Sen. Michael McLendon

Maddy summarySB 2429 would amend Mississippi law to allow cities and counties to increase monthly pay for local planning commission members beyond the current $500 cap. The bill specifically removes the $500 aggregate monthly limit set in Section 17-1-11, giving local governing authorities discretion to set higher compensation. This change directly affects planning commission members in Mississippi municipalities and counties who currently receive capped payments. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2207 amends state law to increase the maximum jail sentence for sex offenders who fail to register or comply with registration requirements. Specifically, it raises the penalty from "five (5) years" to "five (5) years and one (1) day" for violations of registration laws. The bill directly affects sex offenders required to register under Mississippi law who skip registration, reregistration, or electronic monitoring. It does not change registration requirements but increases criminal penalties for noncompliance. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2092 establishes Mississippi's dedicated Search and Rescue Program under the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate disaster response after natural or man-made emergencies. The bill requires the Office to develop operations, provide administrative support, and manage equipment, training, and facilities for search and rescue teams. It creates a special non-lapsing fund within the state treasury to hold grants, state appropriations, and federal funds for program use, ensuring consistent funding without annual reapproval. The program will operate statewide and coordinate with other states or federal agencies during emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 2150 would require Mississippi public school districts to pay licensed occupational therapists, behavior analysts, and certified school psychologists an annual $6,000 salary supplement plus additional benefits on top of their regular compensation. This applies to these specific professionals working as school employees (not administrators) in public schools. The bill amends existing salary laws to add this mandatory supplement for these licensed roles, building on similar provisions for other specialized staff like National Board-certified teachers. It directly affects school districts and these three categories of licensed school support staff across Mississippi. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2428 requires municipalities seeking to annex or remove territory to hold a vote in the affected area, directly impacting residents in the proposed annexation zone. The bill mandates a 50%+1 majority vote approval from both the annexing municipality and the territory residents, with the municipality covering all election costs. It also requires municipalities to pay all legal fees and court costs if appealing election results, and repeals a prior requirement for annexation petitions to be filed in court. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, after being referred to the Municipalities committee.

Maddy summarySB 2414, a proposed Mississippi bill, would have required health insurance plans (including individual, group, and managed care plans) delivered or renewed after July 1, 2025, to cover nonstatin medications specifically approved for reducing heart attack risk in both primary prevention (preventing first events) and secondary prevention (preventing recurrence) patients. It would have mandated this coverage at the same cost-sharing level (deductibles/coinsurance) as other covered benefits, enforced by the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law, so this requirement has not been implemented. It directly affected insurers operating in Mississippi and patients relying on these nonstatin medications for cardiovascular prevention.

Maddy summarySB 2219, the "Rejecting Racism in Higher Education Act," prohibits Mississippi public and private postsecondary institutions from using state funds or accepting federal funds tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. It bans race-based student tracking, segregation, or differential treatment (except where required by law) and prohibits staff or students from being compelled to support racial preferences or "collective guilt" theories. The bill mandates that institutions lose state funding if they violate these provisions and allows individuals to sue for $1 million in damages. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected all higher education institutions receiving state funding in Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2165 requires Mississippi public schools to allow each teacher to attend any school-sponsored extracurricular event for free, plus bring one guest who also enters for free. It defines "extracurricular" broadly to include athletic games, performances, band contests, school plays, and club activities. The bill, which would have taken effect July 1, 2025, died in the Education Committee on February 4, 2025, and is not law. This policy change would directly affect teachers, their guests, and school event organizers by eliminating entry fees for these attendees.

Maddy summarySB 2048, the "Safeguarding Teens from Out-of-State Procedures Act," makes it a felony for adults to help minors (under 18) obtain abortions or abortion-inducing drugs outside Mississippi without parental consent. Specifically, it criminalizes harboring or transporting a minor within Mississippi for this purpose, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill explicitly states minors cannot be prosecuted and includes exceptions for medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancies. It died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would not affect abortions already permitted under Mississippi law.

Maddy summarySB 2166 would allow Mississippi students with disabilities (as defined by federal IDEA) to earn a Special Mississippi Occupational Diploma by meeting specific requirements set by the State Board of Education. The bill removes previous restrictions that prevented these students from obtaining this diploma and requires the State Board to establish clear criteria for it. This change would provide an alternative graduation pathway focused on job skills for eligible students who cannot meet standard academic requirements.