Sen. Bradford Blackmon

Maddy summarySB 2606 requires Mississippi state universities to provide mandatory annual financial literacy workshops for student-athletes participating in name, image, and likeness (NIL) activities - such as signing endorsement deals or social media promotions. The workshops must cover contracts, taxes on NIL income, budgeting, credit management, and avoiding financial scams. All student-athletes, not just those in NIL activities, would have access to these workshops, though participation would be optional for non-NIL athletes. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed. It does not create new NIL rights but mandates financial education for athletes earning income through their personal brand.

Maddy summarySB 2681 would allow Mississippi to seek a federal Medicaid waiver enabling immediate access to mental health or substance use services for children under 18 who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid but await formal approval. During a temporary "presumptive eligibility period" (up to one month), qualified providers like clinics could verify preliminary eligibility and provide limited services while requiring families to submit a full Medicaid application within 30 days. The bill specifies that benefits during this period would be restricted solely to mental health or substance use treatment, not full Medicaid coverage. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2683 would have prohibited exclusivity clauses in student-athlete agency contracts that extend beyond a student's athletic eligibility period. It required contracts over $600 to be reviewed by a school's compliance department before signing, mandated clear warnings about eligibility risks, and allowed student-athletes to cancel contracts within 14 days. The bill also created a legal cause of action for student-athletes who were coerced, defrauded, or misled into signing such contracts, enabling them to seek damages in court. This legislation directly affected Mississippi student-athletes and their interactions with athlete agents, but it died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThe Athletes Agents Reform Act requires athlete agents to disclose conflicts of interest, fees, and dual representation (such as representing both a student-athlete and a sponsor) to student-athletes at least 24 hours before signing contracts. It creates a Student-Athlete Protection Fund, funded by 33% of agent license fees, to compensate student-athletes harmed by agent misconduct or unlicensed activity. Student-athletes can sue agents for damages, with courts potentially awarding up to $5,000 from the fund for violations like unfair contracts or lack of disclosure. The bill also makes unlicensed agent activity a felony and expands the definition of "athlete agent" to include attorneys and marketers.

Maddy summarySB 2823 designates Mississippi's State Board of Education as the lead agency responsible for the state's Early Intervention (EI) Program under federal IDEA Part C, which serves infants and toddlers (birth through age two) with disabilities. The bill requires the State Board to meet federal compliance standards for reporting on these services - addressing Mississippi's current non-compliance status - and improve access to early intervention. It directs the State Board to develop legislative recommendations based on a 2024 task force report (created by SB 2727) and submit a report to the 2027 legislature. The goal is to establish a new service delivery model for the First Steps program, focusing on concrete policy changes rather than outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to reinstate the citizen initiative process for proposing constitutional changes, which was previously invalidated by the state supreme court. It would require initiative petitions to gather signatures equal to 40% of registered voters (instead of a fixed number), mandate inclusion of petitioners' home addresses, and limit signatures per congressional district based on current district counts. The bill also specifies that each petition must contain only one proposal to allow separate voting, and prohibits initiatives targeting specific constitutional sections like the Bill of Rights. These changes aim to create a more transparent and district-representative process for citizen-driven constitutional amendments.