Sen. Bradford Blackmon

Maddy summarySB 2133 would have increased Mississippi’s cap on noneconomic damages (like pain, suffering, or emotional distress) from $2 million to $3 million for most civil lawsuits, excluding medical malpractice cases (which remain capped at $500,000). The bill cited inflation data showing a 67% cumulative price increase since 2004 as justification for the adjustment. It aimed to update the 2004-era cap to reflect current purchasing power, affecting plaintiffs in non-medical negligence cases. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2201 requires the removal of the Confederate flag depiction from the Mississippi State Capitol rotunda and establishes a commission to recommend a replacement image. The commission, composed of state officials and appointed members (including the Director of Archives and History, two Governor-appointed representatives, and bipartisan legislators), must submit its recommendation by September 30, 2026, and must consider a depiction of the slaves who contributed to the Capitol's construction. The bill amends a prior law that prohibited removing historical displays to enable this change, while preserving the requirement for public transparency through recorded meetings and public comments.

Maddy summarySB 2317 establishes new guidelines for Mississippi law enforcement officers regarding taser use, directly affecting all sworn officers in the state. The bill limits taser deployment to situations where deadly force would be permitted, requires detailed documentation of each incident (including subject demographics and circumstances), and prohibits use on vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, the elderly, or individuals under the influence of drugs. It mandates that the Board of Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training, with the Department of Public Safety, develop policies and provide training on these rules, ensuring training avoids involvement with entities profiting from taser sales. The legislation aims to standardize taser use while increasing accountability through mandatory reporting.

Maddy summarySB 2365 would amend Mississippi law to remove civil immunity for police officers when a lawsuit alleges violations of a person's state constitutional rights during police protection duties. This change explicitly creates an exception to the general immunity rule for police actions, allowing individuals to sue officers and their government employers in such cases. The bill directly affects police officers, local governments, and citizens who claim constitutional rights were violated by law enforcement. The key mechanism is a specific addition to existing immunity statutes, ensuring constitutional rights allegations bypass standard protections for police conduct.

Maddy summarySB 2354, the "Artificial Intelligence Fraud and Accountability Act," creates legal remedies for individuals or businesses harmed by fraud involving AI systems like deepfakes, voice cloning, or deceptive chatbots. It allows victims to sue for $500 per violation (or actual damages), seek punitive damages for willful violations, and request court injunctions to stop ongoing fraud. Developers or users of AI systems intentionally used for fraud could face joint liability for resulting harms. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2389 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include low-income adults who qualify under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level who are currently excluded from Mississippi Medicaid. The bill amends state law to automatically include these individuals in Medicaid coverage and requires that they receive essential health benefits. This change would allow eligible adults to enroll directly in Medicaid instead of navigating the ACA marketplace. The bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2581 would have created a 17-member Mississippi Anti-Hunger and Anti-Food Insecurity Task Force to study hunger and food insecurity across the state, with a focus on rural and underserved communities. The task force - comprising legislators, health officials, nonprofit leaders, university representatives, and community advocates - was required to examine causes, assess federal nutrition programs, hold public meetings, and develop policy recommendations. It would have submitted two reports to the legislature by January 2027 and January 2028, after which the task force would dissolve. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law. This was a procedural study measure, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summarySB 2568 requires Mississippi Medicaid and private insurance companies to cover essential disability-related services for children under 18, including communication devices, in-home nursing, behavioral therapy, developmental services, and necessary medical supplies. It directly affects children with disabilities and their families, as well as insurance providers regulated by the state. Key provisions mandate timely authorization for these services and prohibit repeated or unsupported denial of coverage. The bill aims to ensure consistent access to critical care without unnecessary administrative barriers.

Maddy summarySB 2569 would have required Mississippi Medicaid and private health insurance companies to cover communication devices for children under 18 with non-speaking or limited verbal communication needs, regardless of their medical diagnosis. These devices - which include tools like speech-generating apps or picture boards that help children communicate - would need physician approval for coverage. The bill also mandated timely insurance authorization for these devices and prohibited repeated or unjustified coverage denials. This policy change would directly affect families of children with communication disabilities who rely on such devices for education and daily interaction.

Maddy summarySB 2582, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would establish statewide protections against voter suppression and vote dilution for Mississippi voters, particularly affecting protected classes defined as racial, ethnic, or language minority groups. Key provisions include creating the Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to review election changes (like district maps or voting locations) before implementation, requiring public notice of voting-related changes, and mandating accommodations for limited English proficient and disabled voters. The bill prohibits election policies that disproportionately harm protected class members or dilute their voting power, with enforcement through legal actions. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance to the full legislature.