Sen. David Blount

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SC 524), not a policy bill. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to Jimmy Carter's family and commends his life, public service, and legacy following his passing. The resolution details his presidency (1977-1981), key achievements like the Camp David Accords, and post-presidency work through the Carter Center. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies - it is solely a symbolic gesture of remembrance. The resolution was adopted by the Mississippi Legislature on March 5, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 64), not a policy bill. It formally congratulates Dr. Byron D'Andra Orey, a tenured political science professor at Jackson State University (JSU), on his election as President of the Southern Political Science Association (SPSA). The resolution expresses the Mississippi Senate's recognition of his achievement and honors his contribution to political science. As a symbolic gesture with no policy impact, it does not change laws or affect any constituents.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commends the life and service of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, a Mississippi native and Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in a 2025 training mission crash near Washington, D.C. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature’s sympathy to his family and honors his memory as a fallen soldier. The resolution has no policy provisions or direct impact beyond ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summarySB 2291 designates Mississippi's Department of Finance and Administration's Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management as the central leasing agent for all state agencies requiring office space, effective January 1, 2026. It requires agencies to obtain bureau approval before leasing or purchasing space outside state-owned buildings, prioritizes housing agencies in state-owned facilities when available, and mandates consolidation of agencies in shared buildings to reduce costs. The bureau will negotiate leases, set space allocation standards, and require 180-day advance requests detailing space needs, moving expenses, and staffing. This applies to all state agencies except military departments, universities, and community colleges.

Maddy summarySB 2863 would allow Mississippi's state employee deferred compensation plan to offer Roth-style accounts and other after-tax contribution options. It requires employers to treat these contributions as taxable income at the time they would have been paid to the employee, rather than upon withdrawal. The bill also mandates that the plan comply with court-ordered divorce settlements (Qualified Domestic Relations Orders) that divide retirement benefits. This directly affects Mississippi state employees participating in the deferred compensation program, changing how they contribute and how benefits are handled in divorce cases.

Maddy summarySB 2794 requires political subdivisions (like cities or counties) with previously approved pension plans to pay their full net pension liability to Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) in a single lump sum before terminating their plan. This applies to any plan ending through legislation, privatization, sale, or dissolution, with the payment due by June 30, 2025, or the termination date - whichever amount is greater. The bill aims to ensure PERS receives full funding coverage for future pension obligations when a plan ends, rather than through phased payments. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2679 would have allowed Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) to combine federal reporting systems used for the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) without needing prior legislative approval. The bill required DHS to annually report to state legislative committees by September 1, detailing the rationale, effectiveness, and specific impacts on SNAP enrollment and DHS's error rate (as tracked by the USDA). This change would have directly affected DHS operations and SNAP program administration in Mississippi. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

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 summarySR 52 is a commemorative resolution by the Mississippi Senate to honor the 155th anniversary of Hiram Revels' historic election as the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate in 1870. It recognizes his broader legacy, including being the first African American elected to the Mississippi State Senate, the first African American Mississippi Secretary of State, and the first president of Alcorn State University (the nation's first land-grant institution for African Americans). The resolution formally acknowledges his lifetime of service to Mississippi and the nation without creating new laws or affecting any policies. It serves as a symbolic tribute to his pioneering role in American political history.

Maddy summarySB 2935 proposed appropriating $1,000,000 from Mississippi's General Fund to the City of Byram for drainage projects during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill would have directly funded the city's drainage infrastructure costs, with state funds paid via the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. This was a straightforward funding measure with no additional policy provisions or requirements. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.