Sen. Bart Williams

Maddy summarySB 2796 creates a property right for every individual (living or deceased) in their name, photograph, voice, or likeness, prohibiting commercial use without consent. It directly affects anyone whose image or voice might be used for advertising, fundraising, or products without permission, including deceased individuals (with rights lasting 10 years post-death). Key provisions require prior consent for commercial exploitation, allow civil lawsuits for violations, and classify unauthorized use as a Class A misdemeanor. The law also specifies that using images of "definable groups" (like crowds at events) does not require individual consent, and courts can issue injunctions or seize violative materials.

Maddy summarySB 2293 amends Mississippi's historic preservation law to clarify when demolition permits may be issued for buildings designated as Mississippi Landmarks. It allows permits for abandoned, vacant, or blighted structures (with no current/foreseeable public use) or where restoration costs exceed 50% of the building's replacement value, requiring structural studies from licensed professionals. The bill also mandates that state agencies notify the preservation board before public demolition, construction, or property transfers that could affect historic sites, and requires the state to hire architects/engineers to assess landmark buildings. These changes directly affect public property owners, local governments, and developers working with designated historic structures.

Maddy summarySB 2539 would require school resource officers (SROs) in 12 Mississippi school districts (three per congressional district) during the 2025-2026 school year to serve as student mentors, focusing on academic support and mental health. It mandates new training for SROs through the MCOPS grant program, including specific curriculum on mentoring students and building relationships with schools and families. Starting in 2026-2027, the bill would require the MCOPS program to provide at least one grant per school district for an SRO, regardless of whether the applicant is a school or law enforcement agency. The bill directly affects participating schools, SROs, and the state’s school safety funding program, with a requirement for a legislative report on the pilot program’s results.

Maddy summarySB 2610, the Mississippi Regional Early/Middle College High School Act of 2025, establishes a framework for public high schools located on post-secondary campuses that allow students in grades 9-12 to earn college credits alongside their high school diploma. The bill requires funding to transfer from the state education department to partnering community colleges or universities to support these schools, while prohibiting tuition for most college courses. It mandates enrollment standards, including a lottery system for oversubscribed schools, and requires schools to follow statewide accountability standards and non-discrimination policies. The law directly affects Mississippi students seeking dual credit opportunities, post-secondary institutions hosting these schools, and local school districts partnering with them.

Maddy summarySB 2632 makes Mississippi sheriff elections nonpartisan, prohibiting candidates from campaigning based on political party affiliation and banning political parties from fundraising for, contributing to, or endorsing sheriff candidates. Candidates must file their intent to run 60 days before an election and pay a $100 fee to the county circuit clerk, with ballot listings appearing alphabetically without party labels. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, a runoff election between the top two candidates will be held three weeks later. This bill directly affects all sheriff candidates and the election process for the sheriff's office across Mississippi counties.

Maddy summarySB 2634 would have created an annual "I voted" sticker contest overseen by Mississippi's Secretary of State, open to all Mississippi residents. The contest would have featured four age categories (elementary, middle, high school, and adult), requiring original designs featuring "I voted" without political content, copyrighted material, or AI-generated work. Winners would have been selected through public voting and used as official state voting stickers for two years. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2538, the Mississippi School Safety Act of 2019, would have required public school districts to adopt an "Erin's Law Awareness" policy addressing child sexual abuse (based on a state-developed model) and implement stress-management programs for K-5 students in 12 districts during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The bill would have expanded school safety grants to cover community policing partnerships between schools and law enforcement, mental health screenings by approved screeners, and allowed districts to hire chaplains (with background checks and excluding sex offenders) after a board vote. It would have also shifted threat assessment officer responsibilities to local law enforcement, mandated memorandums of understanding for these roles, and created a council to oversee behavioral support programs for students needing mental health resources.

Maddy summarySB 2595 establishes Mississippi's Educational Counselor, Psychologist and Psychiatrist Loan Repayment Program, providing financial support to eligible mental health professionals working in public schools or colleges. It offers tiered annual loan repayments ($1,500-$6,000) based on school type (regular schools or those needing extra support), plus a specific $6,000 annual salary supplement for licensed school psychologists employed full-time by school districts or the state education board (not as administrators). To qualify, applicants must hold a standard license, work full-time in Mississippi public schools or higher education, have qualifying student loans, and not be in default. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2533 would lower the voter approval threshold for Mississippi school districts to issue bonds from three-fifths (60%) to a simple majority (over 50%) of qualified voters who cast ballots in the election. This change would make it easier for school districts to fund capital projects like building new schools or renovating facilities by requiring fewer votes to approve bond measures. The bill maintains the existing requirement that a petition signed by 20% of qualified electors can trigger a bond election. If an election is held, bonds can only be issued if a majority of participating voters approve them.

Maddy summarySB 2304 exempts renovation, repair, restoration, or improvement projects at Mississippi's State Capitol building and other designated National or State Landmarks from standard state bidding requirements. This means state agencies working on these specific historic sites no longer need to follow the usual competitive bidding processes for construction or service contracts. The bill amends existing procurement laws (Sections 31-7-13 and 27-104-7) to create this exception, directly affecting agencies managing maintenance at these landmark properties. The change simplifies procurement for projects at these culturally significant locations without altering bidding rules for other state projects.