Elected in a special election in 2017, Senator Joel Carter was sworn into office on January 4, 2018. He is currently serving his second term, representing areas of Gulfport and Biloxi in Harrison County, Mississippi. Joel has four children: Garrett, Georgia, Joel, III and Sophia. Joel serves on eight Senate committees and is Chairman of the Mississippi State Senate Energy committee. His other committee assignments are Corrections, Finance, Highways and Transportation, Investigate State Offices, Labor, Ports and Marine Resources and Tourism.

Joel is in his 6th year of service to the State. Other positions he has held include Mississippi State Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council from 2021-2022; Vice Chairman of The Energy Council from 2022-2023; and Chairman of The Energy Council Executive Committee Member of The Southern States Energy Board.

Senator Joel Carter has worked hard to get things done for Mississippians by passing major legislation into law. In 2019, he authored and passed Senate Bill 2835, the Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act. This legislation provides occupational cancer benefits to first responders that develop cancer while on the job. Mississippi was 1 of only 2 States not to offer the coverage before this law was passed.

In 2020, Senator Carter authored and passed Senate Bill 3046, the Mississippi Electric Cooperatives Broadband COVID-19 Act. This landmark legislation provides 75 million dollars in CARES Act funds from the federal government to provide rural broadband to unserved and under-served areas in Mississippi. This is a grant program with a 50/50 match and provides a 150-million-dollar investment in rural broadband. With the country changing in respect to telemedicine and distanced learning, it is imperative that all Mississippians have access to reliable internet service.

In 2021, Senator Carter authored and passed Senate Bill 2798 to authorize rate-regulated electric utilities to permit broadband provider use of the electric delivery system. This gives Mississippi Power and Entergy the ability to lease dark fiber to internet service providers. In 2023, Senator Carter authored and passed Senate Bills 2140 and 2341. Senate Bill 2140, National Security on State Devices and Networks Act, prevents apps like TikTok on State owned devices and networks. It also gives the State the ability to identify and ban other applications that jeopardize national security. Senate Bill 2341 prevents 3rd party contractors from coming in from out of State to build out transmission infrastructure without adhering to the Public Service Commission guidelines. This protects ratepayers from sudden rate hikes. Senator Carter continues his service to the people of Mississippi with sincere gratitude to the voters who elected him.