Sen. Bart Williams

Maddy summarySB 3076 appropriates $367,353,926 for Mississippi's Office of State Aid Road Construction within the Department of Transportation for fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It specifically allocates $5,351,418 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits) for 54 authorized staff positions, with strict rules preventing transfers to other budget categories or using funds for promotions/salary increases for current employees. The bill also authorizes up to $500,000 in reimbursements from the Mississippi Development Authority for engineering services provided to local governments. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, focused solely on budget allocation for road construction office operations.

Maddy summarySB 3103 reappropriates unspent funds from Mississippi's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to specific state agencies for existing programs in fiscal year 2027. It allocates $16.1 million to the Office of Workforce Development for job training, $110 million to the Department of Environmental Quality for water infrastructure grants, and smaller amounts to the Department of Finance and Administration for tourism marketing and the State Department of Health for pandemic response programs. All funds must come from unexpended balances as of June 30, 2026, and cannot change the original purpose of the funds. This bill does not create new programs but extends existing uses of previously authorized recovery funds.

Maddy summarySB 3100 appropriates $371.8 million from Mississippi's General Fund to cover bank service charges and pay principal/interest on state bonds due between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. It also allocates $51.3 million from special funds for general obligation bonds and $41.7 million for revenue bonds maturing in fiscal 2027. The bill ensures timely payments to bondholders by directing the State Treasurer to disburse funds from specified accounts as scheduled. This is a routine funding measure for existing debt obligations, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution commends the Starkville High School Boys Basketball Team and their first-year coach, Anthony Carlyle, for winning the 2026 Class 7A State Championship. The resolution formally recognizes the team's comeback victory against Germantown High School, where they overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to win 40-36. It highlights the achievements of individual players and coaches, including MVP Jerwan McCarter and Coach Carlyle's seventh state championship as a head coach. The document serves as an official acknowledgment of the team's success and extends congratulations to the school, community, and supporters.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution commends the Starkville High School Girls Basketball Team and Coach Matt Wilbanks for winning the 2026 MHSAA Class 7A State Championship. The resolution recognizes the team's achievement of securing their sixth state title in school history and highlights key details from their championship game performance. It formally presents the resolution to the coaching staff and school administration while making the document available to the press. This is a ceremonial acknowledgment rather than a policy change, serving to honor the team's accomplishment.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the life and legacy of Robert H. 'Bob' Dunlap, a Mississippi businessman and philanthropist who passed away on January 11, 2026. The resolution formally recognizes Dunlap's contributions as the former CEO of Dunlap & Kyle Co., a major tire distributor, and acknowledges his extensive charitable work including scholarships, community support, and conservation efforts. It extends the Senate's sympathy to Dunlap's family and directs the resolution to be presented to his surviving family, the city of Batesville, and the Capitol Press Corps.

Maddy summarySB 2526 creates the Mississippi Rural Water Oversight Committee to supervise rural water providers. It requires these providers to conduct rate and capacity studies by December 1, 2027 (and every five years after), develop asset management plans by the same deadline, and implement rate changes based on approved studies. The committee will set rules for these studies, maintain a list of approved study providers, and require financially struggling providers to submit improvement plans before receiving state aid. This bill directly affects rural water systems in Mississippi by establishing new compliance deadlines and oversight procedures for their operations and finances.

Maddy summarySB 2096 requires Mississippi's Department of Information and Technology Services (MDITS) and the Secretary of State to establish minimum cybersecurity standards for the Statewide Elections Management System (SEMS) by January 1, 2027. These standards aim to protect voter registration data and election integrity, directly affecting county registrars and election commissioners who use the SEMS. The bill mandates policies for system security, regular adherence assessments, confidentiality of data, and grants the State Auditor authority to review compliance. It also allows MDITS and the Secretary of State to request internal assessment results if needed.

Maddy summarySB 2310 gives Mississippi's Public Service Commission (PSC) the authority to cancel a municipality's water service certificate if it provides inadequate service beyond its city limits (more than one mile outside boundaries). The bill amends state law to allow the PSC to find service inadequate and then petition a court to place the system under a court-appointed manager (receiver) to restore service. This directly affects municipalities operating water systems outside their corporate boundaries that fail to meet service standards. The law, effective July 1, 2026, aims to ensure reliable water service for customers in these extended areas by enabling the PSC to intervene when necessary.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.