JACKSON — Lincoln County Sen. Jason Barrett introduced a bill in the Mississippi legislature to supplement school bus driver salaries. His bill was one of several introduced dealing with education Monday. 

Under Senate Bill 2169, school bus drivers for public school districts would receive $5,000 in a salary supplement each school year. School boards would be authorized and directed to pay the supplement to school bus drivers. 

If passed, the bill would become law on July 1, 2025. It was referred to the education committee. 

Moving kratom

Barrett additionally introduced a bill which would make kratom a Schedule III drug under the Uniform Controlled Substance Act. SB2214 would classify “any material, compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of mitragynine, commonly known as kratom, (7 hydroxymitragynine) or its salts, isomers, salts of isomers, sulfate, free acid or derivative thereof,” as a Schedule III drug. 

Schedule III drugs often have a lower potential for dependence and abuse than Schedule I or II drugs. Ketamine, testosterone, anabolic steroids and products containing 90 milligrams of codeine per dosage are examples of Schedule III drugs. 

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Kratom is a tropical tree native to southeast Asia and consumption of its leaves produce stimulant effects in low doses and sedative effects in higher doses. It is classified as a drug of concern by the DEA. The bill was referred to Judiciary Division B.