Sen. Hillman Frazier

Maddy summarySB 2004 prohibits the use of sludge, septage, and related products (like compost) containing "forever chemicals" (PFAS) on agricultural land in Mississippi. It requires annual testing for PFAS in these materials before they can be applied or sold, and bans new licenses for septage application while allowing the Commission to revoke existing licenses if PFAS levels exceed standards. The bill also bans the sale or distribution of compost made from sludge/septage and crops grown on land where septage was applied. These provisions directly affect wastewater treatment facilities, agricultural businesses, and companies producing soil amendments or fertilizers.

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 2171, titled the "Period of Quiet Reflection Act," would have required Mississippi public school classrooms to begin each school day with a 60-second period of quiet reflection. This provision would have applied directly to all public school students and staff in Mississippi, explicitly stating the reflection should not be religious in nature. The bill, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, aimed to establish this daily practice as a non-religious moment of silent reflection at the start of each school day.

Maddy summarySB 2249 would have authorized Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to create rules governing the placement of large solar panel installations. It directly affects solar energy developers and property owners planning large-scale solar projects by requiring them to comply with MDEQ's placement regulations. The bill amended state law to explicitly grant MDEQ authority to regulate solar panel siting, including potential requirements for environmental reviews. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

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.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 16) formally recognizes Robert Poore, a Mississippi landscape architect with a 36-year career, as the recipient of the 2025 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Visual Arts and Landscape Architecture. It honors his work designing notable projects like the Crosby Arboretum and Mississippi Art Garden, as well as his contributions to landscape architecture in Mississippi. The resolution serves as a ceremonial tribute from the Mississippi Senate to Poore's professional achievements and community impact.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 18), not a policy bill. It formally recognizes filmmaker Tate Taylor of Natchez, Mississippi, as the 2025 recipient of the Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Motion Picture. The resolution commends Taylor for his film work (including *The Help* and *Get On Up*), his economic impact on Mississippi through filming locations and job creation, and his community contributions like restoring historic sites and supporting local businesses. It has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply offers official Senate recognition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 1) is a ceremonial tribute to honor the 1975 Callaway High School football team's 50th anniversary of their state championship victory. It commends the team for their perfect 12-0 season, integration efforts, and community impact, specifically recognizing their role in racial reconciliation. The resolution directs the Senate to present this recognition to Callaway High School's current head coach and principal, as well as the Jackson Public School District. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally celebrates historical achievement.