose of advising the Mississippi Department of Insurance in performance, efficiency, and operations of the Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program.” The advisory council will consist of three state senators, three members of the state House of Representatives, and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriters Association.

“Lower insurance rates for homeowners are right around the corner,” Senator England said. “This is going to be one of the unheralded wins of the 2026 legislative session.”

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Mississippi

No. 13 LSU Set for Final Home Slate Against Alabama, Mississippi State

Published

24 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

No. 13 LSU Set for Final Home Slate Against Alabama, Mississippi State

BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 10 LSU women’s tennis team hosts its final regular-season home matches this week, opening against Alabama on Thursday, Apr. 2, at 5:00 p.m. CT, before closing with a Senior Day matchup against Mississippi State on Saturday, Apr. 4, at 11:00 a.m. CT.

According to the latest official ITA rankings (Mar. 31), LSU ranks No. 13 in the dual season team rankings.

Last time out, the Tigers suffered two setbacks at home against No. 7 Texas, 4-2, and No. 3 Texas A&M, 4-1. Freshman Addison Lanton led the way, going a combined 3-1 in singles and doubles over the weekend.

Attendance at all LSU matches at the LSU Tennis Complex is free. Attendees will be required to comply with the university’s clear-bag policy.

LSU holds a 12-7 record on the season and has clinched the doubles point in 11 of its matches. The Tigers own a 49-29 singles mark and a 28-19 doubles record.

The Tigers feature three ranked singles players in No. 34 Cadence Brace, No. 64 Kayla Cross, and No. 122 Addison Lanton in the latest ITA rankings. Furthermore, LSU has three ranked doubles pairings: No. 11 Cross and Ella McDonald, No. 51 Kenna Erickson and McDonald, and No. 82 Brace and Cross.

Cross holds a 3-1 singles mark on the season. The sophomore holds two ranked victories on the campaign, highlighted by taking down Auburn’s then-No. 50 Ekaterina Khairutdinova, 6-4, 0-6, 6-0.

Brace holds a 5-3 mark on the top spot, behind three ranked victories, highlighted by taking down Vanderbilt’s No. 33 Bridget Stammel, 6-3, 6-1.

McDonald checks in with a 5-3 singles mark. She posted a ranked victory to clinch the match win against Florida’s No. 26 Gabia Paskauskas, 6-2, 6-3.

Against NC State, McDonald and Cross struck up a partnership to take down NC State’s then-No. 2 Broadfoot/Victoria Osuigwe, 7-6(6). Since then, the duo has a 3-1 record this season, all against ranked opponents.

Beyond teaming with Cross, McDonald has earned five doubles wins on the season with Erickson. Likewise, Erickson has collected four singles victories, riding a two-match winning streak, on the third and fifth courts this season.

Lanton continues her strong freshman campaign with a team-leading 13-2 mark behind victories on the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth courts. Lanton is also currently riding a four-match winning streak in singles. In doubles play, the freshman has earned eight total victories with four different partners.

Following ITA Kickoff Weekend, on Jan. 28, Carolina Kuhl was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. Kuhl has registered a 10-7 record in singles play.

Alabama holds a 12-7 overall record with four wins in SEC play. The Crimson Tide is represented in the ITA singles rankings by No. 71 Kristina Paskauskas, No. 73 Klara Milicevic, and No. 118 Karla Bartel. Head coach Jonatan Berhane is in his third season at the helm of the program. LSU holds a 36-17 all-time record against Alabama and is riding a two-match winning streak.

Mississippi State is 15-8 on the season with three victories in conference play. The Bulldogs hold three ranked pairings in No. 20 Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Chiara Di Genova, No. 32 Kempenaers-Pocz and Gianna Oboniye, and No. 52 Oboniye and Athina Pitta. Chris Hooshyar is in his third season as the program’s head coach. LSU is 36-13 in all-time matchups against the Bulldogs and rides a five-match winning streak dating back to 2021.

For more information on the LSU women’s tennis program, follow the Tigers on X @lsuwten, Instagram @LSUWTen, and Facebook.com/lsuwten.

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Mississippi

How MHSAA softball teams have found success in new classifications during 2026

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

How MHSAA softball teams have found success in new classifications during 2026

The MHSAA announced its new reclassifications in the fall of 2024, which saw schools shift in classes based on student population for the 2025-27 school years.

As Mississippi high school softball teams begin their first season in the new classes, several teams have outperformed with the change.

The Clarion Ledger reviewed six teams that have not let a new scenery change the outcome of their season.

Caledonia

Record: 14-2, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

Until a March loss to New Hope, Caledonia had not dropped a game to an in-state team. The Cavaliers have been dominant in the circle, allowing only nine earned runs all year and posting a 1.07 team ERA; the most runs they’ve given up in a game this year is seven.

Myrtle

Record: 14-6, Old Class: 1A, New Class: 2A

Myrtle would like the chance to avenge its 1A title-game loss to Stringer in 2025, and will have to do so in 2A. The Hawks have put up 154 runs as a team, with help from Ally Murphy and Mary Ella Mayer. Myrtle has taken down two 7A teams in Oxford and West Harrison this year while aiming for its third straight 20-win season.

Northeast Jones

Record: 19-4, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

The Lady Tigers have settled well in their new classification. Northeast Jones looks for its first 20-win season in decades, while being led by senior Caroline Myrick at the plate and in the circle. Northeast Jones has had nine games in which it has scored 10 or more runs and has not allowed more than nine runs in a game.

Pisgah

Record: 10-6, Old Class: 2A, New Class: 3A

Pisgah has appeared in the 2A title game in consecutive years, falling to East Union both times. Now out of 2A and into 3A, the Lady Dragons aim for a third trip to a championship game. Sophomore Alyssa McMurtrey and senior Hallie McCurdy have led Pisgah at the plate with a team batting average of .334 and 90 RBIs.

Purvis

Record: 10-4, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

In the 2025 season, Purvis fell in the 4A title game to Itawamba Agricultural. Now the Tornadoes have a new chance and a new look at a championship in 5A. Senior Brooxie Shepherd has a .600 batting average, leading Purvis, and hopes to lead the Tornadoes to a third straight 20-win season.

Sumrall

Record: 17-3, Old Class: 4A, New Class: 5A

After moving up to 5A, Sumrall has taken charge as one of the best teams in the class. The Lady Bobcats are led by senior Ella Robertson and junior Kynnedy Lumpkins, who are hitting above .500 with a combined 16 home runs. Sumrall’s only losses have come from 7A teams, and is outscoring opponents 257-75 this season.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

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