Sen. Tyler McCaughn

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's sympathy to the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey, a National Republican Committee Woman and community leader from Louisville, Mississippi, following her death on November 7, 2024. The resolution commends her service, including her work as Mississippi Federation of Republican Women President, her advocacy for disability access on the Institutions of Higher Learning board, and her decades of community involvement. This resolution has no policy effect - it solely expresses the Senate’s condolences and acknowledges her life’s contributions. It was adopted by the Senate on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2897 would have codified Mississippi parents' rights to direct their children's upbringing, education, and care as a fundamental right under state law. It would have prohibited state agencies or local officials from infringing on these rights except when a law is narrowly tailored to meet a compelling government interest using the least restrictive means. Parents could have sued if their rights were violated, but the bill explicitly excludes child abuse cases and does not grant new access to medical procedures. The bill was referred to the Education Committee but died on the calendar in February 2025, and would have expired June 30, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 34) recognizing Callie Mueller of South Dakota as Miss Rodeo America 2025. The resolution formally welcomes her to Mississippi for the Dixie National Livestock and Rodeo Show and acknowledges her achievements as a rodeo titleholder, educator, and equine industry leader. It has no policy impact or binding requirements - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of recognition by the Mississippi Senate.

Maddy summarySB 2765 prohibits entities receiving Mississippi state tax incentives, credits, exemptions, or public funds from requiring landowners to reforest timber land as a condition of purchasing, severing, or producing timber. This bill directly affects landowners selling timber to such entities and would take effect July 1, 2025. The key provision bans these specific buyers from imposing reforestation requirements in contracts, aiming to prevent state-funded entities from adding such conditions. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2880 requires that any transfer of carbon credit or carbon sequestration interests must be recorded as a land interest following Mississippi’s existing land recording laws (Sections 89-5-1 and 89-5-3 of the Mississippi Code). This applies directly to landowners, farmers, and businesses holding or transferring carbon credits or sequestration rights. The bill ensures these interests gain legal priority through the same public recording process used for property deeds, preventing disputes over ownership. It would have taken effect July 1, 2025, but died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2572 would revise Mississippi's initiative process by clarifying that constitutional amendments can only be proposed by the legislature, while citizens retain the right to propose new laws or amend/repeal existing laws through initiative. The bill requires initiative sponsors to specify exact revenue sources and funding impacts in their proposals, and mandates the Secretary of State to send all initiatives to the chief legislative budget officer for a fiscal analysis within 10 days. This analysis must verify revenue claims and assess cost impacts on taxpayers, with the results posted publicly. The bill also repeals provisions allowing the legislature to bypass initiatives via alternative proposals and creates new rules for petition circulators and attorney general reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2589) is a procedural reorganization of existing Mississippi Code sections related to county garbage collection and liens. It moves sections 19-5-17, 19-5-21, 19-5-22, 21-19-2, and 27-41-59 into a more logical sequence for potential future amendment. It does not change current requirements for counties to establish garbage systems, set fees, or levy ad valorem taxes (up to 7 mills depending on county size/population). The bill directly affects county boards of supervisors responsible for managing waste services and collecting fees.

Maddy summarySB 2710 requires Mississippi nursing homes and assisted living facilities to maintain a fully operational emergency power source with enough fuel to run for at least five days during outages. This power must support critical medical devices (like supplemental oxygen equipment) and maintain comfortable indoor temperatures for residents. The Mississippi Department of Health will create specific rules for these standards and conduct unannounced inspections, giving facilities 60 days to comply after the rules are finalized.

Maddy summarySB 2714 requires Mississippi funeral service and funeral directing licensees to complete mandatory continuing education courses to maintain their licenses. The bill directs the State Board of Funeral Service to set specific hour requirements, approve course providers, and charge fees to cover oversight costs. It directly affects licensed funeral professionals who must fulfill these new training obligations during license renewals. The law amends existing licensing rules without changing initial qualification standards like education or exams.

Maddy summarySB 2333 requires Mississippi's Public Service Commission to study security threats to the state's electric grid, including electromagnetic pulse attacks and solar flares, and evaluate current grid vulnerabilities. The study must assess the need for security improvements and grid diversification, then propose specific measures to strengthen the system against damage. The Commission must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations by December 1, 2026, and the process is exempt from public meeting and record laws due to security sensitivity. This bill is procedural, focusing on a security assessment rather than immediate policy changes.