Mississippi Senate adopts Buddy Poppy Day, honors Lamar Raiders and schedules joint session for governor's State of the State

The Mississippi Senate convened and moved quickly through procedural business before adopting a set of noncontroversial measures and scheduling key events. Senators dispensed with standard readings and committee reports and approved recognition of the Lamar School Raiders and a ceremonial Buddy Poppy Day. The body also approved a strike call to set a joint session for Gov. Tate Reeves' State of the State address.

Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate "dispense with the reading of the journal," and the motion passed on a voice vote, clearing routine business for the day's calendar. The Chamber likewise dispensed with the reading of committee reports and the titles of bills and resolutions to streamline consideration.

The Senate read Senate Resolution No. 25 to "commend and congratulate the Lamar School Raiders football team and head coach Jacob Bland for winning the MAIS 4A Division 3 state championship, the team's seventh state championship and first title since 2018." Senator Tate invited Coach Jacob Bland to address the chamber; Bland said, "It is quite an honor to be here," and thanked senators for the recognition.

On the calendar, the Senate took up Senate Bill No. 2766, authoring a Buddy Poppy Day in Mississippi to designate the Friday before Memorial Day for the Veterans of Foreign Wars' poppy observance. The author was noted as Senator Tate. The presiding officer announced that the two items taken en bloc received final passage as reported by the clerk.

The body also read House Concurrent Resolution No. 21, a request to call a joint session for the governor's State of the State address. Senate leadership explained that weather had prompted some scheduling changes; a senator stated, "I think it's the fourth," when discussing a tentative rescheduling, and said the planned location would be the second floor rotunda rather than the House chamber. The Senate adopted the strike call on a voice vote.

Throughout the morning, senators made a number of announcements about committee meetings and schedule changes: Agriculture was canceled for the day; Medicaid and Finance scheduled meetings in Room 216; Elections and Judiciary notices were issued; and appropriations subcommittees announced meeting times and attendees. Several senators also asked the Senate to adjourn in memory of local residents.

Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate "stand in recess until 5 p.m. or until the last committee report is filed," and that the journal reflect the Senate adjourned until 9 a.m. the next day. The motion passed on a voice vote and the chamber recessed.

No substantive policy debate, amendments to the bills noted above, or recorded roll-call vote tallies were included in the transcript for these items; the transcript records voice votes and the presiding officer's announcements about final passage.