Monday marked the deadline for filing legislation in the Mississippi Senate, and Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, spent the greater part of last week amending critical measures.

She submitted roughly 30 bills for congressional consideration, but she only expects four or so to make it through the entire legislative process.

“Around 3,000 bills are filed in the House and Senate each year, and around 300 actually are signed into law by the governor,” she said.

Legislation is usually modified by both chambers of Congress before reaching the executive desk, and measures like the recently debated House Bill 722 typically receive a great deal of consideration before coming to a vote.

The House of Representatives endorsed the bill Thursday, but HB 722 still awaits senatorial approval. If signed into law, it would divert roughly $180 million in use-tax revenue to the restoration of Mississippi roads and bridges.

“HB 722 was a good deal,” Rep. Vince Mangold, R-Brookhaven. “It passed the House unanimously, and no new taxes were created in the process.”

Mangold believes the measure might undergo a slight adjustment once it hits the Senate floor, but he hopes the upper chamber will give HB 722 proper deliberation before making any unnecessary changes.

“It may have to be tweaked a little, but it’s a really great start,” he said.

As vice-chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Mangold plans to spend the majority of the coming week occupied by board meetings, and he said he looks forward to getting down to business.

Likewise, Doty’s calendar seems to be tightly packed for the foreseeable future, but she said she is always willing to make time for her constituents.

“It’s good to see faces from home at the Capitol,” she said.