Reeves vetoes suffrage, appropriations for cities, state agencies

Of the 21 suffrage bills Mississippi lawmakers passed two weeks ago, only 16 have been approved by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves.

By Monday night, Reeves vetoed a total of eight pieces of legislation this year consisting of bills to appropriate funds to several projects throughout the state, move money between state agencies and return individual voting rights to people who were previously convicted of felonies.

As of Monday at midnight, all the bills Reeves signed or let pass without his signature are now on their way to becoming codified in state law.

Voting rights bills

Of the 21 bills lawmakers sent to Reeves' desk this year, he only signed two suffrage bills, while letting 15 others pass without his signature.

A bill lawmakers passed on the final day of the session to restore voting rights to Kenneth Barnes, never seemed to reach his desk despite being passed with an amendment in both chambers. As of Tuesday, the day after Reeves' deadline to sign bills, the Legislature's website said only that the bill had been passed by both chambers.

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CCID bill

Reeves also vetoed Senate Bill 2180, that would have allowed Capitol Police to enforce city ordinances.

The bill also removed a requirement to obtain permission from the Capitol Police to protest outside of state-owned buildings, such as the Governor’s Mansion and the Mississippi State Capitol.

Even though that bill has now failed, there is still a temporary injunction a federal judge issued last year blocking the requirement of a permit from Capitol Police for protests.

In his defense of the veto, Reeves said the bill could have possibly blocked Capitol Police's ability to work with federal agencies if it has to enforce local laws. Reeves also makes note of the fact that local ordinances restrict police officers from pursuing suspects in any crime based on their citizenship status or ask people for that information.

"I believe, if this bill were to become law, the Capitol Police could not assist ICE in deporting (undocumented workers) that live in this community," Reeves said. "Given the crisis at our southern border caused by the Biden Administration and the heinous crimes that have been committed in our state (and beyond) by (undocumented immigrants) in recent weeks and months, that is a risk I am not willing to take."

The bill does not actually require the Capitol Police to enforce local ordinances, but it gives them the legal authority to do so if necessary.

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Money bills

By Monday evening, Reeves partially vetoed House Bill 1707 and 1830.

House Bill 1707 was a copy of the original 2023 appropriations bill in which Reeves line item vetoed several appropriations for the city of Jackson, as well as others. This year, Reeves did the same thing by vetoing a $1 million appropriation for updates to the Jackson Planetarium.

Reeves also struck about $14 million going to the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office Land Improvement Fund in House Bill 1830.

Reeves did not issue any explanation for vetoing those items.

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Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS Gov. Reeves vetoes bills Monday