Sen. Jeff Tate

Maddy summarySB 2780 would have allowed non-Mississippi residents living within 15 miles of the Mississippi border to apply for notary public commissions, expanding eligibility beyond current Mississippi residency requirements. It modifies the existing law to permit applicants who reside in another state but are within 15 miles of Mississippi's border for at least 30 days prior to application. The bill did not change other requirements, such as age, citizenship, English proficiency, or the $5,000 surety bond. The bill was referred to committee in January 2025 but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is not active.

Maddy summarySB 2640 would allow Mississippi counties to include inactive voters (those who haven’t voted recently or moved) in electronic pollbooks, provided affidavit ballots are available at the voting precinct. This change directly affects voters in inactive status who would otherwise need to use affidavit ballots to cast a vote. The bill requires that voting locations maintain affidavit ballots for these voters to cast a ballot, following existing procedures under Section 23-15-573. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2736, the "Mississippi Kratom Consumer Protection Act," regulates kratom products sold in Mississippi by banning specific unsafe practices. It prohibits processors and retailers from selling kratom products adulterated with dangerous substances, contaminated with harmful ingredients, containing over 2% 7-hydroxymitragynine, or including synthetic alkaloids. The bill also bans sales to anyone under 21 and requires clear labeling with serving sizes. Businesses violating these rules face fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses, with enforcement handled by the Department of Revenue starting July 1, 2025. This directly affects kratom sellers, manufacturers, and distributors operating in Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2054 requires Mississippi county boards of supervisors to provide insurance coverage (including health, accident, and hospitalization) to election commissioners starting January 1, 2026. This directly affects county election commissioners, who currently do not have mandated insurance coverage under existing law. The bill amends Section 25-15-101 to extend the same group insurance requirements already applied to other county employees like school staff. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summarySB 2236 requires the Mississippi Parole Board to review and approve releases of offenders under the earned-time allowance program, which allows eligible inmates to earn time off their sentences for good conduct. The bill mandates that the Department of Corrections provide the Parole Board with detailed offender information - including offense circumstances, criminal history, and conduct in custody - at least one year before release. The Parole Board must deny approval if release poses a public safety risk and must hold hearings with victim notification for offenders convicted of capital offenses. This bill amends existing laws to establish these review procedures, shifting final approval authority from the Department of Corrections to the Parole Board.

Maddy summarySB 2076 prohibits circuit court judges from allowing any candidate for judicial office (including Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit judge, chancellor, or justice court judge) to address the public during court sessions. The bill amends Mississippi law to explicitly ban judges from providing such speaking opportunities to these candidates during court terms. It specifically targets judicial elections, preventing candidates from using court settings to campaign. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2278 would have allowed full-time Mississippi National Guard members to receive a resident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license at no cost, exempting them from the standard $500-$1,000 fee. It required applicants to submit a National Guard membership document to verify eligibility. This provision would have amended Mississippi Code Section 49-7-153, directly affecting active-duty Guard members by removing a financial barrier to accessing hunting and fishing privileges. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2160 would allow children of Mississippi National Guard members to enroll in any public school district, regardless of the child's residence, extending an existing policy for active military personnel. It limits enrollment transfers to one per academic year and ensures parents need not reapply for continued enrollment after initial approval. The bill also clarifies school districts are not required to provide transportation for these transfers. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2161 would have allowed Mississippi's independent schools (private or nonpublic schools accredited, members of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, or not under the State Board of Education) to contract with local police departments for certified law enforcement officers to provide security on school property. It would have authorized these schools to employ security personnel with peace officer powers after they take an oath and bond as a county constable, and complete required law enforcement training. Additionally, the bill would have permitted independent schools to operate noncommercial radio stations for educational use (with FCC approval) and enter agreements with law enforcement for equipment or traffic control. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2287 requires Mississippi state agencies to review rules with significant economic impact every five years, mandating that such rules expire after five years unless renewed. A "significant economic impact" is defined as any rule costing more than $1 million annually to comply with, as determined by a cost-benefit analysis filed with the Secretary of State. Existing rules adopted before July 1, 2025, expire July 30, 2030, while new rules adopted on or after that date expire within five years of their effective date. This applies to all agencies except temporary rules or those reviewed by the Occupational Licensing Review Commission. The bill aims to ensure ongoing evaluation of costly regulations.