CPAC Releases 2025 Mississippi State Ratings

The latest edition of the Mississippi CPAC Scorecard assesses 20 votes in the State House and 18 votes in the State Senate from the 2025 legislative session. Mississippi Republicans earned an average score of 68%, up from 54% in 2024. Mississippi Democrats earned an average score of 39%, which is consistent with the average score they earned in 2024.

The 2025 Mississippi legislative session delivered major wins for taxpayers and safeguarding individual freedoms, signaling a strong appetite for limiting government reach and strengthening individual rights. Highlights of the session included the commencement of a full phase-out of the state income tax, robust protections for property owners, and measures to ensure institutional neutrality in government agencies. While the legislature faced challenges regarding special interest tax breaks, Governor Tate Reeves’ vetoes played a crucial role in maintaining fiscal discipline by preventing costly expansions of Medicaid and bureaucracy. Overall, the session demonstrated a clear commitment to reshaping Mississippi’s economic and social landscape to favor work, investment, and accountability.

A Landmark Push Toward Eliminating the State Income Tax

Mississippi took one of its most significant steps toward long-term economic prosperity with the enactment of HB 1, which begins the phase-out of the state income tax with a target of full elimination by 2030. This legislation sends a powerful message that the state is prioritizing job competition and resident retention over wasteful government spending. By shifting toward a consumption-based tax model, lawmakers have embraced a growth-oriented structure that rewards productivity and reduces the burden on working families. The bipartisan recognition that income taxes stifle growth positions Mississippi as a leader in modern tax reform, making this bill the defining achievement of the session.

Expanding Patient Freedom and Blocking Medicaid Expansion

The legislature advanced key reforms to enhance patient autonomy while avoiding fiscal traps. HB 17 became law, ensuring patients can access physician-approved medications without unnecessary interference from insurers or bureaucrats, reinforcing the doctor-patient relationship. Crucially, the Governor vetoed SB 2386, a proposal to expand Medicaid. This decisive action prevented the state from entering a long-term entitlement expansion known for ballooning costs and crowding out private insurance. By rejecting federally driven welfare programs, Mississippi avoided the budget liabilities other states face, opting instead for a healthcare approach based on competition, choice, and fiscal prudence.

Restoring Order, Property Rights, and Institutional Neutrality

Mississippi made meaningful progress in restoring public order and protecting constitutional rights through several key measures. HB 1200 empowers landlords to remove squatters and penalize property damage, while HB 1203 prohibits homeless encampments on public rights-of-way, ensuring safety and usability for communities. Simultaneously, the state took a major step toward cultural integrity with HB 1193, which prohibits state participation in DEI programming that pushes race-based ideology. This law restores viewpoint neutrality to public institutions, ensuring taxpayer resources are focused on merit and equal treatment rather than divisive identity politics.

Prioritizing Tax Relief Over Subsidies

The state demonstrated a clear preference for broad-based tax incentives over subsidy-driven spending. Measures like HB 961 provide tax credits to businesses using state port facilities, rewarding productivity rather than transferring taxpayer dollars to hand-picked industries. Additionally, HB 1644 reins in broadband equipment tax credits, limiting wasteful programs that force taxpayers to pay twice for the same infrastructure. These reforms reflect a disciplined shift toward market-driven growth, reducing the government's footprint in economic development and favoring competitive tax environments over politically favored public investments.

The 2025 legislative session established a clear conservative trajectory for Mississippi. Despite some legislative attempts to expand cronyism, the combination of bold policy advancements and the Governor’s strategic vetoes ensured that the outcome favored limited government. By securing a path to zero income tax, defending private property, and rejecting long-term budget liabilities, Mississippi has positioned itself as a leader in the movement for state-level sovereignty and economic liberty.

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