Sen. Michael McLendon

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 33), not a bill with policy changes. It formally commends the Mississippi Forestry Commission for its 100th anniversary, recognizing its century of service in wildfire protection, forest management, and supporting Mississippi's forest-based economy. The resolution has no legal effect or direct impact on any individuals, landowners, or policies - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation. The Senate will present it to the Commission and share it with state officials.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 32) formally commends the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Softball Team and head coach Matt Harrison for winning the MAIS 4A Division I State Softball Championship in 2025. It specifically recognizes their championship victory (a 6-4 Game 3 win over Parklane Academy) and their playoff path (including an 8-1 win and 12-0 shutout). The resolution serves as a ceremonial gesture of recognition, addressed to the team, coach, school leadership, and sponsors, with no associated policy changes or legal effect. It directly honors the team's athletic achievement without impacting any laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 2113, the "Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry Act," would create a public online registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence with at least one prior conviction. It directly affects repeat offenders who have been convicted of domestic violence at least twice (once for the current offense and one prior). Key provisions include requiring courts to send offender details to the Department of Public Safety for registry inclusion (with public access to names, birthdates, and photos but not addresses), setting removal timelines based on prior convictions (5 to 20 years after the most recent conviction), and imposing a $150 fee per offender with $100 directed to the Victims of Domestic Violence Fund. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law.

Maddy summarySB 2100 would require Mississippi public schools to provide free admission for each teacher and one guest to attend any school-sponsored extracurricular event. The bill defines such events to include athletic games, school plays, band competitions, and club activities. It applies to all voluntary school-sanctioned activities and would take effect on July 1, 2026. This policy change directly affects teachers and their invited guests at Mississippi public schools.

Maddy summarySB 2261 would establish Mississippi's statewide Search and Rescue Program under the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security. The program would coordinate disaster response efforts after natural or man-made disasters, requiring the Office to develop policies, provide administrative support, and manage personnel and equipment. It would create a dedicated fund within the state treasury (using grants, state/federal funds) to cover equipment, training, and facilities, with unspent funds not lapsing into general state funds. This bill, which died in committee in February 2026, proposed a structural framework for emergency response coordination but did not directly affect individual citizens.

Maddy summarySB 2248 would require Mississippi public school districts to provide an annual salary supplement of $6,000 plus fringe benefits to licensed occupational therapists, behavior analysts, and school psychologists employed as school employees. This supplement would be added to their base salary under existing pay scales, directly affecting these specific licensed professionals in Mississippi schools. The bill amends Section 37-19-7 of the Mississippi Code to include these roles in the current salary supplement framework, which previously covered positions like National Board-certified teachers and school nurses. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2247 (Education Leadership Accountability Act) would have created a formal process for removing Mississippi school board members who violate their duties, including neglecting safety responsibilities, breaching public trust, or abusing authority. It required school boards to formally recommend removal to local governing authorities, triggered a 30-day response period for the accused member, and mandated a hearing with a majority vote by the governing body to approve removal. The bill also amended existing law to include chronic absenteeism from board meetings as grounds for removal. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2254 would have banned geoengineering activities in Mississippi by defining "geoengineering" as intentionally releasing chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather, temperature, or sunlight. It would have prohibited such activities statewide and granted the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality authority to issue enforcement orders and impose penalties for violations. The bill directly affected entities or individuals attempting atmospheric interventions within Mississippi, including private companies or government entities. The legislation never became law, as it died in committee on February 3, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Mississippi local governments from charging a processing fee when residents pay property taxes (ad valorem taxes) using a debit card. It directly affects property taxpayers who choose debit card payments and local tax collectors who collect these taxes. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban such fees for debit card payments on property taxes, while allowing processing fees for other payment methods like credit cards or for non-property tax payments (e.g., fines or fees). The law would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but the bill died in committee before passing.

Maddy summarySB 2246 raises Mississippi's minimum teacher salary scale by $8,000 for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. It directly affects all public school teachers in Mississippi by increasing their base pay according to a revised salary schedule that applies to all experience levels and license types. The bill amends existing law to set new minimum annual salaries, ranging from $53,500 for entry-level teachers with no experience to over $79,000 for those with 35+ years of experience. This change applies uniformly across all public school districts without requiring additional approval for individual teachers. The increase is effective starting the 2026-2027 school year.