Maddy summarySB 2874 requires healthcare providers to screen birth mothers for depression within six weeks of childbirth and mandates that health insurance companies cover this screening with no deductibles or copays. The bill prohibits insurers from requiring "step therapy" (multiple treatment steps before approving FDA-approved depression medications) for postpartum depression treatment and directs the state health department to create educational materials about maternal mental health for providers and new parents. It directly affects birth mothers, healthcare facilities, and insurance companies by establishing new screening requirements and coverage standards. The bill also specifies that hospitals must provide mental health resources to new parents and those showing signs of maternal mental health disorders. (Note: The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, per recent actions.)
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2308 increases penalties for illegally dumping solid waste in Mississippi. It raises fines for violations exceeding 15 pounds (littering) or 500 pounds (misdemeanor), with commercial dumping or large amounts (over 500 pounds) now classified as a felony punishable by up to $75,000 in fines or 5 years in prison. The bill requires violators to remove waste, repair damage, and pay cleanup costs, and mandates that commercial dumpers face felony charges. It directly affects individuals and businesses illegally discarding solid waste, particularly those engaging in large-scale or commercial dumping.
Maddy summarySB 2151 requires all Mississippi public school districts, charter schools, agricultural high schools, and specific state schools (like the Mississippi School for the Arts) to adopt and submit by January 1, 2026, policies banning or limiting student cell phone use during class or under staff supervision. Schools failing to comply face daily funding deductions under the state’s funding formula. Exceptions allow phone use during emergencies, for medically necessary reasons (as certified by a healthcare provider), or per a student’s special education plan. The bill also specifies that cell phone policy violations alone cannot justify suspension or expulsion, except as a final disciplinary step.
Maddy summarySB 2043 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) and Gaming Commission to create regulations that direct casinos to withhold cash gaming winnings - including slot machine payouts, sports betting, and other reportable winnings - from individuals with outstanding child support arrears. The bill mandates casinos to share relevant financial information with DHS to enforce these withholdings. It applies directly to people who owe past-due child support payments and win money at Mississippi casinos. DHS would use these withheld funds to reduce the individuals' existing child support debt, with no new penalties or changes to existing child support enforcement mechanisms.
Maddy summarySB 2446 prohibits municipalities with populations over 145,000 (based on the 2020 census) from charging parking fees on public streets adjacent to county, city, state, or federal government buildings. It specifically bans fees for individuals who are required to appear at these buildings (e.g., for court, permits, or public services) or for the reasonable time needed to access those services. The law would take effect July 1, 2025, and applies only to large municipalities like Jackson. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and is not currently law.
Maddy summarySB 2798 requires Mississippi county boards of supervisors to maintain and repair public cemeteries owned by the county or any municipality within its boundaries, including abandoned public or nonprofit cemeteries showing neglect (e.g., overgrown vegetation, vandalism, or broken markers). It authorizes boards to use county funds for repairs, bill municipalities for reimbursement, and acquire title to neglected cemeteries deemed a public health risk. The bill explicitly excludes family burial grounds and for-profit cemeteries from coverage. This legislation died in committee on March 4, 2025, and was never enacted.
Maddy summarySB 2850 requires cigarette and vape (ENDS) manufacturers in Mississippi to submit annual certifications to the Commissioner of Revenue by September 1, 2025, for vapes, leading to a public directory of approved products starting October 1, 2025. Retailers must stop selling vape products not listed in the directory after that date, with a 60-day grace period to clear existing inventory. Sellers of non-compliant products face daily fines up to $1,500 per product, and the bill mandates unannounced compliance checks by the Department of Revenue. Manufacturers must also maintain a registered agent in Mississippi for legal service.
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 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.