Sen. Bart Williams

Maddy summarySB 2596 extends the operation of Mississippi's K-12 and Postsecondary Mental Health Task Force for one additional year, moving its final report deadline from October 1, 2024, to October 1, 2025. The task force, established to study student mental health challenges across schools and colleges, will continue analyzing data, assessing current resources and training programs, and developing recommendations to improve mental health services. This extension does not change the task force's composition or responsibilities but provides additional time for its work. The task force, made up of education officials, mental health experts, and school personnel, will dissolve after submitting its final report to the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 2471 limits liability for government entities (like counties and municipalities) and commercial businesses if they adopt cybersecurity programs aligned with nationally recognized standards, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. It creates a "rebuttable presumption" against liability for compliant entities, meaning plaintiffs must prove non-compliance with these standards to override the protection. The law requires documentation of compliance and shifts the burden of proof to the plaintiff in lawsuits, though it does not create new private lawsuits for non-compliance. This bill applies to entities handling personal information and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySR 65 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Mississippi Senate to honor Hinds County Deputy Sheriff Martin Shields, Jr., who died in the line of duty on February 23, 2025. The resolution extends the Senate's "sincerest sympathy" to his surviving family - including his wife, daughter, and parents - and commends his law enforcement career. It has no policy provisions or financial impact; it is purely symbolic, expressing condolences and acknowledging his service. The Senate formally adopted the resolution on February 27, 2025, and will present it to his family and the Hinds County Sheriff's Office.

Maddy summarySB 2810 proposed exempting grocery purchases from Mississippi's state sales tax on the Saturday or Sunday immediately preceding Thanksgiving. This would directly affect grocery shoppers in Mississippi during that specific weekend, eliminating the 7% sales tax on food items like bread, milk, and produce. The bill would have amended Mississippi's tax code to add this temporary exemption to existing grocery tax exemptions. It did not change other tax rules or apply to non-grocery items. (Note: The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SC 502), not a policy bill. It formally expresses the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of John J. Fraiser, Jr., a former state senator, presiding judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and WWII veteran who died in July 2024. The resolution commends his decades of public service, including establishing the Mississippi Court of Appeals and authoring education-related legislation. It has no policy impact or effect on any individuals or laws.

Maddy summarySR 47 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Mississippi Senate to congratulate Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown on winning Super Bowl LVII. The resolution recognizes Brown as a former Starkville High School Yellow Jackets player and Ole Miss Rebel who led the Eagles to victory in the 2025 Super Bowl. It formally extends the Senate's congratulations to Brown, his family, and his alma maters (Starkville High School and Ole Miss), without creating any new laws or affecting policy. The resolution was adopted on February 20, 2025, following its referral to the Rules Committee.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) expressing the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of Edwin Lloyd Pittman, a former Mississippi public servant. It honors his service as Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Attorney General, Secretary of State, two-term State Senator, and Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard. The resolution recognizes his career spanning multiple branches of state government and his efforts to improve judicial transparency and access to justice. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, serving solely as a formal tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SC 506) is a concurrent resolution expressing the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to the surviving family of former State Senator Nickey Reed Browning of Pontotoc, Mississippi, following his death on October 29, 2024. It commends his 24-year service in the Senate, his community leadership, and his role as a longtime coach for the Pontotoc Red Sox American Legion Baseball team. The resolution formally extends condolences and recognizes his contributions to Pontotoc and Union Counties. As a commemorative measure, it does not create any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryBill SC 504 is a commemorative resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's deepest sympathy to the family of Charles James Pittman, a former Mississippi State Senator and former staff member to Governor Haley Barbour. The resolution also commends his decades of public service, including founding the "MS Singing Senators" and his dedication to Mississippi communities. It honors his legacy of ethics, community involvement, and service to the state, as detailed in the resolution's preamble. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but serves as a formal tribute.

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's sympathy to the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey, a National Republican Committee Woman and community leader from Louisville, Mississippi, following her death on November 7, 2024. The resolution commends her service, including her work as Mississippi Federation of Republican Women President, her advocacy for disability access on the Institutions of Higher Learning board, and her decades of community involvement. This resolution has no policy effect - it solely expresses the Senate’s condolences and acknowledges her life’s contributions. It was adopted by the Senate on February 17, 2025.