Mississippi governor excited to sign income tax bill that state Senate passed by mistake

Mississippi stands on the precipice of its most significant tax reform in modern history, sparked by an unexpected clerical error. The House has forwarded a bill to Governor Tate Reeves that will eliminate the state personal income tax and reduce the state budget by approximately $2.2 billion.

The legislation passed due to typographical errors in the Senate version—misplaced decimal points that fundamentally altered the bill’s implementation timeline. While the Senate intended the income tax elimination to occur gradually with economic growth “triggers,” these decimal errors effectively removed these safeguards, meaning substantial tax cuts will proceed even with minimal economic growth.

Despite the accidental nature of the vote, Governor Reeves has indicated on social media his intention to sign the bill, suggesting that any issues can be addressed in future legislative sessions. Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, who oversees the Senate, has remained silent regarding how these critical errors evaded detection by Senate proofreaders and legal staff.

The reform package includes a 9-cent increase in gasoline tax over three years, with provisions for automatic increases thereafter. Critics argue this shift represents a dangerous financial gamble for America’s poorest state. They contend that slashing a third of the state budget will severely impact public services, while the increased “regressive” gasoline tax will disproportionately burden lower-income residents.

Representative John Hines of Greenville voiced strong opposition, warning that “the rich will continue to get richer and the poor will continue to get poorer.” He cautioned fellow lawmakers that supporting this measure could jeopardize their political futures.