Sen. Sollie Norwood

Maddy summarySB 2460 would create a Mississippi state program providing an additional $100 monthly food assistance supplement to residents aged 65 or older who receive federal food stamps. The bill directs the Department of Human Services to establish and fund this program, with eligibility limited to elderly recipients. It specifies that the supplemental aid is in addition to existing federal benefits and requires the department to create rules for administration. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2389 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include low-income adults who qualify under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level who are currently excluded from Mississippi Medicaid. The bill amends state law to automatically include these individuals in Medicaid coverage and requires that they receive essential health benefits. This change would allow eligible adults to enroll directly in Medicaid instead of navigating the ACA marketplace. The bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2489 would require Mississippi charter schools rated "D" or "F" under the state's accreditation system for two consecutive years to have their charters revoked or not renewed. This directly affects charter schools with sustained low performance, as the bill mandates automatic action by state education officials based solely on these accreditation ratings. The key mechanism is linking the existing school rating system to charter renewal decisions, eliminating discretion for repeated low ratings. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2490 is a procedural bill that reorganizes an existing Mississippi code section (previously 37-28-55) about charter school funding into a new location within the statutes. It does not create new policies but clarifies how the State Department of Education and school districts must pay charter schools for student enrollment, transportation, classroom supplies, and federal program funds - matching the same rules applied to traditional public schools. The bill directly affects charter schools and local school districts in Mississippi, ensuring payments align with existing funding formulas. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2563 would have exempted registered homeless service providers (under Mississippi's Continuum of Care Program) from paying specific fees when assisting homeless individuals. It aimed to eliminate civil filing fees for changing birth/marriage certificates and driver's license/ID application fees for homeless persons. The exemption would have applied from 2024 through 2027, as specified in amended sections of Mississippi law (25-7-9 and 63-1-43). The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2564 requires personal care homes that provide living arrangements for one or more unrelated individuals to obtain a license and be regulated by the Mississippi State Department of Health. These homes typically offer food, shelter, and assistance with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and feeding. The bill mandates routine inspections to ensure residents' health and safety. It applies to most personal care homes, with limited exceptions for specific arrangements, such as certain veteran care programs under federal agreements.

Maddy summarySB 2583, the "Restoration of Voting Rights Act," would automatically restore voting rights to Mississippi residents who completed prison sentences for certain crimes, after a two-year period with no new arrests or convictions. It applies to people disenfranchised under Mississippi's 1890 Constitution due to specific criminal convictions. The law requires no application - voting rights return automatically upon meeting the sentence completion and waiting period conditions. Voters must still register through standard procedures to cast ballots.

Maddy summarySB 2582, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would establish statewide protections against voter suppression and vote dilution for Mississippi voters, particularly affecting protected classes defined as racial, ethnic, or language minority groups. Key provisions include creating the Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to review election changes (like district maps or voting locations) before implementation, requiring public notice of voting-related changes, and mandating accommodations for limited English proficient and disabled voters. The bill prohibits election policies that disproportionately harm protected class members or dilute their voting power, with enforcement through legal actions. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance to the full legislature.

Maddy summarySB 2649 repealed Section 61-3-6 of Mississippi’s code, which established the Jackson Metropolitan Area Airport Authority. It also amended Sections 61-3-3 and 61-3-5 to remove references to this authority, aligning the code with the repeal. The bill directly affected the governance structure of Jackson’s airport by eliminating its dedicated authority. It died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summarySB 2690 requires property and casualty insurers in Mississippi to mandate that property owners clean up blighted (neglected or derelict) real property before paying more than 25% of insurance claims for damages. This directly affects property owners with blighted properties who seek insurance reimbursement. The bill’s key provision sets a 25% payment cap until cleanup is completed, with the Insurance Commissioner responsible for enforcement and rulemaking. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, aiming to ensure property conditions improve before full insurance payments are made.