According to a release from Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) and Lt. Governor, the Legislature was due to return to session on May 18, but they announced that they will return to the legislature on Thursday at noon. Delbert Hosemann. They are currently working together to create legislation to assist small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. The release said that the legislation would “set parameters for the state agency to manage” and allocate funds. Details weren’t immediately available. Speaker Philip Gunn stated that “Our small businesses are the backbone of Mississippi’s economy, and they now need our support.” “The announcement came amid a dispute between the Legislature, Gov. Tate Reeves questioned the governor’s $1.25 billion spending authority in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds. Last Friday, the Legislature returned to Capitol to pass a bill which strips Reeves’ sole spending authority. The bill transferred $1.15 billion from federal funds to the budget contingency account, where federal money cannot be spent without legislative action. A separate fund of $100 million was created that state agencies could access if they have immediate COVID-19 needs. The governor can veto the bill until Thursday at midnight. This means that the Legislature could be in session Friday. To override his vote, a two-thirds vote must be cast in both the Senate or House. This would be an historic feat. The last time legislators overrode the veto of a Mississippi governor was 2002. Hosemann and Gunn both stated that they are trying to establish protocol for visiting the Capitol and working there._x000D