Governor Tate Reeves is signing seven major bills that he says could improve the lives of mothers and babies throughout Mississippi. During his State of the State address earlier this year, Reeves called on the legislature to reform the foster care and adoption system. He says when these laws go into effect on July 1st, they could help minimize a child’s time in state custody and incentivize adoptions.
Reeves says “I would also like to announce that I have signed HB 1625, which gives the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services the largest budget in its history. This equips the agency with the resources needed to effectively carry out its mission and to better support Mississippi children.”
In addition to the bills that could enhance adoption and foster care opportunities, Reeves has signed a bill to increase tax credits businesses can send to Crisis Pregnancy Resource Centers. The tax credit was created last year for a select group of faith-based non-profits linked with Pro-Life Mississippi, though efforts to expand qualified recipients have been unsuccessful. And Reeves says this law will increase the maximum annual tax credit from $3 million to $10 million.
“We’ve taken another tremendous step forward in the Pro-Life movement. But I also want you to know that we’re just getting started in our commitment to life,” says Reeves. “We will be relentless in our support of mothers and children, and we will be relentless in our efforts to continue to advance the new Pro-Life agenda.”
Reeves says it will take time to implement the programs passed in these bills before his office can focus on the next wave of legislative priorities.
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