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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2585, the "In-Person Early Voting Act," would have established a standardized 15-day in-person early voting period for all Mississippi elections (primaries, general, runoffs, and municipal), beginning 15 days before an election and ending at noon on the Saturday before election day. It would require voting to occur only at county registrars' offices during regular business hours, with extended hours during the last full week before an election, and mandated posting notices in three public locations eight days prior. The bill also prohibited ballot harvesting, drop boxes, and mail-in voting outside existing Mississippi Election Code rules. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
Maddy summarySB 2686 would require courts to appoint a court-appointed advocate for the child in every termination of parental rights case, unless the court finds on the record that the appointment is unnecessary to protect the child's best interests. This bill directly affects children in these proceedings by guaranteeing they have an independent representative to voice their needs in court. The key provision mandates the appointment as the default requirement, with exceptions only in straightforward cases lacking disputed facts about the child's welfare. The bill clarifies and strengthens the existing legal standard without altering the current exception for simple cases.
Maddy summarySB 2677, the Mississippi Land Bank Act, would allow cities and counties to create land banks to acquire and redevelop vacant and abandoned properties forfeited to the state for nonpayment of taxes. Land banks could clean, demolish, or rehabilitate these properties, then sell or lease them for productive use like housing or business, using tools such as bonds and tax credits. The bill grants land banks broad authority to manage property without being restricted by typical local government rules on transactions. This aims to reduce blight, generate revenue for communities, and return underused properties to economic activity.
Maddy summarySB 2688 would establish a default rule in Mississippi custody cases that joint custody with equal parenting time is presumed to be in the child’s best interest, unless a court finds evidence showing it would be harmful. This presumption can be overridden by a showing of safety risks (like domestic abuse), and courts must document reasons for deviating unless both parents agree. The bill also requires courts to adjust child support calculations for equal parenting time and clarifies that domestic abuse protection orders against a parent automatically block the presumption. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
Maddy summarySB 2685, the Mississippi Fair Housing Act, would have prohibited discrimination in housing based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, or familial status. It would have applied to real estate transactions (sales, rentals, financing), requiring brokers and property owners to avoid discriminatory practices like refusing to rent, making biased ads, or using discriminatory application forms. Exceptions included owner-occupied duplexes and short-term rentals by owners. The bill also established civil remedies for victims of discrimination but died in committee in 2026 without becoming law.
Maddy summarySB 2687 establishes the Mississippi Rural Attorney Program to recruit lawyers for rural and underserved areas in the state. It creates a commission within the Mississippi Bar to designate eligible areas, manage an application process, and provide new attorneys with a stipend to start a practice in these regions. After five years of practicing in designated areas, the stipend is forgiven. The program also requires the commission to develop mentorship support and report annually to the legislature on participation and outcomes.
Maddy summarySB 2803 requires Mississippi law enforcement to issue a written citation (not make an arrest) for most nonviolent misdemeanor offenses when officers have probable cause to believe a crime occurred. It directly affects people charged with minor offenses like traffic violations or petty theft, unless specific exceptions apply. Key exceptions include violent misdemeanors (such as domestic violence or weapon-related offenses), refusal to provide ID, outstanding warrants, or if the person is under supervision for a felony. The bill also overrides local policies that mandate arrests for nonviolent misdemeanors and specifies that citations require a written promise to appear in court. This changes current practice by reducing low-level arrests for minor crimes while maintaining arrest authority for serious or high-risk situations.
Maddy summarySB 2916 would allow Mississippi grocery stores to sell wine in sealed, unopened containers for off-premises consumption, but not beer or alcohol for on-site drinking. It creates a new "grocery store wine-only retailer" permit, requiring stores to derive at least 50% of revenue from wine sales and prohibiting beer sales at these locations. The bill amends existing alcohol laws to define "grocery store," set license taxes, and clarify that wine sales must be in original sealed packages. This directly affects grocery stores seeking to expand alcohol offerings under new permit rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Mississippi Housing Infrastructure Support Program, providing grants and low-interest loans to counties, municipalities, and public utility authorities for public infrastructure (like water systems, roads, and utility extensions) directly enabling housing development. It requires local governments to contribute at least 25% of project costs through matching funds and prohibits enforcing lot or home size restrictions on funded projects. Funds cannot cover housing construction, rental subsidies, or operating costs, with grants capped at $5 million per project and loans limited to 2% interest over 20 years.