The majority of the six members are white, except for one. The bill was opposed by senators who pointed out that the committee doesn’t reflect the state’s demographics. The legislation would remove a racist state song but it would also create an entirely white committee to choose new members. Late Thursday, Mississippi lawmakers approved a bill that would remove “Go, Mississippi”, as the official state tune. It also allocated $40 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for tourism and marketing. “I am aware that we are nearing the end of a very difficult session. We are trying to get out and make the best decisions within the time we have left,” stated Sen. John Hohrn, D-Jackson. “But this decision is a bad one.” “Go Mississippi”, adopted as the state song by Mississippi in 1962, has its roots deep in Mississippi’s past segregationist. This song was a rewrite of the segregationist governor. Ross Barnett’s campaign song “Roll With Ross”, which contained anti-integration lyrics, was presented at a rally in support of Barnett’s fight for integration of the University of Mississippi by James Meredith. Barnett’s campaign song, “Go, Mississippi”, has its lyrics rewritten. Many years ago, efforts were made in the Legislature for a new state tune to be adopted and repealed “Go, Mississippi.” However, they failed many times because legislators couldn’t agree. “Go, Mississippi,” unlike other official songs of states, is not well-known and widely recognized by Mississippians. Former Gov. Former Gov. The directors of the state’s tourism department, the director for the Mississippi Tourism Association, the chairperson of the Senate tourism committee, the director for the Mississippi Arts Commission and the director at the Two Mississippi Museums will head the committee. Horhn stated that it was “ill-conceit” that the director of the Mississippi Tourism Association’s tourism division, the chair of the House tourism committee, the chair of the Senate tourism committee, the director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, and the director of the Two Mississippi Museums will head the committee. The bill will become effective July 1, if Gov. It will take effect on July 1 if Tate Reeves signs it. The bill was approved by 37 votes to 7. Two senators abstained. The House passed the sister bill with a large majority. The bill’s bulk focuses on tourism spending. It will be split primarily among state destination marketing agencies. Around $20 million will be divided among the top 10 destinations in the state. Coastal Mississippi, which includes three counties and is the Gulf Coast bureau that receives the largest portion of federal dollars, will not be affected. A little over $9.5 million has been set aside to be divided among the state’s smaller tourism agencies. Each bureau will receive $250,000. The exact percentage of each bureau will be determined by a formula that takes into account their 2019 marketing expenses.

Brooke Shoultz, a commissioner for Coastal Mississippi, stated that she believes the bureau would be able to receive more than $6million if the bill were signed as it stands. The bill allocates $5 million for non-profit museums, and $5 million to smaller cities that are members of the Mississippi Main Street Association. This bill is similar to Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act spending, which was distributed among tourism groups in 2020. Executive director of the Mississippi Tourism Association, Danielle Morgan, said that “This is, naturally, tremendous.” “We saw how it worked the first time and that’s why Mississippi did better than other destinations. It’s also why Mississippi is still leading in southeast visitor spending.” Mississippi casinos had record-breaking revenues during the COVID-19 recovery. The state’s destinations concentrated on markets within driving distance to capitalize on the flight break that many tourists received.