Sen. Hillman Frazier

Maddy summarySR 65 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Mississippi Senate to honor Hinds County Deputy Sheriff Martin Shields, Jr., who died in the line of duty on February 23, 2025. The resolution extends the Senate's "sincerest sympathy" to his surviving family - including his wife, daughter, and parents - and commends his law enforcement career. It has no policy provisions or financial impact; it is purely symbolic, expressing condolences and acknowledging his service. The Senate formally adopted the resolution on February 27, 2025, and will present it to his family and the Hinds County Sheriff's Office.

Maddy summarySB 2115 proposed a $17 million state funding allocation from the General Fund to support Jackson Revival Center's Little Ambassadors Developmental Learning Center for Exceptional Children during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill would have directly assisted this center, which serves children with special needs, by providing operational funding through a one-time appropriation. It included standard mechanisms for disbursing funds via the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summarySB 3001 would remove the 7% sales tax on grocery purchases in Mississippi and adjust how sales tax revenue is distributed to cities and towns. This ensures municipalities continue receiving the same level of funding they would have if groceries remained taxable. The bill amends Mississippi tax code sections to implement this exemption and revenue adjustment. The bill was referred to the Finance Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2812 would create a $10 million loan program to help Mississippi's rural counties (population ≤30,000) and municipalities (population ≤10,000) cover costs for emergency infrastructure repairs, maintenance, construction, and upgrades. The Mississippi Development Authority would administer the program, offering loans up to $250,000 for up to five years, with repayments replenishing the fund to avoid needing new state funding. The state would issue $10 million in general obligation bonds to establish the "Rural Counties and Municipalities Emergency Infrastructure Improvements Fund," which would not expire and would use loan repayments to sustain future support. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, aimed to provide a sustainable funding solution for small communities facing urgent infrastructure needs.

Maddy summarySB 2808 would amend Mississippi's homestead exemption law to ensure that an unremarried surviving spouse of a totally disabled homeowner receives the same property tax exemption that the deceased spouse held. Currently, surviving spouses typically need to meet their own age or disability criteria to qualify, but this bill would extend eligibility based on the deceased spouse's disability status. To qualify, the surviving spouse would need to provide proof of the deceased spouse's total disability (as defined by existing law). The bill, introduced in 2025, would have taken effect January 1, 2026, if enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2946 allocated $10 million from Mississippi's General Fund to the Clinton/Raymond/Bolton Wastewater Authority for the construction and development of a regional wastewater project. The project would transport treated wastewater from municipal lagoons and treatment facilities in those three cities to the Big Black River. This funding was intended for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2945 proposed appropriating $500,000 from Mississippi's General Fund for Fiscal Year 2026 to fund the 211 Mississippi helpline, operated by United Way of the Capital Area, Inc. The helpline connects Mississippi residents with local health and human services based on their needs and location. This bill, which died in committee on February 26, 2025, would have provided direct funding for an existing statewide service but did not become law. It was a procedural funding measure, not a new policy.

Maddy summarySB 3096 would appropriate $7.07 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to Hinds County for upgrading the water system at its criminal justice facility. The bill aims to compensate the county for pandemic relief funds (ARPA) it would have received but did not, making it "whole" for this specific project. This funding would cover costs associated with the facility's water system improvements during fiscal year 2026. The bill was introduced in February 2025 but died in committee without further action.

Maddy summarySB 2114 would have provided $125,000 in state funding from the General Fund to VFW Post 9832 in Jackson, Mississippi, specifically for construction, repairs, or renovations to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The bill aimed to cover costs for infrastructure improvements at the VFW Post building and related activities to ensure accessibility compliance. It was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law. This was a straightforward funding appropriation for a local veterans' organization, not a broader policy change.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SC 502), not a policy bill. It formally expresses the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of John J. Fraiser, Jr., a former state senator, presiding judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals, and WWII veteran who died in July 2024. The resolution commends his decades of public service, including establishing the Mississippi Court of Appeals and authoring education-related legislation. It has no policy impact or effect on any individuals or laws.