Highlights of the MS Legislative Session 2025
- Zakiya Summers
- May 19
- 2 min read
I am proud to present this year’s legislative package—a reflection of the challenges we faced, the progress we fought for, and the values we carried into every debate and decision. It is my ultimate honor to serve you as State Representative for District 68 (Hinds, Rankin) in the Mississippi House of Representatives. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to FIGHT AND LEAD for you, our families, and our communities.
The Mississippi Legislature convened the 2025 Legislative Session on Tuesday, January 7. Collectively, more than 3,300 bills were filed with 259 becoming law. Approximately 406 became law. The Mississippi House of Representatives adjourned sine die on Wednesday, April 2, four days ahead of schedule.
This session was fraught with deep divisions, marked by polarizing legislation such as House Bill 1, which eliminates Mississippi’s personal income tax, and a sweeping anti-DEI bill that threatens to roll back decades of progress on inclusion in education and government. Our efforts to advance voter restoration met significant resistance and ultimately were defeated—an unfortunate reminder of the ongoing struggle for full democratic participation in our state. At the time of publication, we had not completed a budget, which will result in a special session likely without funding of local projects.
And yet, in the face of these headwinds, we pushed forward.
Together with my colleagues and community partners, we made strides in several key areas. We secured paid parental leave for state employees, expanded presumptive eligibility for pregnant women to improve maternal health outcomes, stabilized polling locations to protect voter access, and supported community health workers through certification and Medicaid reimbursement pathways. Each of these wins moves us closer to a healthier, more equitable Mississippi.
Outside the chamber, I had the honor of publishing an opinion editorial in Essence magazine advocating for equal pay—lifting up the stories and struggles of working women across our state. On a personal note, I was proud to graduate with a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, deepening my commitment to evidence-based governance and public service.
Thank you for your continued support, advocacy, and belief in a state where equity and justice are not just ideals, but everyday realities. We won’t stop.
In service and solidarity,
Representative Zakiya Summers
