Sen. Derrick Simmons

Maddy summarySB 2732 requires Mississippi consumer reporting agencies to place a free security freeze on a child’s credit report upon request from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The bill directs health care facilities to provide parents with a form (at their discretion) to authorize this freeze within 10 days of a child’s birth. This applies only to children born in Mississippi health care facilities, creating a new procedure to block access to a child’s credit report before identity theft could occur. The law uses existing federal credit freeze rules (15 USC § 1681c-1) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMississippi Senate Bill 2293 amends the state's student funding formula to increase the weight and multiplier for gifted education funding. It requires that all funds allocated under this revised calculation go directly toward gifted education instruction in schools. The bill also adds seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in career and technical education courses to the calculation for those funds. This change affects all Mississippi public school districts serving students identified as gifted, increasing their per-pupil funding for specialized gifted programs. The bill does not specify the exact new percentage but revises the existing 14.5% weight calculation method.

Maddy summarySB 2886 requires licensed nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and correctional facilities in Mississippi to maintain a fully operational emergency power source with enough fuel to run for at least five days. This power must support medical devices like oxygen machines and maintain comfortable temperatures for residents during outages. The State Department of Health will create these rules and conduct unannounced inspections to ensure compliance, giving facilities 60 days to meet the new standards after rules are finalized. The bill directly affects all such facilities operating under Mississippi's licensing system.

Maddy summarySB 2344 requires students at Mississippi's public colleges and universities to complete a financial literacy course (at least one credit hour) as a graduation requirement, starting fall 2027. The course must cover practical topics like budgeting, debt management, student loans, taxes, and retirement planning, using real-world simulations rather than commercial content. Institutions can deliver the course through various formats (online, embedded in other classes, etc.) and allow prior coursework to satisfy the requirement if it meets standards set by the Board of Trustees or Mississippi Community College Board. This applies to all state institutions of higher learning and community colleges, but does not automatically accept high school financial literacy courses unless they meet postsecondary standards. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2522 creates the UPSKILL Mississippi Grant Program, providing tuition-free access to community college certificate or associate degree programs for Mississippi residents pursuing training in high-demand fields. The program targets occupations identified by Accelerate Mississippi (the state's workforce office) as critical for economic growth, requiring colleges to offer support services like academic advising and career planning. Administered by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, it will launch in phases starting with a 2027 pilot, covering tuition/fees after other aid, plus a $500 annual book stipend, for eligible residents meeting residency, education, and enrollment requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2050 requires political campaigns in Mississippi to clearly disclose when advertisements use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate images, audio, or video content. It applies to any ad for candidates, committees, or ballot measures that uses AI to create visuals or audio, including social media ads and video content. The law mandates specific disclaimers: for audio ads, a 3-second spoken notice; for video, a 4-second on-screen text notice in readable size; and for text/graphic ads, a clear statement in prominent text. Exemptions include bona fide news broadcasts, but failure to disclose can result in civil penalties.

Maddy summarySB 3014 appropriates $1.5 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the City of Clarksdale for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The funds are specifically designated to purchase two maintenance trucks with articulated cranes and one trailer-mounted leaf loader for the city's public works operations. This bill directly affects Clarksdale's municipal budget and infrastructure maintenance capabilities, providing concrete funding for equipment upgrades without altering broader policy. It is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes or legislative provisions beyond the specified equipment and amount.

Maddy summarySB 3357 appropriates $1,000,000 from the State General Fund to Jackson State University (JSU) for infrastructure costs within Mississippi's Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill directly affects JSU by funding specific infrastructure improvements in the CCID, a designated area near the state capitol in Jackson. It provides no new policy changes but allocates existing state funds for this defined purpose, with disbursement handled through the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. The funding becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 3206 appropriates $5 million from Mississippi's General Fund to Coahoma County for railroad track improvements needed to meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) safety standards. The funding covers costs associated with upgrades during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027), specifically to bring the tracks into compliance with federal requirements. This bill directly affects Coahoma County's rail infrastructure by providing state funds for necessary safety-related upgrades.

Maddy summarySB 2579 appropriates $5 million from Mississippi's Small Municipalities Federal Match Fund to the Department of Finance and Administration for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It enables small municipalities receiving discretionary federal funds to access matching state funds by requiring them to contribute 20% of project costs locally while federal funds cover 80%. The bill directs the Department of Finance and Administration to disburse these matching funds to qualifying small municipalities, aiming to help them leverage additional federal resources for local projects. The funds are specifically intended for municipalities that qualify under the state's matching program.