Sen. Michael McLendon

Maddy summarySB 2272 exempts specific agricultural and logging items from Mississippi's 1.5% state sales tax, including livestock fencing materials and agricultural lime purchased by commercial farmers for farming use. The bill amends tax code sections to remove the 1.5% tax rate for these items and requires the Department of Revenue to create a permit application process for commercial farmers seeking the exemption. This directly affects commercial farmers buying qualifying materials, reducing their tax burden on essential farming supplies. The policy change is a concrete tax adjustment, not a new fee or mandate beyond the sales tax exemption.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution commends the Northwest Mississippi Community College women's basketball team for winning the NJCAA Region 23 Championship during the 2025-2026 season. The bill recognizes the team's achievements, including their 23-8 overall record, strong defensive performance, and historic first national tournament appearance since 2005. It directs that the resolution be presented to the team, their coach, and the college administration, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. This is a ceremonial measure with no policy changes or funding implications.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution congratulates former Mississippi State Senator Bobby Chamberlin on his investiture as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi. The resolution recognizes his judicial career, including his service on the Mississippi Supreme Court and previous roles as a municipal judge and prosecutor. It also notes his confirmation by the U.S. Senate and includes a statement of support from Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. The resolution will be presented at Chamberlin's investiture ceremony and shared with the press.

Maddy summarySB 3076 appropriates $367,353,926 for Mississippi's Office of State Aid Road Construction within the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It specifically allocates $5,351,418 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for 54 authorized staff positions, with strict rules preventing transfers to other budget categories or using funds for promotions/salary increases for current employees. The bill also authorizes up to $500,000 in reimbursements from the Mississippi Development Authority for engineering services provided to local governments. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, focused solely on budget allocation for road construction office operations.

Maddy summarySB 3087 allocates $12.27 million in state funds for Mississippi's Department of Audit to cover salaries and operational expenses during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill specifies $7.89 million from General Funds and $5.06 million from Special Funds, with all funds restricted to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) for 134 authorized positions. It requires strict adherence to the state's Variable Compensation Plan and prohibits using these funds for promotions, salary increases, or replacing federal funds. As a purely procedural appropriations bill, it does not create new policies or directly affect citizens or public offices beyond funding the audit department's mandated oversight work.

Maddy summarySB 2126 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders under Mississippi law from changing their names. This applies to all registered sex offenders in Mississippi, including those convicted of offenses involving force against victims as defined in the law. Violating this ban is a felony punishable by up to $5,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both. The bill amends existing sex offender registration statutes to require registrants to disclose former names and enforce the name change prohibition.

Maddy summarySB 3092 allocates specific funds for existing livestock shows across Mississippi during fiscal year 2027. It provides $1.2 million for the Dixie National Livestock Show, $64,890 for junior livestock events, $30,000 for county shows (capped at $2,000 per county), $65,000 for district shows, and $8,500 for dairy shows. The bill mandates that county show funds require adequate facilities, guarantee minimum prize amounts, and reserve 75% of district/dairy funds for 4-H and school participants. It specifies strict payout rules, including reimbursement requirements and equal prize distribution for comparable livestock classes.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) honoring Mississippi musician Guy Hovis, Jr., who passed away in January 2026. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature's condolences to his surviving family and celebrates his legacy as a musical icon who performed on *The Lawrence Welk Show* for over a decade and contributed to Mississippi's cultural heritage. The resolution formally pays tribute to his life and career without creating any new laws or affecting any policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution (SC 524) honoring Willie Totten and Jerry Rice, whose 1981-1985 partnership at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) revolutionized small-college football as the "Satellite Express." It recognizes Totten's record-setting passing (12,711 yards, 141 TDs) and Rice's historic receiving (4,693 yards, 50 TDs), which propelled Rice to NFL stardom and influenced modern offensive strategies. The resolution specifically commemorates their legacy at MVSU, an HBCU that overcame decades of struggles under Coach Archie Cooley's innovative no-huddle offense. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new policy or affect any current laws.

Maddy summarySB 3102 appropriates $28.9 million total (including $6.05 million from the General Fund and $22.86 million from special funds) for Mississippi's Department of Tourism operations during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It specifically allocates $3.1 million for personnel costs (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) to cover up to 59 authorized positions (56 permanent and 3 time-limited), strictly limiting how these funds can be used. The bill requires the department to maintain detailed financial records matching its FY2026 standards and prohibits exceeding the allocated personnel budget without new legislative approval. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the department’s budget and staffing operations.