Sen. Walter Michel

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution formally recognizes WLBT newscaster Howard Ballou for receiving the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters' Television Lifetime Achievement Award. It commends his 30+ years of contributions to broadcasting in Mississippi, including multiple awards and community leadership. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, with no new laws or funding changes. It was adopted by the Mississippi Senate on April 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 142) commending Jim Ellis for his 46-year career as the play-by-play announcer for Mississippi State University baseball. It recognizes his role as "The Voice of the Diamond Dawgs," highlighting his coverage of 11 College World Series appearances, SEC championships, and the 2021 national title. The resolution formally praises his service to MSU and the state, with no policy changes or direct impact on any laws or individuals beyond the ceremonial acknowledgment. It was adopted by the Mississippi Senate in April 2025.

Maddy summarySB 3030 appropriates $3,958,339 for the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy to cover its operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill directly funds the Board’s activities, authorizing 20 permanent staff positions and requiring strict adherence to spending rules (e.g., no salary increases for current employees, funds must cover headcount not promotions). It mandates the Board to meet specific performance targets, including processing 100% of pharmacy licenses within 10 business days and resolving 100% of complaints within six months. The bill also includes safeguards to prevent misuse of funds and requires detailed reporting for future budget requests.

Maddy summarySB 3038 appropriates $5,350,112 from the State General Fund to cover the operating costs of Mississippi's State Personnel Board for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects state employees and agencies by funding personnel positions (46 permanent roles) and strictly prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases, promotions, or title changes for current staff. Key provisions require the Personnel Board to publish projected payroll costs, ensure expenditures don’t exceed budgeted amounts, and mandate that any new salary actions require additional funding approval. The bill also includes administrative requirements for record-keeping and ensures funds comply with existing state budget laws and IRS reporting rules for contract employees.

Maddy summarySB 3040 allocates $5.67 million from the General Fund and $3.19 million from special funds to cover the operational costs and staff salaries of the State Veterans Affairs Board for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It also provides $6.36 million from the General Fund and $48.53 million from special funds to support the Mississippi State Veterans Homes’ operations. Additionally, $250,000 is specifically designated to assist indigent and low-income veterans and eligible surviving spouses (under the "Hilton R. 'Jack' Vance Act of 1997"), retroactively covering prior eligibility periods. The bill focuses on funding existing programs without creating new policies or mandates.

Maddy summarySB 3039 appropriates $9.5 million from the State General Fund and $157 million from specific military funds to cover the Mississippi National Guard's operational expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). Key allocations include $2.3 million for the Youth Challenge Program at Camp Shelby, $662,778 for the Armed Forces Military Museum, and $4 million from the Education Enhancement Fund for the State Education Assistance Program. The bill prohibits using general funds to reimburse National Guard members for training costs (requiring federal funds instead) and mandates annual reporting on fund transfers to special military accounts. It also directs $1.6 million for Youth Challenge Academies renovations and prioritizes Mississippi Industries for the Blind in procurement.

Maddy summarySB 3029 allocates $1,276,240 in state funds to the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), covering operational costs for 8 permanent staff positions. It specifies that funds must not exceed prior-year staffing levels without legislative approval, prohibits using funds for salary increases beyond minimums, and requires strict accounting for expenditures. An additional $27,000 is directed to the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy for the Prescription Monitoring Program. The bill is procedural, solely providing funding without altering dental licensing rules or affecting the public directly.

Maddy summarySB 2968 changes how Mississippi calculates property taxes for rural agricultural structures like barns and poultry houses (excluding homes). It requires revaluing structures appraised before 2025 and mandates a fixed 7% annual depreciation rate for all rural structures after initial appraisal. Poultry houses have specific rules: their value cannot drop below 20% of original value, and a 45% economic obsolescence adjustment applies. These changes directly affect owners of commercial agricultural buildings, not residential properties.

Maddy summarySB 3041 is a proposed budget bill that allocates $55.78 million from the state General Fund and $22.27 million from a special fund to cover the Mississippi Department of Revenue's expenses for fiscal year 2026. It directly funds specific divisions (Homestead Exemption, Motor Vehicle Comptroller, Alcohol Control, and Enforcement), reimburses counties for tax losses due to homestead property tax exemptions, and covers motor vehicle license tag purchases. The bill includes strict rules on personnel spending, requiring that salary increases use new funds only and prohibiting the use of general funds to replace federal or special funds. It also mandates performance metrics for efficiency, such as cost per tax return processed and revenue collected per dollar spent. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and remains pending legislative action.

Maddy summarySB 3037 appropriates $26.5 million from the State General Fund and $21.5 million from a special fund to cover the operational expenses of Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services (DITS) for fiscal year 2026. It also allocates $11.9 million for the Wireless Communication Commission's expenses, requiring compliance with state procurement laws. The bill authorizes 132 permanent positions for DITS and 9 for the Commission, with strict rules prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases beyond minimums, promotions, or replacing federal funds. Additionally, it permits a $750,000 transfer to DITS' revolving fund for cash flow management, requiring repayment before year-end.