JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – House Speaker Jason White (R-Miss.) has announced that the newest House conference report will call for a ballot referendum on Medicaid expansion.

“The referendum process will be two-fold; Mississippians will have the opportunity to vote if they are for Medicaid expansion or not, and if so, should the parameters of the program include a work requirement,” White said. “For years, the response to Medicaid expansion was not just no, but entirely dismissed; with this ballot referendum, Mississippians will now have a seat at the table on how we improve healthcare outcomes in our state.”

Mississippi lawmakers kept a compromise measure to expand Medicaid alive on Wednesday by recommitting the bill for further negotiations. This ballot referendum process would be replacing the compromise expansion plan in the conference report.

The House strategy was not well received in the Senate.

“We had some discussions with Senators today about the possibility of a nonbinding referendum on the ballot, and the idea was not well received. A strong work requirement, with necessary exceptions, is a bottom line for many Senators. We look forward to continuing the conversation on access to healthcare in the future,” said Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann (R-Miss.).

Negotiators from both chambers would have to sign off on the report for it to be considered any further. Senate negotiators have until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 to agree or reject the House proposal.