Sen. Neil Whaley

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,900,000 from Mississippi's General Fund to Marshall County for the fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It directly funds preliminary studies to evaluate potential highway infrastructure improvements within the county. The funds cover costs associated with planning and analysis, not construction or final projects. The bill is purely a funding measure for feasibility studies, with no policy changes or obligations beyond the specified study period.

Maddy summarySB 2851 expands Mississippi's income tax credit program by revising the definition of "eligible charitable organization" to include 501(c)(3) nonprofits that raise funds for Section 529 college savings programs specifically for children of Mississippi county sheriff's department or municipal police department employees. This change allows businesses making cash donations to these organizations to claim a tax credit against state income or property taxes, limited to 50% of their tax liability. The bill directly affects Mississippi businesses (corporations, LLCs, partnerships) donating to qualifying charities and benefits police/sheriff department employees by supporting their children's education through 529 plans. It does not alter existing tax credit rules for other charitable contributions or add new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 44 is a symbolic resolution expressing Mississippi's support for strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Taiwan. It does not create new laws or programs but formally encourages the state to support U.S.-Taiwan trade (noting $201.1 billion in 2025 trade), advocate for Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the WHO, and establish a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan. The resolution also supports a U.S.-Taiwan tax agreement and counters efforts by China to limit Taiwan's global engagement. As a non-binding expression of support, it directly affects Mississippi's diplomatic posture but does not impose new obligations or changes to existing policies.

Maddy summarySB 2639 requires anyone operating a crawfish farm in Mississippi to obtain a license from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC). It directly affects crawfish farmers who raise crawfish in privately owned ponds or waters, mandating they apply for this license before farming. The bill directs MDAC to create rules for issuing and overseeing these licenses, which will take effect on July 1, 2026. This establishes a regulatory framework for crawfish farming operations within the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 37) formally recognizes Abbey Harty of Edam, Saskatchewan, as Miss Rodeo Canada 2026 and welcomes her to Mississippi for the Dixie National Livestock and Rodeo Show. It does not create any new laws or policies; instead, it expresses the Mississippi Senate's recognition of Harty's role as Canada's official rodeo representative. The resolution highlights her background as a rodeo athlete, healthcare worker, and student pursuing nursing, but the measure itself has no binding effect beyond ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 38 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Brinkley Boswell of Star, Mississippi, as "Miss Rodeo Mississippi 2026" for her role in promoting rodeo, agriculture, and western culture. It formally honors her during the Dixie National Livestock and Rodeo Show and will be presented to her, shared with the Commissioner of Agriculture, and distributed to the press. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 39) is a ceremonial recognition of Olivia Favero as Miss Rodeo America 2026. It formally welcomes her to Mississippi for the Dixie National Livestock and Rodeo Show and acknowledges her recent title win, educational background, and community involvement. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves only as a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the Mississippi Senate. It directly affects Olivia Favero as the honoree, with no broader impact on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a repealer provision that would have eliminated existing weight limits and route approval requirements for vehicles transporting agricultural products under harvest permits. It preserves current rules allowing up to 88,000 pounds for permitted vehicles (with a 10% tolerance) and requiring prior route approval for certain haulers. These provisions directly affect farmers, timber transporters, and companies moving materials like crops, woodchips, and construction materials. The change maintains existing standards without altering permitted weights or routing procedures.

Maddy summarySB 2391 would have extended Mississippi's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act to cover firetrucks purchased by public fire departments. It defined "public vehicle" as firetrucks and "public consumer" as paid or volunteer fire departments operating under government contracts. The bill amended the law to include these entities within existing warranty protections, ensuring fire departments could seek replacements or refunds for defective firetrucks under the same terms as private vehicle buyers. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2655 would allow private landowners in Mississippi to use locally grown agricultural products (like corn, soybeans, or alfalfa) as supplemental deer feed year-round, regardless of whether their land is within a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone. This directly affects private landowners who hunt deer and use permitted feed products, removing a previous restriction that required such feeding to occur outside CWD zones. The bill also requires the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to study the program’s impacts on deer populations, habitat, and hunting success, with annual reports to the legislature. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance to become law.