Magnolia State News

Following a significant legislative deadline, Mississippi's Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Andy Gipson, has expressed his support for the advancement of four bills that could impact the state's agriculture and seafood sectors. In a statement, Gipson thanked key figures in both the House and Senate for their roles in moving these bills forward.

House Bill 913, sponsored by Vince Mangold and Bubba Carpenter, aims to ensure accurate labeling for meat products. "This bill protects the integrity of Mississippi’s livestock and meat industry," Gipson said.

House Bill 1006 seeks to ban cultured animal cell products in Mississippi. The bill addresses concerns over lab-grown imitation meat products.

Two agritourism-related bills, HB 1295 and SB 2264, propose added protections through clarification and signage on farms. These were sponsored by Bill Pigott in the House and Neil Whaley along with other senators in the Senate.

House Bill 602 focuses on expanding country of origin labeling for seafood and crawfish. The bill aims to help consumers distinguish between Gulf Coast seafood and foreign imports. Senate amendments propose establishing a Seafood Labeling Task Force.

Additionally, Gipson acknowledged efforts to prevent House Bill 994 from passing. This bill would have required state funding for a City of Jackson-owned cell tower project. "I appreciate Chairman Williams and Lieutenant Governor Hosemann for listening to our serious concerns about this bill," Gipson remarked.

Information from this article can be found here.