Maddy summarySB 2598 would allow retired Mississippi public school teachers or administrators (who retired at least 90 days ago, hold a valid teaching license, and receive retirement pay) to return to work as teachers while continuing to receive their retirement allowance. It removes the previous 30-year service requirement and permits school districts to pay up to 150% of the standard salary for returning retirees, with 50% of that amount paid directly to the retirement system to offset pension costs. The bill restricts hiring to districts with critical teacher or subject-area shortages, requires district certification of qualifications, and limits total reemployment to five years. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and was never enacted.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2530 (which died in committee on March 4, 2025) would have required all public community colleges and universities in Mississippi to develop mental health emergency response plans by the 2025-2026 school year. These plans would mandate staff training in mental health first aid and CPR, AED placement, annual emergency drills, and sharing mental health resource information with students at orientations and on campus websites. The bill also required institutions to partner with mental health providers to offer low-cost or free services. While the legislation aimed to improve campus mental health support systems, it did not become law.
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 2582 establishes a committee to study how Mississippi allocates sales tax revenue between the state Department of Revenue and local municipalities. The committee will review current practices, assess financial impacts on cities, and evaluate technology and oversight to develop recommendations for fairer revenue distribution. Composed of 11 members - including state officials, legislative leaders, and representatives from both large (over 50,000 residents) and small municipalities - the committee must report findings to the legislature by December 1, 2025. The Department of Revenue must provide staff support, and the committee will dissolve by January 1, 2026, unless extended.
Maddy summarySB 2192 would require Mississippi driver's licenses, permits, and commercial licenses to display the sex assigned at birth, overriding any legal gender changes. It directly affects all license applicants in Mississippi, including transgender individuals who have legally changed their gender. The bill mandates that the license sex field must match the sex recorded at birth, regardless of court orders or legal gender recognition. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and has not become law.
Maddy summarySB 2563 would have increased the maximum percentage of Mississippi's unspent annual General Fund budget that could be diverted to the Working Cash-Stabilization Reserve Fund from 10% to 15%. This change would affect how the state manages its surplus funds at year-end, requiring the Executive Director of Finance and Administration to allocate up to 15% of the annual appropriations to this reserve after funding the Municipal Revolving Fund. The bill, which died in committee on March 4, 2025, did not become law and therefore has no current effect on state budget practices. It was a procedural budget adjustment, not a policy affecting citizens or services.
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 summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 50) passed by the Mississippi Senate to honor Dr. Phyllis Polk Johnson upon her appointment as President of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). It formally recognizes her leadership role in the NCSBN - a national organization representing nursing regulatory bodies across all 50 states - and acknowledges her service as Executive Director of the Mississippi Board of Nursing. The resolution has no policy impact; it is purely symbolic, expressing the Senate’s congratulations and support for her appointment. It was adopted by the Senate on February 27, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 55) honors James Henry Taylor, a Mississippi native and U.S. Army soldier lost when Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappeared during a secret Vietnam War mission on March 16, 1962. It commemorates his service and sacrifice, noting he was among 93 soldiers and 11 crew members whose names were not added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Mississippi Senate adopted the resolution on February 27, 2025, to extend recognition to Taylor and his surviving family. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new policy or affect any laws.
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.