Last week in Jackson, lawmakers passed House Bill 403 that helped to lure California-based Stion to Hattiesburg where it plans to hire up to 1,000 workers within six years.

Stion, the leading manufacturer of high efficiency thin film solar panels, will pay workers an average of $43,000 annually and be located in the old Sunbeam building.

House Bill 403 authorized a $75 million state loan for Stion that will be repaid with interest within 10-years.

The company will invest $500 million in the state.

Community colleges will benefit from Stion’s presence in the state as they will be used for workforce training.

The Senate also approved a resolution that allowed Lt. Governor Phil Bryant to appoint Brother Ben James of Prentiss Baptist Church as chaplain of the Senate. Brother James will serve on a voluntary basis to provide spiritual counseling to members and staff and will attend at least one day per week during the regular session, offering prayer when requested.

Senators also received petitions for three ballot initiatives which voters will decide in the Nov. 8, general election.

One item that seeks to ban abortion, states that life begins at conception, not birth.

Another seeks to limit the government’s power of eminent domain for economic development purposes while the other would allow citizens to decide whether photo identification should be required before a person can vote.

In addition, myself, District 38 Sen. Kelvin Butler and District 39 Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith co-authored a bill that, if passed when introduced on the floor, will create Natchez Inc., which would allow the Adams County Board of Supervisors to create a county railroad authority or to join an existing regional railroad authority. This is an effort to keep the rail line open and create opportunities for its future growth.

If I can be of assistance, please call me at 601-359-3244 or e-mail me at bdearing@senate.ms.gov.

Sen. Bob M. Dearing is a Democrat representing Adams County in the Mississippi Congress.