Sen. Michael McLendon

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the joint Senate Rules and House Management Committees to reassign fourth-floor office space in the Mississippi Capitol Building. Specifically, it aims to take space currently reserved for the press and divide it equally between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The legislation relies on existing laws that grant the legislature authority to allocate office space within the new Capitol building. Although the bill was referred to the Rules Committee in January 2024, it did not advance and died in committee by May 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Senate rules to restrict access to the floor and gallery for news media members during legislative sessions. It requires journalists to have proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee to take photographs or transcribe debates, while also banning food consumption and the display of banners or signs in these areas. Additionally, the bill tightens general visitor restrictions by clarifying who is allowed on the Senate floor and mandating that the Sergeant-at-Arms clear the chamber thirty minutes before sessions begin. Although the measure was referred to the Rules Committee in January 2024, it did not advance and died in committee in May 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Mississippi Adequate Education Program by changing how the base cost of educating a student is calculated and how funds are distributed to school districts. It requires the base student cost to increase annually by 25% of the previous year's cost, adjusted for inflation, while also mandating that 90% of state contributions be spent on teacher salaries and classroom resources rather than administrative roles. The legislation sets specific rules for funding charter schools, requiring them to return prorated funds if students return to their home districts, and ensures that no district receives less state funding in 2025 than it did in 2024. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the formula used to determine the amount of money each school district receives to support its students.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Tort Claims Board, and the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women for the 2025 fiscal year. It authorizes specific permanent and time-limited job positions within the Department of Finance and Administration and the Tort Claims Board while establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of current employees. The legislation also includes provisions requiring that general funds not replace withdrawn federal money and ensuring compliance with tax reporting requirements for contract workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Development Authority for the fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes specific amounts from the State General Fund and the State Treasury to finance the agency's activities, including economic development, community grants, and tourism promotion. Additionally, the bill sets limits on new employee positions and salary increases while establishing performance targets for job creation and business recruitment. It also designates specific portions of the funding for tourism advertising and the operation of state welcome centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $463 million in state funds to support and maintain the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the fiscal year 2025. The legislation allocates specific amounts from both the General Fund and a special fund to cover operational costs, staffing, and services across various facilities, including central offices, regional prisons, community corrections, and private prison contracts. Key provisions authorize a total of 2,279 permanent and time-limited positions and set spending limits for areas such as medical services, farming operations, and local confinement centers. Additionally, the bill includes restrictions requiring that vacancy funds be used exclusively to hire new staff rather than for salary increases or promotions for existing employees.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Act establishes new state laws in Mississippi that require public schools and universities to maintain separate restrooms, changing facilities, and student housing spaces for males and females. Under this legislation, these areas must be designated exclusively for one sex or configured as single-occupant or family-use rooms with secure locks to ensure privacy. The law also restricts entry into these spaces, allowing access only for specific reasons such as assisting young children, responding to emergencies, or performing official government duties. Additionally, the bill defines terms like "female" and "male" based solely on biological sex determined at birth and mandates that social fraternities and sororities on public land adhere to these single-sex housing definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for the fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes the hiring of a specific number of permanent and temporary staff members and establishes strict rules to prevent salary increases for current employees unless new funding is approved. Additionally, the bill allocates money to support various disaster relief programs, including assistance for victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and the pandemic. These funds are designated for administrative costs and state contributions to public assistance, individual grants, and mitigation efforts related to numerous past and ongoing disasters.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12,799,648 from the state treasury to fund the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance for fiscal year 2025. The funding supports 86 permanent staff positions and includes strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of current employees, ensuring money is only used to fill vacant roles. Additionally, the legislation mandates that if multiple bids are equal in price and quality, the state must give preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or services. The bill also requires the department to maintain detailed financial records and prohibits using general funds to replace any withdrawn federal or special funds.

Maddy summarySB 3036 appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce for fiscal year 2025. The bill allocates nearly $10 million from the State General Fund and approximately $19.6 million from special source funds, which include fees from publications and museum admissions, to support various divisions such as plant industry, fair commissions, and the livestock coliseum. A significant portion of the funding is designated for staffing, authorizing a permanent workforce of 219 positions and a time-limited workforce of 13, while also establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions. Additionally, the legislation sets aside specific amounts for the Beaver Control Program and the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, and it outlines performance targets for areas like pesticide inspections and museum attendance.