Laura Guillaume

We did it, Mississippi! We just eliminated the income tax! Today is a day that will be remembered — not just for the headlines, not just for the politics, but for the profound, generational change it represents. Today, I was proud to sign into law a complete elimination of the individual income tax in the state of Mississippi. Let me say that again: Mississippi will no longer tax the work, the earnings, or the ambition of its people. This is more than a policy victory. This is a transformation. And it’s a transformation that I have believed in, fought for, and worked toward for many years. From my days as lieutenant governor to my first campaign for this office — and every legislative session since — I have made this my mission. Because I believe in a simple idea: that government should take less so that you can keep more. That our people should be rewarded for hard work, not punished. And that Mississippi has the potential to be a magnet for opportunity, for investment, for talent — and for families looking to build a better life. The legislation I signed puts us in a rare class of elite, competitive states. There are only a handful of states in the country that do not tax income. Today, Mississippi joins their ranks — and in doing so, we plant our flag. We are saying to job creators across America: if you want to build, come to Mississippi. We are saying to families across the South: if you want to grow, come to Mississippi. We are saying to entrepreneurs, to workers, to dreamers: Mississippi is open for business — and we won’t penalize your success. We are going to compete — and we’re going to win. Now, I want to be clear: this didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen alone. This day is the result of years of work by dedicated leaders who shared the vision and had the courage to act. I want to thank Speaker Jason White and Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann. I want to give special thanks to Speaker White because he worked his tail off to get this done. I also want to thank House Ways and Means Chairman Trey Lamar and all the members of the House and Senate who rolled up their sleeves and got this done. We debated. We negotiated. We stayed focused on the goal. And we got it across the finish line — together. To the people of Mississippi: you are the real winners today. This law means more money in your pocket. It means more jobs in your town. It means a future with more opportunity for your children and grandchildren. The work of your hands belongs to you. It is yours — to feed your family and invest in your home and your community. Because that’s what this is ultimately about. Not just numbers on a balance sheet, but lives. Generations from now, when our kids are raising families of their own in a stronger, more prosperous Mississippi, they will look back on this moment and say: this is when we took our shot. This is when we bet on ourselves. This is when we really broke from the pack. This is when we took bold action — and it paid off. There are moments in a state’s history that mark a turning point. A moment where the past gives way to the future. Where we rise above the old ways of doing things — and chart a bold new course… this is one of those moments. The elimination of the income tax is not just a win for our economy. It’s a win for freedom. A win for families. A win for the idea that Mississippi can lead — that we will lead — in the century to come. And I believe with all my heart that we will look back on this day as a turning point, a generational victory, and a proud legacy we leave for those who come after us.