The Mississippi Legislature passed a bill on Tuesday that aims to prevent child support money for over 150,000 Mississippi children from being gambled away, the culmination of a yearslong effort to pass such a proposal.
The House passed SB 2369 by a vote of 92-22, sending it to Gov. Tate Reeves. The bill was authored by Sen. Walter Michel, a Republican from Ridgeland. The legislation allows the Mississippi Gaming Commission and the Mississippi Department of Human Services to set up a process to withhold gambling winnings from individuals with outstanding child support.
In a statement, MDHS spokesperson Mark Jones said the agency has been pushing for four years to get this policy across the finish line.
