Sen. Jeff Tate

Maddy summaryBill SC 504 is a commemorative resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's deepest sympathy to the family of Charles James Pittman, a former Mississippi State Senator and former staff member to Governor Haley Barbour. The resolution also commends his decades of public service, including founding the "MS Singing Senators" and his dedication to Mississippi communities. It honors his legacy of ethics, community involvement, and service to the state, as detailed in the resolution's preamble. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but serves as a formal tribute.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 30) expresses the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of Representative Charles L. Young, Jr., following his passing on December 19, 2024. It formally extends sympathy to his surviving family members, recognizing his service as a Democrat representing Mississippi's 82nd District since 2012. The resolution does not create any new policies or affect any specific laws, as it is a ceremonial expression of respect for a deceased legislator.

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 2637 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing Mississippi election code sections (specifically 23-15-831 through 23-15-859) by moving them to earlier positions in the code. It does not change how vacancies in elected offices are filled - these sections already govern processes like gubernatorial appointments for state offices, county board appointments for local offices, and special election procedures. The bill simply rearranges the code for clarity, preparing the sections for potential future amendments. This is purely a technical code reorganization with no new policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 2558 requires lobbyists in Mississippi to disclose in their annual registration statements whether they represent a "foreign adversary" client, defined as a foreign government or entity designated as such by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. This applies to lobbyists working with foreign governments, political parties, corporations, or individuals from nations considered adversaries by the U.S. The bill amends existing lobbying laws to add this disclosure requirement and clarify key terms like "foreign principal" and "foreign adversary." The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2665 aimed to enact Mississippi's participation in the Dietitian Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement allowing licensed dietitians to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each. The compact would grant "Compact Privilege" to dietitians licensed in Mississippi (the "Home State"), enabling them to practice in other member states ("Remote States") by meeting uniform requirements like continuing education and passing a jurisprudence exam. Key provisions include preserving each state's regulatory authority over practice, requiring dietitians to follow the laws of the state where the patient is located, and creating a shared system for disciplinary information between states. This would directly affect licensed dietitians seeking interstate practice and improve public access to dietetic services by reducing administrative barriers.

Maddy summarySB 2638 would have required candidates for elected office in Mississippi to submit a written certification confirming their identifying information is accurate and they meet all eligibility requirements for the position. It would have disqualified candidates found to have voted outside the boundaries of the district they sought to represent during the residency period required for the office. The bill also established a specific appeal process for candidates denied ballot placement by election commissions. This bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2639 would have required campaign materials (like posters or flyers) to be kept at least 150 feet away from any entrance of a building used for elections. It included an exception allowing materials to be displayed on private property if the person has a lease or ownership interest there. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, directly affected campaign workers, candidates, and organizations distributing election materials near polling locations. It aimed to clarify existing rules without changing the 150-foot distance requirement or the private property exception already in the law.

Maddy summarySB 2722 would require Mississippi to set aside $10 million annually from federal TANF funds for grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits providing marriage counseling and support services specifically to military families (including all branches and reserves) and first responder families (firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, etc.). The bill mandates this funding be used to supplement, not replace, existing programs. It would direct the State Department of Human Services to develop rules for awarding these grants. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2536, a Mississippi bill that died in committee on February 4, 2025, would have required public school districts (K-12) to implement a specific "success sequence" and "character education" curriculum by the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandated instruction on finishing high school, working full-time, marrying before having children, and 15 character traits like trustworthiness, responsibility, respect for family and authority, and sexual abstinence outside marriage. School boards would have needed to consult parents, educators, and community members in developing the curriculum, while prohibiting religious or political indoctrination in school hours (though allowing it in optional after-school programs). The State Department of Education would have collected data and reported annually on curriculum impacts.