Maddy summarySB 2280 would require most Mississippi public bodies (like city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to create and maintain public email lists for meeting notifications. It mandates that these bodies email meeting details (date, time, location, and agenda) at least 72 hours in advance to those on the list, and post minutes within 48 hours of meetings. The bill also requires public bodies to maintain accessible online lists of members and staff, and to include contact information for joining the notification list on their websites. These changes aim to improve public access to meeting information and government transparency, applying to all entities using public funds except specific exemptions like courts and law enforcement. The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2296 prohibits public and charter school staff (including teachers, principals, and assistants) from using physical force for student discipline. It defines "corporal punishment" as physical force to maintain control, enforce rules, or protect others, and bans its use entirely in schools. Violating this prohibition could make staff personally liable for civil damages if they acted in bad faith or with malicious intent. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.
Maddy summarySB 2297 would have required all Mississippi children who turn 5 by August 1st each year to attend a licensed kindergarten program (public, private, parochial, or homeschool) starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It would have extended Mississippi's compulsory school attendance law to include kindergarten-age children, previously only covering ages 6-17. Parents would have needed to submit a "certificate of enrollment" by September 15th each year, detailing the child's education setting. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 2323 requires Mississippi grocery stores to publicly display any cost-plus pricing surcharge (where a fixed amount is added to the item's cost) both outside (within 15 feet of each entrance) and inside the store. It directly affects retail food establishments that use this pricing method, mandating clear signage showing the exact surcharge amount. Violations are classified as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail, and also count as unlawful trade practices under existing law. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2324 creates a nine-member study committee to examine police pursuits in Mississippi. The committee, including legislative leaders, law enforcement officials, and state agency representatives, will analyze the societal impact, risks versus benefits, safe speed limits, and qualifying crimes for pursuits. It must file a final report with the legislature by December 1, 2026. This bill does not change current law but directs a formal review of police pursuit practices. The study aims to inform future policy decisions based on findings.
Maddy summarySB 2358 requires Mississippi courts to issue court orders (injunctions) when a plaintiff proves a defendant violated a social media platform's rules through their online communications. It specifically allows courts to automatically grant permanent injunctions if the defendant has a criminal conviction for cyberstalking under Mississippi law (Section 97-45-15), which defines "harass" as a willful course of conduct causing serious alarm. The law directly affects victims of online harassment, defendants accused of cyberstalking, and social media platforms or corporate sponsors that distribute such communications. It does not apply to internet service providers or constitutionally protected speech, and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2327 consolidates Mississippi's scattered expungement laws into a single, unified statute. It allows eligible individuals to remove certain misdemeanor convictions (first-offense non-traffic misdemeanors) and felony convictions (after 5 years, excluding violent crimes, arson, drug trafficking, repeat DUI, and gun offenses) from public records. The bill also creates new pathways for expunging first-offense DUI, completed intervention court cases, and minor alcohol purchase convictions by minors. It specifies that expungement does not erase nonpublic law enforcement records or prevent employers from asking about expunged offenses, while repealing outdated related statutes.
Maddy summarySB 2325 allows Mississippi governors to restore voting rights to individuals convicted of certain felonies (disenfranchising crimes) after they complete their full sentence - including incarceration, probation, and parole - and pay all court-imposed fines. It requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections or sentencing courts to automatically report eligible individuals to the governor and mandates that voter records be updated to reflect restored rights. The bill specifies that an executive order restoring voting rights serves as sufficient proof for voter registration, and it updates election procedures to ensure eligible voters are not denied registration based on past convictions. This affects people with felony convictions who have met the sentence and fine requirements under Mississippi law.
Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2326 requires all county sheriff departments and municipal police departments to create and implement written policies for police vehicle pursuits by December 31, 2025. These policies must prohibit initiating pursuits for misdemeanor offenses (except carjacking, murder, aggravated assault, or robbery), include specific criteria for starting and ending pursuits based on safety and offense severity, and detail communication protocols for interjurisdictional pursuits. Agencies failing to adopt a compliant policy will lose eligibility for state accreditation, and the Department of Public Safety can notify the Department of Revenue to withhold certain county or municipal funding until compliance is achieved. The bill directly affects local law enforcement agencies across Mississippi and mandates concrete changes to pursuit procedures.
Maddy summarySB 2347 requires candidates for public office in Mississippi to provide a physical residence address instead of a post office box when filing to run. This applies to all candidates seeking state or local office (except certain judicial positions and municipal elections) as part of their qualification documents. The bill amends filing requirements to mandate a verifiable physical address for residency, replacing the previous allowance of PO box numbers. It directly affects candidates who must submit this address when filing petitions or statements with election officials.