Mississippi has made history as the first state in the U.S.—aside from oil-rich Alaska—to pass legislation aimed at phasing out its income tax.
This monumental achievement, spearheaded by Governor Tate Reeves and House Speaker Jason White, marks a significant victory for the state. The newly passed bill outlines a plan to eliminate the income tax over the next decade, starting with incremental cuts and followed by a series of budget-driven "triggers."
Beginning next year, Mississippi’s income tax rate will drop in 0.25 percent increments, sliding from 4 percent to 3 percent by 2030. After that, further reductions will hinge on the state’s budget surplus. Given Mississippi’s recent track record of substantial surpluses, the income tax could vanish entirely by the mid-2030s.
So, how did Mississippi become such a trailblazer? It very nearly did not happen.
The push to eliminate the income tax has been a cornerstone of Governor Reeves’ agenda, with serious legislative efforts kicking off in 2022 under then-House Speaker Philip Gunn.
Gunn’s genius was to simplifying the state’s variable tax rates into a flat 4 percent on income above $10,000. While this didn’t eliminate the tax outright, it leveled the playing field for Mississippi households, setting the stage for broader support of full elimination.
Fast forward to this year, when Speaker Jason White and Representative Trey Lamar introduced a plan to phase out the income tax by 2037. Their initial proposal included a partial tax swap, offset by modest increases in gas and sales taxes.
What happened next was both fascinating – and, if you support income tax elimination, rather fortuitous.
The Mississippi Senate has been a constant drag on conservative reform. They have either opposed, or come to grudgingly accept, almost every conservative policy proposal over the past few years, from school choice to red tape reduction. So, too, with income tax elimination.
The Senate, reluctant to fully embrace income tax elimination, opted for a cautious approach. They amended the bill with a "trigger" mechanism, tying future tax cuts to significant revenue growth outpacing spending increases. Some in the Senate perhaps saw this as a clever stall tactic—until a fortunate blunder turned the tables.
The Senate miscalculated the formula, placing a decimal point in the wrong place. Math matters. Something the Senate design as a brake on tax cuts turned out to be an accelerator.
Unless the state government runs a deficit, future surpluses will likely drive steady cuts, and Mississippi – despite the Senate leaderships best efforts – will be as competitive in tax terms as Tennessee and Texas.
Set aside the soap opera, this is great news for our state. Already there is evidence that in 2024, by some measures, Mississippi performed well economically, and may have been one of the fastest growing states in America that year. This tax reform will only add to this Mississippi momentum.
Perhaps what the Senators math missteps shows is that Mississippi now needs to turn its attention to education reforms? If the Senators stopped blocking school choice the way they tried to block income tax elimination, maybe math standards might be better both inside and outside the legislature.
In politics, nothing moves unless it’s pushed. Change doesn’t happen because of empty platitudes—it happens because principled conservatives like you step up to demand principled policies.
At the Mississippi Center for Public Policy (MCPP), we’ve been pushing hard this legislative session for four flagship conservative priorities. With just three weeks left, here’s where we stand—and how your support is making a difference.
1. School Choice
For years, no bill allowing even basic public-to-public school choice had been granted a floor vote. This session, we saw progress: a bill passed the House with a strong majority, only to be stalled in the Senate Education Committee under Chairman Dennis DeBar.
Sadly, this proposal appears dead for now—a frustrating outcome when every neighboring state offers universal school choice, and President Trump himself champions this policy. But the opposition’s grip may be weakening. Killing bills in committee no longer comes cost free for left leaning Senators, as it did for years. If principled conservatives keep shining a light on who’s blocking progress, we will win this fight.
2. Income Tax Elimination
Governor Tate Reeves has made income tax elimination a priority, and the House agreed, passing Speaker Jason White and Rep. Trey Lamar’s HB1 bill early in the session.
Now, the Senate’s liberal leadership is stalling, with a critical deadline looming this Tuesday. If HB1 fails, it will be a deliberate choice by Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann, whose stance aligns more with liberals than with conservative taxpayers. We can’t waver. We must rally behind leaders like the Governor and Speaker who take bold conservative stands—and call out those who don’t. To achieve change, conservative organizations must not equivocate.
3. Outlawing DEI
When State Auditor Shad White exposed how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education were costing taxpayers millions, some at the Capitol scoffed. For years, they buried anti-DEI bills.
But the truth is out: DEI has been rampant, and Shad White was right. Now, an anti-DEI bill banning these wasteful, divisive practices is finally nearing the Governor’s desk. This is what happens when principled conservatives push forward. You’ve helped make this possible—thank you.
4. Removing Red Tape
In healthcare, excessive regulations stifle progress and hurt our economy. Two steadfast conservatives, Rep. Zuber and Rep. Creekmore, have worked tirelessly to cut this red tape. Their bill is on the cusp of becoming law—a testament to what principled leadership can achieve.
What’s Next?
The final weeks of the session could bring surprises. The Senate might dig in, forcing a special session, or conservative Senators could step up, demanding action on income tax elimination, anti-DEI measures, and red tape reduction—policies voters like you support. As Barry Goldwater famously said, “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Your commitment to these principles is driving change in Mississippi.
The Mississippi legislature has a clear conservative mandate yet sometimes struggles to get things done. Why?
State Governor Tate Reeves clearly has a vision for Mississippi. He wants to promote economic growth and eliminate the state income tax. He’s also pretty big on law & order, efforts to improve the education system and work force development. Agree with him or not, it’s undeniable that he has a plan for our state.
So, too, does the Speaker of the House, Jason White. He’s made an income tax elimination bill his number one goal for this session. Under Speaker White’s leadership the House has also passed bills to extend school choice and reduce the red tape that restricts healthcare. The House is moving forward with purpose.
But what about the Senate? What’s their plan? Two months into a three-month session, it remains a mystery. Instead, the Senate leadership has spent much of the session saying “no” to nearly every proposal on the table. School choice? (Almost) killed in committee. Restoring the ballot initiative? Denied. Income tax elimination? Don’t hold your breath.
The Senate leadership has blocked conservative reforms at every turn—without offering any ideas of their own. This is baffling. Mississippians have overwhelmingly elected conservative leaders to every statewide office. Yet here we are, watching the Senate leadership stall policies that align with the values voters supported, all while failing to present an alternative path forward.
Normally at this stage of a session, if the House and Senate were gridlocked, you would expect a negotiation. How can the House negotiate with a Senate leadership that struggles to even articulate what it wants?
This isn’t a one-off. We’re seeing a pattern emerge.
First, the House signals its intent for reform—think Speaker White’s focus on income tax elimination and school choice this year, or school funding reform last year. Then, the Senate responds with silence—no counterproposals, no vision. Finally, when the House sends its bills over, Senate leadership works to kill them, often without a serious alternative. Is this really the best we can do
Contrast this with Washington. In just over a month since President Trump began his second term, we’ve seen a flurry of bold initiatives. He’s accomplished more in weeks than some Mississippi leaders have in years.
Our taxpayers deserve better than a legislature that can’t agree on basic conservative priorities like empowering parents in education or cutting taxes. For too long, the process in Jackson has been shrouded in mystery. Bills “die in committee” with no explanation, no accountability, and no recorded votes. We’re told the support isn’t there—yet no one sees the tally. It’s time for transparency.
That’s why the Mississippi Center for Public Policy (MCPP) is stepping up. We have four clear goals for this session: Public-to-public school choice, Income tax elimination, Anti-DEI legislation and Certificate of Need repeal.
Bills addressing each of these priorities have been drafted. By session’s end, every lawmaker will have had the chance to support them. Soon, we’ll launch an online tool for our 80,000 subscribers statewide, showing which Senators, Representatives, and statewide officials earn a “Trump approval”—and which one’s side with the progressive agenda. Mississippians deserve to know who’s delivering and who’s dodging.
The roadblocks to good conservative policy must be exposed. With your support, we’re shining a spotlight on the legislature and holding our leaders accountable.
You have a chance to help us move Mississippi closer to School Choice.
Right now, a critical bill — HB1435 — is hanging in the balance. This legislation, which has already passed the House, would give parents the power to choose the best public school for their kids, no matter their zip code (provided there was capacity).
But here’s the urgency: it’s stuck in the Senate Education Committee, and unless they vote to approve it by Tuesday, this opportunity will slip away. Please help us to make sure that does not happen!
Mississippi stands at a crossroads. All around us—Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana—parents already enjoy the freedom of School Choice. HB1435 is a vital next step: public-to-public school choice.
Just last week, President Trump himself called on states like ours to rise up and pass laws like this. He’s counting on us. Our kids are counting on us. And I’m counting on YOU.
Here’s what I need you to do before Tuesday:
- Click the map below to find your State Senator.
2. Send them a short email. Tell them: “I’m a Mississippi voter, and I expect you to APPROVE HB1435!”
3. Share this mission with a friend—let’s build a wave of voices they can’t ignore.
If we all act, our lawmakers will have to listen!
You’re not just sending an email—you’re lighting a spark for change!
Thank you for standing with me in this fight. Start your week knowing you've made a difference—if you haven't taken action yet, now is the perfect time!
The Mississippi Center for Public Policy was honored to welcome members of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Clubs (MFWC) Juniorettes for a special visit to its headquarters.
During their visit, the Juniorettes engaged in discussions about the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty. MCPP’s President and CEO, Douglas Carswell, shared insights on current legislative initiatives and the impact of policy decisions on communities across the state. The students also had the opportunity to ask questions, participate in interactive discussions, and gain a deeper understanding of how public policy affects everyday life.
MCPP is committed to fostering informed discussions on public policy and welcomes opportunities to engage with students, educators, and community organizations. The organization looks forward to continuing to support young leaders as they develop their knowledge and passion for civic engagement.
Last week, Mississippi lawmakers finally stumbled into the 21st century and decided that adults—yes, grown-ups—should be allowed to buy wine online.
A round of applause for Senators Michel, Blackmon, England, and DeLano, who convinced their colleagues that Mississippians should be allowed to do something they do in almost every other state. Until now, if you wanted a bottle of wine, you had to head to the store and buy only what the Alcoholic Beverage Control board had approved.
But don’t uncork the champagne just yet. This bill only just squeaked through the Senate, with 21 so-called “conservative” senators clutching their pearls and trying to smother it in its crib. Why, you ask? What possible reason would any politician have to stop you buying wine online? I do wonder if anyone at the legislature was wined and dined - probably both - by lobbyists for wine distributors who'd rather not compete with online retailers. That it took years to pass something this basic should alarm every conservative in our state. That so many “conservatives” were ready to leap to the defense of various vested interests is depressing. How many lobbyist-funded dinners does it take to kill good conservative policy?
Right this minute there are still lots of great conservative bills alive in the 2025 legislature. But if it is this hard to let people buy Merlot online, what hope is there for the big stuff? School choice? Cutting red tape? Eliminating DEI? The good news is that right now there are still lots of great conservative bills alive in the 2025 legislature. Good conservative lawmakers could still achieve great conservative wins this session.
The House has a plan to eliminate the income tax — imagine keeping more of your own money; radical, I know. Having passed their bill HB 1, the House has decided to hold off passing any legislation from the Senate until the Senate actually does something to eliminate the income tax. Another excellent conservative proposal is HB1435, which would allow public to public school choice. Approved by the House, it is currently being considered by a committee in the Senate. It’s a similar story with HB 922, authored by the awesome Representatives Zuber and Creekmore. This bill would repeal a lot of the red tape that prevents new health care providers operating in our state.
Both the House and the Senate have approved different bills to combat DEI. Again, this is something every conservative should not hesitate to support. If our lawmakers were to complete the passage of these bills, it would be a vintage year for liberty in our state. But the danger is that these bills, like efforts to restore the ballot initiative, are quietly garroted in a back room at the Capitol.
For years, we have seen solid conservative policies get “killed in committee.” Don’t be fooled about what that means. When a bill “dies in committee,” it’s not a natural death. The committee chairman didn’t misplace it under a stack of memos — it was knifed, Julius Caesar-style. Only instead of togas, it’s cheap suits and lobbyist cash.
The next couple of weeks will be critical. As with the online wine bill, we could see good conservative lawmakers pass good conservative laws. If they do, they deserve a medal—or at least a decent glass of Cabernet. Or it could be that those Governor Tate Reeves calls “the Coalition of the Status Quo”, once again kill off the chance of change. I will be sure to keep you updated about the progress of each of these critical conservative policies, and let you know who supports them, and who, if anyone, fails to support them.
Two competing tax plans are being considered by the Mississippi legislature. The House plan, published in January and voted through already as HB1, offers to eliminate the state income tax. The Senate this week published their rival proposal.
Which of the plans is more conservative?
Speaker White’s House tax plan is without question the more conservative proposal. It offers full elimination of the state income tax over the next decade, a net $1.1 billion reduction in the amount of money the state government takes from taxpayers, and a cut in the grocery tax.
White’s plan is the product of careful deliberation and public consultation. White organized a public Tax Day, open to everyone. Rep Trey Lamar, who authored a lot of the detail, fielded all sorts of suggestions. The plan they produced reflects that collaboration and candor.
Delbert Hosemann’s Senate plan only offers a $330 million cut in the tax take. The Senate plan would leave politicians in control of a far larger share of your money – which a cynic might say is its purpose. The Senate plan was produced behind closed doors, only being unveiled halfway through the session.
The Senate plan should be seen as a deliberate attempt by anti-tax cutting politicians to try to head off Governor Tate Reeves / Jason White’s conservative tax cutting agenda. Hosemann’s tax plan would still leave the income tax in place, albeit at a reduced rate of 2.9 percent. The Senate plan would be to cut the grocery tax to 5 percent, rather than the 4 percent the House wants.
I'm not wild about the idea of any increase in the sales tax. What I don’t like about either plan is that they won’t just raise the gas tax, but they frontload that gas tax increase before the tax reductions kick in elsewhere. The House suggests raising the gas tax by 15 cents a gallon, while the Senate suggests 9 cents. If revenue needs to be raised to improve our roads, a more conservative approach might be to have time-limited taxes, with revenues earmarked for specific infrastructure projects.
That said, it would be disingenuous for any supporters of the Senate plan to attack the House plan from the right, given that the Senate is also proposing to increase the gas tax while continuing to tax your paycheck every month.
I worry that the Senate plan is primarily an exercise in political positioning, rather than income tax elimination. “Read my lips” I imagine those that drafted it want to be able to say “We support tax cuts! Here’s a token cut in the grocery tax, and a slightly lower increase in the gas tax. We’re not RINOs! Really”.
That kind of distraction strategy might once have worked if no one paid attention and the local media only ever criticize you from the progressive left. I’m not sure it will work anymore. If you posture as a tax cutter but put all your energy into a tax plan designed to dilute actual tax cuts, you will be called out.
Delbert Hosemann is reported as saying he believes full elimination of the income tax would be over ambitious. Since when was it “over ambitious” for Republicans with a super majority to get on and do conservative things?
I don’t see President Trump and Elon Musk holding back from doing what needs to be done because it is “over ambitious”. Our legislature needs to recognize that Mississippi has a historic political and economic opportunity to eliminate the state income tax. Mississippi is starting to see real growth, thanks in large part to the tax cuts we have already implemented. It is not a coincidence that when Arkansas cut their income tax rate, they set it at 3.9 percent in order to be just below our current rate of 4 percent.
Implementing the Senate plan, which would retain the income tax rate at 2.9 percent, rather than abolishing it, would make Mississippi less competitive than our neighbors. If passed, the Senate plan would squander the chance to deliver bold reform, while institutionalizing our economic uncompetitiveness.
Conservatives should support the House plan, with some possible modifications.
The news about Mississippi just keeps on getting better!
First, the Mississippi House passed a bill to allow public to public School Choice. Not far behind is a bill that would allow a form of public to private School Choice.
A few days before that, the House passed a proposal to eliminate the income tax. Then they went and passed a bill to repeal lots of protectionist red tape that restricts the healthcare economy in our state. They even found time to pass a bill to remove the absurd law that prevents adults in our state from buying wine online.
Even the Senate went and passed a bill that has the potential to stamp out Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) ideology in our public universities.
It would be premature to start celebrating these wins for freedom. Each of these bills still needs to be voted through by both chambers before heading to the Governor’s desk. But it is hard to think of a year in which at this stage in the legislative session the prospects of reform shone as brightly as they do today.
After years of seeing free market reforms killed by vested interests in committee, our lawmakers suddenly seem to be giving conservative voters conservative policies.
For decades, vested interests at the state Capitol were able to stifle change. This helps explain why Mississippi was often thought of as 50th out of 50 states. Perhaps it is time to think again?
As Governor Tate Reeves keeps pointing out, Mississippi has momentum. In the second and third quarters of last year, our state had one of the fastest growing per person incomes and per person outputs of any US state.
Yes, you read that right. Mississippi was one of the fastest growing states in America.
This new growth data might only be a snapshoot, rather than a trend. However, if our legislature really does pass all of the measures listed above, Mississippi will be on an upward trajectory for sure.
Of course, even as you read this, an army of lobbyists with their snouts in the Jackson trough are frantically trying to kill off these proposed changes.
The absurdly named “Parent’s Campaign” has gone into overdrive to try to prevent giving actual parents more choice. Fake conservatives are thinking up a hundred reasons why we cannot afford tax cuts. Those Tate Reeves calls the “coalition of the status quo” are trying desperately to keep things the way they are.
Perhaps most dangerous of all are those commentators who have spent years excusing inertia by implying that Mississippi can only manage to make one change at a time. We will hear plenty of fatuous arguments that the state legislature only has the bandwidth to implement change at a snail’s pace. Some will tell us that this is the Mississippi way. Nonsense. Never accept excuses for mediocrity.
If the state legislature in Arkansas and Alabama can cope with tax cuts, school choice and deregulation at the same time, so can we.
A great deal of the credit for this reformist momentum is due to Speaker Jason White and his cadre of conservative lawmakers. We must pray that the Speaker and his team hold their nerve. Let us cheer on Speaker White as he faces down the vested interests that want to hold Mississippi back. Let us call out the hypocrisy of the smug, self-satisfied anti-school choice activists that sent their own kids to private school. Playing nicely with such people never works, so don’t.
Real conservative lawmakers who want to see Mississippi grow can vote for these changes in the knowledge that we have a President and a primary base behind them all the way!
Our state is now completely surrounded! Tennessee has just passed an Education Freedom Act, meaning that every single surrounding state is a school choice state.
In Tennessee from 2025 families will be entitled to an education freedom scholarship worth $7,075. Capped to 20,000 low income families at first, the idea is that in a couple of years every family in the state can use their pot of money for tuition and fees at a public school or private school of their choice.
What about Mississippi? Are we in danger of being left behind by our bolder neighbors?
Every time there is any suggestion that families be allowed to have any control over even a tiny portion of the $14,676 that it costs to educate a child in the public system, there is an outbreak of outrage. Often those most vocally opposed to school choice have been wealthy liberals who sent their own kids to private school. None of the bills being considered in the Mississippi legislature this year offer anything as comprehensive as Tennessee’s Education Freedom Act.
There is, however, a very sensible bill offering a step towards more public-to-public school choice, HB1435. This bill would allow students in a public school to take their share of the education budget to a public school of their choice – if the recipient school has capacity.
Under the excellent leadership of Speaker Jason White, Rep. Rob Roberson and Rep. Jansen Owen, HB1435 is now out of committee and heading to a vote on the floor of the House. The bill still faces many obstacles, but it can no longer be quietly killed off. (See Texas primary elections for details).
A second bill, HB1433, would allow students in failing districts to take about $6,600 of their share of education funds to a private school. It would be similar to what our neighbors do, but for a handful of school districts.
With all our neighboring states on board with school choice, it would be absurd if even these modest steps towards school choice are derailed. Of course, even these modest proposals have generated the usual hysteria from the so-called “Parent’s Campaign”. Comically, the “Parent’s Campaign” describes a bill to allow parents more choice between public schools as “troublesome”.
Desperate to find a reason to oppose HB1435, they attack it on the grounds that it might require school districts to determine what their capacity is. Pesky parents, eh? Given what conservative leaders have now accomplished in every neighboring state and given the unequivocal support for school choice from President Trump, it will be interesting to see if any Republicans dare to vote against.
The White House just announced a roundtable on school choice with top Republican governors. The event, moderated by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who spearheaded a major victory for school choice in her state after taking office, is an attempt to encourage pro school choice conservatives to move ahead with passing legislation.
Opposing school choice in Mississippi is probably not a great career move for any Mississippi Republicans. Nor is would it help raise standards in our schools.
Momentum is with parent power. This is a fight we can and must win.