Sen. Josh Harkins

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the minimum salary for Mississippi public school teachers and assistant teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, establishing specific pay scales based on experience and license type (e.g., $43,500 for entry-level teachers with certain licenses). It requires school districts to maintain or increase local supplements and not pay assistant teachers below the state minimum salary, with potential funding reductions for violations. Additionally, the bill mandates a $2,000 annual salary increase for all full-time faculty at Mississippi's state colleges and universities.

Maddy summarySB 2480 directs the State Fiscal Officer to transfer $265 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Capacity Project Fund upon the bill's effective date. This transfer specifically funds transportation infrastructure projects (known as "capacity projects") included in the Mississippi Department of Transportation's Three-Year Plan, as defined under existing law. The bill amends Section 65-1-141.2 to clarify that unspent funds in the Capacity Project Fund do not lapse into the general state fund, and earnings from the fund remain within it. The bill does not create new policy but reallocates existing state funds for transportation project financing.

Maddy summarySB 2479, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (referred to as "dental carriers") to calculate and report annually how much of their premium revenue is spent directly on patient care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file detailed reports by June 30 each year, including data matching federal standards, and make these reports publicly accessible online by December 1. The law applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi, excluding Medicaid and state-sponsored programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. This transparency measure aims to clarify where premium dollars go, allowing consumers and regulators to review carrier spending patterns.

Maddy summarySB 2613 creates a dedicated "PERS Tier 5 COLA Account" within Mississippi's public employee retirement system. It requires the State Treasurer to transfer $5 million annually from the State General Fund to this account on July 1 each year, beginning July 1, 2026, and continuing through July 1, 2035. The funds are designated for "additional annual benefit" payments specifically for Tier 5 retirees under the PERS system. This bill directly affects current and future Tier 5 public employee retirees by establishing a funding mechanism for their cost-of-living adjustments. The transfer schedule and account management are explicitly defined by the bill's provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2830 revises Mississippi's requirements for becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). It mandates that applicants pass all sections of the Uniform CPA Exam and meet specific experience thresholds (1 year for most pathways, 2 years for those with only a bachelor's degree) before receiving a license. The bill also updates rules for out-of-state CPAs seeking practice privileges in Mississippi to align with these revised education, exam, and experience standards. These changes directly affect new CPA applicants and licensed professionals from other states wishing to practice in Mississippi. The bill exempts those licensed before January 1, 2012, from the new requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2894 requires counties and municipalities to return unspent funds and interest earned from local improvement projects to the Capital Expense Fund. Unspent funds must be returned within 30 days of the bill's effective date if no project agreement (memorandum of understanding) was executed, or within three years of the agreement's execution (with a possible six-month extension), while interest must be returned within 30 days. If a local government fails to return funds, the state will withhold future payments under Section 27-65-75 until the amount is recovered and transferred to the Capital Expense Fund. This applies to funds initially disbursed under Chapter 102, Laws of 2021, for local improvement projects.

Maddy summarySB 2580 would have established the Mississippi Department of Emergency Management within the state's executive branch to consolidate all emergency management functions under one agency. It would have transferred existing units like the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Communications Authority into this new department, led by a Governor-appointed Executive Director. The bill aimed to streamline coordination of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across state agencies. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would authorize Mississippi's State Department of Health to select a consortium (composed of a drug developer, university, and hospital) to conduct clinical trials using ibogaine. The goal is to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for ibogaine as a treatment for opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorders, and other neurological or mental health conditions. The consortium must submit a detailed proposal outlining trial design, FDA coordination, and securing non-state matching funds before receiving state funding. If approved by the FDA, the bill requires ibogaine treatment to be administered under physician supervision in a hospital or licensed healthcare facility.

Maddy summarySB 2897 established the State-Managed Disaster Assistance Program, creating a state-run disaster fund administered by Mississippi’s Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to cover preparedness, response, and recovery costs. The bill created a dedicated trust fund in the state treasury for state-funded disaster assistance, allowing MEMA to allocate up to $20 million annually to state agencies (like transportation or the National Guard) for emergency work without waiting for federal aid. It requires the director to request funds based on damage assessments, ensures unspent funds roll over yearly, and mandates annual reports to the legislature. The bill died in the Appropriations Committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 3165 authorizes $81 million in state general obligation bonds for Mississippi economic development programs. It increases funding limits for multiple existing funds, including $20 million for site development grants to municipalities, $20 million for port/airport revitalization, $25 million for business investment loans, and smaller increases for equipment grants, highway projects, and economic impact initiatives. These bonds directly support local governments, counties, and public infrastructure projects like port facilities, equipment purchases, and economic growth efforts. The bill extends the deadline for one fund until July 2029 and amends several sections of Mississippi law to implement these bond authorizations.