Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann address incoming House members on Thursday, December 7, 2023 (Photo from Delbert Hosemann's Facebook page)
A freshman class of 25 new members in the Mississippi House of Representatives gathered in Jackson on Thursday for orientation prior to the start of the 2024 legislative session.
New members of the Mississippi House of Representatives gathered at the state Capitol on Thursday to get a glimpse of the ins and outs of the upcoming legislative session which gavels in the first week of January.
The House will be welcoming 18 new Republicans and 7 new Democrats to the chamber.
Because the 2024 session will be the first following a state election, lawmakers will meet for 120 days instead of the traditional 90 days, allowing more time for legislative leaders to organize the chambers. The additional time also means more time for new lawmakers to acclimate to their duties.
According to Speaker Pro Tempore-designate of the House, State Rep. Manly Barton (R-HD 109), incoming lawmakers heard from state leaders, tenured State Representatives, and the House Clerk and staff, as well as lobbyists, at Thursday’s orientation.
The new lawmakers were given a tour of the Capitol building and shown around the House chamber to familiarize them with their desk and new offices.
Rep. Barton said the newly elected officials were encouraged to give themselves time to learn the process and understand the system that is the Legislature. He added that the orientation is a way for them to meet people and make new friends.
“I would say very few of this group have ever been in an elected office before. A handful of the Legislature have, but most people show up and have not ever been elected to anything. It can be a little overwhelming,” said Barton.
There are also administrative actions that take place during orientation, including processing their payroll. Mississippi lawmakers are paid on a part-time annual basis. Members also receive a per diem for travel.
Jimmy Fondren, a freshman Republican representative from HD 111 in Jackson County, said he was excited to get to the Capitol for the first time. Fondren replaces former State Representative Charles Busby (R) who did not seek re-election to the House after three terms, choosing instead to run for Southern District Transportation Commissioner, which he won.
“It was also good to meet some of the people that are working at the Capitol, the people that you’re going to be dealing with on a daily basis,” said Fondren. “It was good to get to know some of them who keep things running.”
Representative-elect Fondren said the bipartisan orientation was a helpful way to get to know the entire freshman class as well as some of the returning lawmakers who have been serving in the House.
After Thursday’s orientation Fondren anticipates the first few weeks of the session will be filled with committee assignments and learning the ropes, but once those things are solidified, he hopes to get down to work.
“We have a pretty large turnover crowd, and we will also have a new Speaker and Pro Tem, so I think those first couple weeks, they might be slow, but they’ll be good especially for the freshmen to figure out what things are like procedurally,” said Fondren.
Incoming House Republicans met last week and unanimously voted to nominate current Speaker Pro Tem Jason White for Speaker and Barton for Speaker Pro Tem for the upcoming term. The full House will vote on White and Barton soon after being sworn in. There is no word as of yet if House Democrats will nominate a Speaker candidate to challenge White.
Republicans will hold a 79 to 41 supermajority over Democrats in the chamber with 2 Independents rounding out the 122 total House members.
The Mississippi Senate will hold a similar new member orientation for the chamber’s seven incoming State Senators on December 13th.
The 2024 Legislative session will begin on January 2nd.
New House Members
Below are the new members to be sworn in as State Representatives in the Mississippi House:
Republicans
- Brad Mattox (HD 2)
- Justin Keen (HD 6)
- Kimberly Remak (HD 7)
- Josh Hawkins (HD 10)
- Beth Waldo (HD 15)
- Rodney Hall (HD 20)
- Andy Stepp (HD 23)
- Doc Harris (HD 28)
- Jim Estrada (HD 33)
- Clay Mansell (HD 56)
- Jonathan McMillan (HD 58)
- Lance Varner (HD 62)
- Celeste Hurst (HD 75)
- Chuck Blackwell (HD 88)
- Elliott Burch (HD 105)
- Steve Lott (HD 107)
- Jimmy Fondren (HD 111)
- Zachary Grady (HD 115)
Democrats
- Kenji Holloway (HD 27)
- Keith Jackson (HD 45)
- Timaka James-Jones (HD 51)
- Lawrence Blackmon (HD 57)
- Fabian Nelson (HD 66)
- Tamarra Butler-Washington (HD 69)
- Justis Gibbs (HD 72)
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