Sen. Bradford Blackmon

Maddy summarySB 2054 would standardize removal petition requirements for three county offices in Mississippi, requiring petitions to collect signatures from at least 30% of qualified electors in the relevant district. It directly affects county supervisors, justice court judges, and constables by replacing varying existing signature thresholds with a uniform 30% requirement for removal petitions. The bill specifies that petitions must include a concise statement of grounds (under 200 words) for the removal demand. This is a procedural change to election rules, not a substantive policy shift, and would have taken effect July 1, 2026, though it died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2123 requires background checks for firearm transfers at gun shows when the seller is not a licensed dealer. It mandates that non-dealer sellers arrange for a licensed dealer to conduct a background check through the Department of Public Safety before a transfer occurs. The bill exempts antique firearms, family gifts, estate transfers, shooting range use, firearm repairs, and short-term loans (up to 72 hours). Violating the law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a two-year firearm possession ban, with potential civil liability for damages if the firearm is misused.

Maddy summarySB 2122 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include disabled children living at home who have developmental disabilities, severe autism, intellectual disabilities, communication disabilities, or other functional limitations - without requiring a complex medical diagnosis. It directly affects these children and their families by allowing eligibility determinations based solely on their functional needs (e.g., difficulty with daily activities) rather than medical complexity. The bill amends Section 43-13-115 of Mississippi Code to add this provision under paragraph (10)(b), shifting the eligibility standard from medical diagnosis to functional impact. The Mississippi Department of Medicaid would determine eligibility under this new standard.

Maddy summarySB 2128 requires businesses operating in Mississippi that maintain personal information (like names, Social Security numbers, or credit card details) to notify the Attorney General's Office in writing if a security breach affects over 100 state residents. It specifies the notice must include breach details, the number of affected people, available support services, and contact information. Businesses must provide this notice "without unreasonable delay" after an investigation, with exceptions for ongoing law enforcement investigations. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2136, the Mississippi Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, would require state employers to provide paid leave for eligible employees. It would offer six weeks (240 hours) of paid parental leave at 100% salary for primary caregivers of newborns or adopted children under 18, and two weeks (80 hours) of paid medical leave for serious health conditions or military family care. To qualify, employees must work full-time for 12+ consecutive months, and leave must be taken within 12 weeks of the qualifying event. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, and required state agencies to report leave usage annually.

Maddy summarySB 2130 would require the state of Mississippi to pay for court-ordered mental examinations of indigent defendants (those unable to afford legal costs) in felony cases, instead of having counties cover these costs. Currently, counties pay for non-indigent defendants' exams under Mississippi law, but this bill would shift that responsibility to the state for indigent defendants. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed. It directly affects indigent defendants in criminal cases where mental competency is in question.

Maddy summarySB 2132 amends Mississippi's wrongful death law to allow survivors to recover expenses the deceased incurred before death, such as medical bills or property damage costs, in addition to standard damages. It directly affects family members (spouses, children, parents, or siblings) who file wrongful death claims. Key provisions require that pre-death costs be paid directly to the family without being used to settle the deceased's debts, and clarify that damages must be distributed to surviving relatives in a specific order (e.g., equally to spouse and children, or to parents if no spouse/children exist). The bill does not change who can file a claim but ensures pre-death costs are recoverable and distributed as specified.

Maddy summarySB 2131 would require Mississippi courts to provide defendants or their attorneys with access to grand jury records upon request, when a grand jury has already returned an indictment. The court would decide whether to allow copies (at the defendant's expense) and must keep all copies confidential. This bill directly affects criminal defendants in Mississippi by granting them limited access to previously sealed grand jury proceedings. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2134 prohibits health insurance plans, Medicaid, and pharmacy benefit managers from denying coverage or imposing extra approval steps (like prior authorization) for FDA-approved HIV/AIDS treatment drugs. It directly affects people living with HIV/AIDS who rely on these medications, ensuring they can access prescribed treatments without coverage barriers. The bill requires plans to cover at least one therapeutically equivalent version of each HIV treatment drug without prior authorization, while allowing limited restrictions for other equivalent options. If enacted, the law would take effect July 1, 2026, but it died in committee on February 3, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2137, the Mississippi Equal Pay for Equal Work Reform Act, would prohibit wage discrimination based on protected characteristics (like sex or race) for employees performing substantially equal work requiring similar skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. It directly affects all Mississippi employers with five or more employees, requiring them to pay equally for equal work unless pay differences fall under specific exceptions (e.g., seniority, merit, or productivity systems). Key mechanisms include authorizing the Department of Employment Security to enforce the law, investigate claims, mediate disputes, and allow employees to recover back pay, punitive damages, and attorney fees in civil suits. The bill also bans retaliation against employees who discuss wages to identify disparities. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.)