SB 3128 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

"Strengthening Troop Retention for Our National Guard (STRONG) Act"; enact.

SB 3128, the "STRONG Act," increases tax exemptions for Mississippi National Guard and Reserve members by amending income tax laws to exclude more of their military pay from taxable income. It also creates a program within the Mississippi Military Department to reimburse National Guard members for TRICARE Reserve Select health insurance costs. These changes directly affect Mississippi National Guard service members by reducing their tax burden and covering health insurance expenses. The bill aims to improve medical readiness, recruitment, and retention within the state's National Guard units.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 28, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to add a new program that reimburses Mississippi National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums, alongside existing tax exemption provisions. The changes also updated formatting and added numerous new tax exemptions for various government programs and disaster relief.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new reimbursement program for National Guard members' health insurance premiums, in addition to the existing income tax exemption provisions.

FISCAL

Added a new Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program that provides grants to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums.

Added provision that program funds must be subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.

ELIGIBILITY

Established eligibility criteria for the Tricare reimbursement program requiring members to be eligible for Tricare Reserve Select Coverage and be actively drilling members in good standing.

DEFINITION

Added new tax exemption provisions for various government programs including disaster relief, agricultural programs, housing assistance, and pandemic relief funds.

REQUIREMENT

Required the Adjutant General to promulgate rules for administering the Tricare reimbursement program and provide annual reports to the Legislature on program effectiveness.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill formatting and header information to reflect 'As Passed the Senate' status with revised session information.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

49–1

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Feb 26, 2025

D Democratic16

15 Yea 1 Nay

93% Yea

R Republican35

34 Yea 1

97% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

Referred To Appropriations A

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred To Finance

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors