JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Campaign finance reform was talked about months before the start of the 2024 Legislative Session, and lawmakers have made some progress on a bill this year.

When Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (D-Miss.) defeated former State Senator Chris McDaniel in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor, he vowed to address the issue.

State Senator Jeremy England (R-District 51) will introduce the bill on the Senate floor once it’s been fully drafted. He said the bill has been worked on by himself, Hosemann, Secretary of State Michael Watson (R-Miss.), and Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.).

Language from all parties is included in the bill, which aims to add some teeth to the state’s historically lax campaign finance laws.

“We do increase some of the some of the penalties on people who either don’t file or file incomplete or incorrect reports. We definitely add some more teeth, and increase some penalties to make sure that that candidates running are filing the way they should,” said England.

A common criticism with the state’s campaign finance laws is the lack of enforcement from the Attorney General’s Office. This legislation would allow the Secretary of State’s Office to enforce the laws instead of just having to report them to the Attorney General’s Office.

The bill would also allow for third party prosecutors to enforce the law.