Sen. Angela Turner-Ford

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 summarySB 2704 creates a new option for professional and trade associations in Mississippi (like groups of doctors, lawyers, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority, rather than Mississippi’s insurance laws. These plans must meet specific requirements, including operating for three years without insurance as their primary purpose, being nonprofit, and maintaining proper reserves. The bill requires clear written notices to members that these plans are not regulated by Mississippi’s Insurance Department, not covered by the state’s guaranty association, and have no state oversight on costs or benefits. This provides additional health coverage choices for association members while exempting these plans from most Mississippi insurance regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally commends Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Milton Williams, Jr. for receiving the Northern Region Special Agent Citation. It recognizes his law enforcement career and community leadership, including founding the nonprofit organizations Men United and Women United to support youth in the Mississippi Delta. The resolution also highlights his family legacy in law enforcement and his service as a mentor and public servant. This is a ceremonial document that does not create new laws or change policy.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 50 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Castro "Mr. Sipp" Coleman, a McComb, Mississippi-based gospel and blues artist, for his musical contributions. It formally honors his career as a Grammy-winning guitarist with the Williams Brothers, his 2025 Blues Music Awards B.B. King Entertainer of the Year win, and his role as a Mississippi music ambassador. The resolution does not create new laws or provide funding - it solely offers symbolic recognition of his achievements in blues and gospel music. It directly affects no individuals or policies, serving only to celebrate his cultural impact.

Maddy summarySB 2018 creates the Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program, which reimburses actively drilling Mississippi National Guard members for their Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The program applies to members eligible for Tricare Reserve Select coverage who are not covered by another employer, with reimbursements paid at the current "Tricare Reserve Select - Member only" rate. The Adjutant General administers the program, requiring legislative funding each year and annual reports starting in 2026 to assess its impact on medical readiness and participation. This policy directly affects National Guard members by reducing their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, aiming to support retention and readiness.

Maddy summarySB 2117 adds 13 specific substances - including multiple fentanyl variants like acetyl fentanyl, beta-methyl fentanyl, and others - to Mississippi's Schedule I controlled substances list. It also creates a broad category covering fentanyl-related substances with structural modifications (e.g., changes to the phenethyl group or piperidine ring). This classification means these substances are deemed to have no legitimate medical use and a high potential for harm under Mississippi law. The bill directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or using these substances within Mississippi, subjecting them to stricter state penalties.

Maddy summarySB 2056 automatically adds to Mississippi's controlled substances schedules any psilocybin-based pharmaceutical product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and scheduled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This applies directly to pharmaceutical companies developing such products and state law enforcement handling them under existing penalties. The bill requires the state to mirror federal scheduling immediately upon federal action, with the automatic status lasting until the next legislative session or until state law is amended. It also updates Section 41-29-111 to remove outdated references to pandemic-related provisions. The bill does not change Mississippi's scheduling process for substances not federally scheduled.

Maddy summarySB 2118 requires Mississippi county sheriffs to include specific details about people awaiting trial in their jail dockets, such as full name, age, race, sex, arresting agency, charges, bond amount, and indictment date. Sheriffs must submit this updated monthly docket to county boards of supervisors via the chancery clerk before each board meeting. The bill directly affects county sheriffs (who must collect and submit the data) and county boards (who must review the dockets). It aims to standardize and increase transparency in pretrial detention records.

Maddy summarySB 2191 revises Mississippi law to allow municipalities and counties to use a special fund from use tax revenue for specific infrastructure projects. The fund can cover repairs to roads, bridges, water systems, and sewer infrastructure, as well as debt payments for these projects, but cannot be used for salaries, administrative costs, or personal equipment. Municipalities must meet a minimum spending requirement on eligible projects (based on past spending adjusted for inflation) to receive full funding, with allocations split equally among all municipalities plus portions based on population and past sales tax revenue. Unspent funds carry over to the next fiscal year without lapsing into the general fund.

Maddy summarySB 3044 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to help Clay County cover costs for overlaying Waverly Road (a road reconstruction project). The bonds would be repaid using state funds if needed, with the state pledging full credit for repayment. Clay County's Board of Supervisors would directly receive these funds to pay for the specific road project. This bill provides a financing mechanism for local infrastructure work without changing road standards or traffic rules.