Sen. John Horhn

Maddy summarySB 2394 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to include low-income adults who qualify for coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those meeting income criteria typically set at 138% of the federal poverty level. The bill amends Mississippi Code sections 43-13-115 (eligibility) and 43-13-117 (benefits) to add this new category and require essential health benefits for these individuals. This change would directly affect thousands of low-income adults in Mississippi currently uninsured due to the state's lack of Medicaid expansion under the ACA.

Maddy summarySB 2457, the Civil Commitment Reform Act, would prevent individuals needing mental health treatment from being held in jail before civil commitment by requiring community mental health centers to expand facilities. It creates a grant program distributing at least $500,000 per center by October 2024 to fund these expansions, administered by the Department of Mental Health. The bill repeals laws allowing jail holds for mental health commitments and establishes a special fund to cover related costs. These changes directly affect people seeking mental health treatment and Mississippi’s community mental health centers.

Maddy summarySB 2419, the Mississippi Savings Initiative, would create Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for low-income Mississippi residents with household income under 185% of the federal poverty level and net worth under $10,000. The bill would allow IDA holders to save for specific goals like home purchases (including first-time buyers), postsecondary education, business startup, disability assistive technology, or major home repairs, with the state matching contributions up to set limits. Funds deposited in IDAs would not count toward eligibility for need-based programs like Medicaid or food assistance. The Mississippi Department of Banking would contract with nonprofits to manage accounts and ensure funds are used only for approved purposes, with penalties for misuse. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.)

Maddy summarySB 2421 would allow certain credit unions certified by the U.S. Treasury as Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) credit unions - insured by the National Credit Union Administration - to qualify as public funds depositories in Mississippi. This means counties, municipalities, and other local governments could deposit public funds into these credit unions, provided they meet a minimum 5.5% regulatory capital ratio and pass annual financial certification by the State Treasurer. The bill expands existing depository eligibility beyond traditional banks to include these specific credit unions, requiring them to secure funds with 105% of uninsured public deposits in approved securities. It does not change how public funds are managed but broadens the pool of qualified financial institutions for local governments to use.

Maddy summarySB 2425 would authorize gaming (such as casino-style gambling) on cruise vessels operating on the Pearl River or adjacent waters within the corporate limits of a Mississippi city with a population of 145,000 or more, as determined by the latest federal census. It amends state law to exempt these specific vessel operations from the general prohibition on illegal gambling by removing the application of Section 67-1-71(i) to such locations. The bill would directly affect cruise vessels operating in eligible cities (like Jackson) that meet the population threshold and are situated on the specified waters within city boundaries.

Maddy summarySB 2255 would name a one-mile segment of Interstate 55 South in Hinds County (from County Line Road to Beasley Road in Jackson) as the "Rep. Alyce Clarke Highway" to honor her service as a former Mississippi House Representative. It also amends Mississippi Code Section 65-3-38.1 by removing the requirement that highways cannot be named after elected officials during their term or for 10 years after leaving office. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law. This is a procedural naming bill with no direct policy changes beyond highway designation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally honors Mississippi broadcaster and storyteller Walt Grayson as the recipient of the 2025 Governor's Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. It recognizes his decades-long career in Mississippi media, including hosting "Mississippi Roads" on MPB, writing books about the state, and his deep connection to Mississippi culture. As a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill), it has no policy impact but serves to publicly acknowledge Grayson's contributions to the state's arts and storytelling traditions. The Senate resolution was adopted without amendment on January 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThe Mississippi Senate passed Resolution SR 17 to formally recognize Jane Crater Hiatt as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's "Stephen C. Edds" Patron of the Arts Award. This resolution honors her decades-long contributions to Mississippi's arts community through leadership roles, including directing the Mississippi Arts Commission and establishing the Jane Crater Hiatt Artist Fellowship, which provides $20,000 grants to support Mississippi artists' career development. The resolution highlights her advocacy for arts education, diversity in arts programming, and ongoing philanthropy that has strengthened cultural opportunities statewide.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band from Coldwater, Mississippi, as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Traditional Arts. It honors their 90-year preservation of Mississippi's fife and drum musical tradition - rooted in African American cultural history - and their community work educating youth through performances and recordings like their 2023 album *Evolution of Fife and Drum*. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no policy changes or direct effects on constituents or government operations. It serves as a symbolic tribute to the band's cultural contributions, as adopted by the Mississippi Senate on January 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 15) formally recognizes Jackson, Mississippi musician Eddie Cotton, Jr., as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Music. It acknowledges his career as a Gospel-blues artist, his Mississippi roots, and his national and international performances. The resolution serves solely as a ceremonial tribute from the Mississippi Senate, with no new policies or funding attached. It honors Cotton's contributions to music and Mississippi's cultural heritage through official Senate recognition.