Sen. Walter Michel

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution commends Cotton Ruthven's 30+ year career as Senior Research Counsel at the Mississippi Law Research Institute and his service as a decorated Vietnam War veteran (Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star). It honors his military service, legal contributions to Mississippi's legislature, and advocacy for veterans. The Mississippi Senate formally adopted the resolution in February 2025 to recognize his retirement. (Note: This is a non-binding commendation with no policy impact.)

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's sympathy to the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey, a National Republican Committee Woman and community leader from Louisville, Mississippi, following her death on November 7, 2024. The resolution commends her service, including her work as Mississippi Federation of Republican Women President, her advocacy for disability access on the Institutions of Higher Learning board, and her decades of community involvement. This resolution has no policy effect - it solely expresses the Senate’s condolences and acknowledges her life’s contributions. It was adopted by the Senate on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2024 would have changed Mississippi's Commissioner of Insurance from an elected position to one appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, effective July 1, 2025. It set qualifications including a bachelor's degree, insurance industry experience, and residency, while removing the requirement for the Governor to approve the Commissioner's appointment of a Chief Deputy. The bill also specified a six-year term for appointed commissioners and included bond requirements. However, the bill died in committee on February 13, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summarySB 2579 directs Mississippi’s state treasurer to transfer $150.8 million from the Capital Expense Fund to the 2022 Capacity Project Fund. The bill specifies these funds must be used to widen a segment of Interstate 55 between Madison and Gluckstadt in Madison County. It updates state law to ensure the fund remains separate and non-lapsing, allowing the Department of Transportation to use it for highway capacity projects. The bill was referred to the Highways and Transportation committee but died there in February 2025, so it did not become law. This affects Madison County residents and drivers using that I-55 corridor by proposing a specific infrastructure project.

Maddy summarySB 2687 would have required a Certificate of Need (CON) approval before adding beds to community living programs for developmentally disabled adults in Madison County, Mississippi. This means providers would need state health department permission to expand bed capacity in these specific facilities, aligning with existing CON rules for other health care expansions. The bill directly affected community living programs serving disabled adults in Madison County by adding this regulatory step. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2541 would have allowed grocery stores to sell wine in sealed, unopened packages (not for on-premise consumption) by creating a new "grocery store wine-only retailer" permit. Grocery stores holding this permit could sell wine but not beer, and would need to derive at least 50% of their revenue from wine sales. The bill also permitted individuals to own up to six such permits. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2414, a proposed Mississippi bill, would have required health insurance plans (including individual, group, and managed care plans) delivered or renewed after July 1, 2025, to cover nonstatin medications specifically approved for reducing heart attack risk in both primary prevention (preventing first events) and secondary prevention (preventing recurrence) patients. It would have mandated this coverage at the same cost-sharing level (deductibles/coinsurance) as other covered benefits, enforced by the Mississippi Insurance Commissioner. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law, so this requirement has not been implemented. It directly affected insurers operating in Mississippi and patients relying on these nonstatin medications for cardiovascular prevention.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2294 prohibits the alteration, removal, renaming, or rededication of historical monuments and memorials on public property related to specific conflicts (Revolutionary War through the Iraq War), the Civil Rights era, or named after military figures/events. It directly affects state and local public spaces like parks, streets, and buildings bearing such monuments. The bill allows any individual to sue in state court to enforce the law, with the winning party entitled to recover legal fees. The law applies to all covered monuments already in place as of its effective date (July 1, 2025), excluding transportation infrastructure managed by the Mississippi Transportation Commission.

Maddy summarySB 2403, the Mississippi Public Adjuster Professional Standards Reform Act, would have required public adjusters (professionals who help insurance policyholders file claims) to obtain written contracts with clients before services, handle all claim funds in special trust accounts, and maintain $50,000 in financial bonds or letters of credit. It set new licensing standards, including background checks, exams, and proof of financial responsibility, while creating clear grounds for license discipline. The bill directly affected public adjusters and insurance policyholders in Mississippi by standardizing practices and increasing accountability. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so these changes never took effect.

Maddy summarySB 2408 would require Mississippi insurance companies to check if claimants owe overdue child support before paying certain claims exceeding $500, including those for injury, death, workers' compensation, or life insurance. Insurers must verify this debt within 10 days of a claim opening and, if confirmed, withhold the owed amount from the payment and send it to child support enforcement within 30 days. The bill mandates secure electronic information sharing between insurers and the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), with fines of $1,000 per claim for non-compliance. It specifically excludes property damage, medical payments, and other defined insurance benefits from this requirement. The bill died in committee in February 2025.