Maddy summarySB 2778 would authorize Mississippi's Department of Human Services to provide monthly payments to qualifying grandparents who assume primary care of their grandchildren, up to the foster care payment amount, without requiring legal custody or formal placement (if training requirements are met). It would also create a tax credit of up to $2,500 per grandchild per year for qualified care expenses like food, clothing, and housing, which can be carried forward for up to three years if not fully used. These provisions would directly affect Mississippi grandparents legally caring for grandchildren under state law and require specific legislative appropriations for the payments. The bill was introduced in 2025 but did not advance beyond committee.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2709 requires Mississippi nursing homes and assisted living facilities to maintain a fully operational emergency power source with enough fuel to run continuously for at least five days. This applies directly to all licensed facilities in the state, ensuring backup power for medical devices (like oxygen) and climate control during outages. The bill mandates the Mississippi Department of Health to create rules for these standards and conduct unannounced inspections for compliance, giving facilities 60 days to meet requirements after rules are finalized. The bill was referred to the Public Health and Welfare Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, without further action.
Maddy summarySB 2382 exempts the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) from standard public purchasing bidding requirements when spending funds for the United States Semiquincentennial Commission (celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence). The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13 to create this specific exception, meaning the DFA could bypass typical competitive bidding processes for these commission-related expenses. This is a procedural change affecting only DFA spending on this particular commission, not a broader policy shift. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.
Maddy summarySB 2380 is a Mississippi state bill that primarily establishes a development fund for the City of Jackson and modifies gaming-related laws. The bill creates the City of Jackson Development Fund, which will receive additional fees from gaming licenses and provide loans and grants to support new and expanding businesses in the city. It also amends several sections of the Mississippi Gaming Control Act to define terms like "project" and "gaming device" more clearly, and allows legal gaming in establishments that are part of approved projects. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to ensure that if gaming revenue distributed to certain cities or counties falls below historical averages, the state will make up the shortfall. The bill was referred to a committee but ultimately died in committee without further action.
Maddy summarySB 2394 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to include low-income adults who qualify for coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those meeting income criteria typically set at 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill amends Mississippi Code sections 43-13-115 (eligibility) and 43-13-117 (benefits) to add this new category and require essential health benefits for these individuals. This change would directly affect thousands of low-income adults in Mississippi currently uninsured due to the state's lack of Medicaid expansion under the ACA.
Maddy summarySB 2348, the "Responsible Firearm Purchasing Act," prohibits minors (under 18) from purchasing or possessing firearms, handguns, ammunition, or armor-piercing ammunition. It also bans sellers from selling these items to minors. Violations by minors carry misdemeanor penalties (up to $200 fine or 30 days in jail), while adults selling to minors face felony charges (up to $2,000 fine or two years in prison). The bill requires all firearm purchases to comply with federal and state standards and takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThe Mississippi Senate passed Resolution SR 17 to formally recognize Jane Crater Hiatt as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's "Stephen C. Edds" Patron of the Arts Award. This resolution honors her decades-long contributions to Mississippi's arts community through leadership roles, including directing the Mississippi Arts Commission and establishing the Jane Crater Hiatt Artist Fellowship, which provides $20,000 grants to support Mississippi artists' career development. The resolution highlights her advocacy for arts education, diversity in arts programming, and ongoing philanthropy that has strengthened cultural opportunities statewide.
Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band from Coldwater, Mississippi, as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Traditional Arts. It honors their 90-year preservation of Mississippi's fife and drum musical tradition - rooted in African American cultural history - and their community work educating youth through performances and recordings like their 2023 album *Evolution of Fife and Drum*. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no policy changes or direct effects on constituents or government operations. It serves as a symbolic tribute to the band's cultural contributions, as adopted by the Mississippi Senate on January 30, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 15) formally recognizes Jackson, Mississippi musician Eddie Cotton, Jr., as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Music. It acknowledges his career as a Gospel-blues artist, his Mississippi roots, and his national and international performances. The resolution serves solely as a ceremonial tribute from the Mississippi Senate, with no new policies or funding attached. It honors Cotton's contributions to music and Mississippi's cultural heritage through official Senate recognition.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 16) formally recognizes Robert Poore, a Mississippi landscape architect with a 36-year career, as the recipient of the 2025 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Visual Arts and Landscape Architecture. It honors his work designing notable projects like the Crosby Arboretum and Mississippi Art Garden, as well as his contributions to landscape architecture in Mississippi. The resolution serves as a ceremonial tribute from the Mississippi Senate to Poore's professional achievements and community impact.