Senate bill would recognize MBCI identification cards

Senate bill would recognize MBCI identification cards

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A bill that would allow members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to use Tribal identification cards like a state-issued ID card is working its way through the Mississippi Legislature.

A similar bill was considered during the 2020 Legislative session. Sen. Jenifer Branning said SB 2020 which she wrote has passed the Senate and has been sent to the House for consideration.

“This is something the Tribe really wanted, and we are going to try and get it passed this year,” Branning said. 

“Their Tribal ID would be recognized for purposes of travel, for voting, applying for services and all kind of things (one would need an ID for). We will hopefully get this across the finish line this year.”

Branning also wrote Senate Bill 2507 that involves the Tribe. It would allow non-tribal businesses that locate on Tribal lands to be eligible to apply for money from the Mississippi Development Authority.

“This would hopefully bring businesses to our community,” Branning said. “We got it off the Senate floor, and it has been sent to the House.”

Branning is chairman of the Transportation Committee in the Senate. She wrote Senate Bill 2825 known as the Mississippi Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2021.”

Branning said this bill would do several things. It has passed out of the Senate and is now being considered by the House.

“First, it would divert a portion of the lottery money into our counties and municipalities for road repairs for a total of $240 million,” Branning said. “It would be $80 million over three years.”

Branning added that in the third year, the bill would allow for a weight increase under the Harvest Permit.

“That would allow loggers and people who haul agricultural commodities to carry more weight than your regular truckers,” Branning said. “When industry is looking to locate in the South to take advantage of our timber resources which we have an abundance of, they are going to look at the other states. Our lower weight limits count against us.”

If the bill becomes law, it will move the Mississippi Department of Transportation enforcement division over to the Department of Public Safety.

“It would improve law enforcement as a whole,” Branning said. “It would do away with duplication of services. We are one of only a couple of states in the nation that still runs it this way. We are trying to be better stewards of the taxpayer dollar.”






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