Sen. Juan Barnett

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 44 is a symbolic resolution expressing Mississippi's support for strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Taiwan. It does not create new laws or programs but formally encourages the state to support U.S.-Taiwan trade (noting $201.1 billion in 2025 trade), advocate for Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the WHO, and establish a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan. The resolution also supports a U.S.-Taiwan tax agreement and counters efforts by China to limit Taiwan's global engagement. As a non-binding expression of support, it directly affects Mississippi's diplomatic posture but does not impose new obligations or changes to existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution honors the historical and cultural connection between Quebec and Mississippi, dating to 1699 when French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville established a settlement in what is now Mississippi. It recognizes ongoing ties through shared heritage (including annual commemorations), economic collaboration (like Quebec supplying aluminum to Mississippi's auto industry), and membership in the SEUS-CP alliance, without creating new laws or affecting any policies. The resolution will be formally transmitted to Quebec officials as a symbolic gesture of goodwill.

Maddy summaryMississippi Senate Bill 2042 transfers the administration of probation and parole officers from the Mississippi Department of Corrections to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2028. The bill requires the two departments to jointly develop a two-year transition plan by January 1, 2027, including cost-minimizing strategies and coordination with circuit courts. It redefines probation and parole officers as sworn law enforcement officers under the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Community Corrections, amending multiple statutes to reflect this change and establish their duties. The bill also mandates annual training for officers and evidence-based supervision practices to reduce recidivism.

Maddy summarySB 2039 proposes phasing out Mississippi's Parchman State Penitentiary over four years (starting July 1, 2026), transferring its inmates, staff, and programs to other correctional facilities. The bill requires reducing Parchman's population by 1,700 inmates by 2028 and mandates renaming the Tutwiler facility as the "Northwest Mississippi Correctional Facility" for inmate transfers. It also designates an existing Parchman building for mental health services and directs the Corrections Commissioner to submit a consolidation plan by 2027. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all candidates for state and county offices in Mississippi to win a majority (more than 50%) of votes cast to be elected. It directly affects all candidates running for state and county elected positions, including governors, legislators, sheriffs, and county commissioners. The key provision changes election rules so that if no candidate receives a majority in the first election, a runoff election must be held between the top two candidates. This would replace Mississippi's current system, where a candidate can win with a plurality (the most votes, even if less than 50%). The amendment would take effect if approved by voters in the 2026 election.

Maddy summarySB 2035 requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections to collect specific data on inmates, probationers, and correctional facilities. It mandates detailed information including inmate demographics, offense types (with flags for gang involvement, habitual offender status, or sex offender registration), sentencing details, rehabilitation progress, facility population, staffing levels, and daily costs. The department must publish aggregated, confidential datasets online in accessible formats, allowing public access to real-time or monthly reports on facility operations and inmate information. This bill directly affects incarcerated individuals, probationers, and correctional facilities by standardizing data collection for transparency and reporting purposes.

Maddy summarySB 2048, the "Restoration of Voting Rights Act," would automatically restore voting rights to individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies upon completing their sentence, paying all fines and restitution, and maintaining a crime-free record for seven years. It directly affects Mississippi residents with nonviolent felony convictions who meet these specific criteria. The bill defines "nonviolent felony" as crimes not involving physical force against people or significant property harm. It amends state election laws to remove disenfranchisement for qualifying individuals and require automatic restoration of voting eligibility without additional legal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights in Mississippi to people convicted of nonviolent felonies after meeting specific conditions. It would require individuals to complete all sentence terms (including probation), pay all fines/fees, and maintain seven years without new criminal convictions. The amendment directly affects nonviolent felons who have served their sentences but are currently barred from voting under Mississippi's 1890 Constitution. If approved by voters in 2026, it would change the voting eligibility rules for this group, though the bill died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2098 designates June 19 as "Juneteenth Freedom Day" for commemoration, specifically referencing the 1865 announcement of freedom to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. The bill clarifies this is **not** a legal holiday requiring state paid time off or expenses, distinguishing it from recognized holidays like Independence Day. It affects state agencies and entities by requiring only non-paid commemorative observance, consistent with other designated days like Elvis Presley Day. The bill aims to formally recognize Juneteenth as a day of reflection on freedom and the African-American experience, without altering work schedules or public holiday status.

Maddy summarySB 2207 would have required Mississippi's Department of Corrections to revise prison uniforms by removing the word "CONVICT" and replacing it with "M.D.O.C.", while also eliminating stripes from the uniforms. This change would directly affect all state offenders housed in Mississippi's correctional facilities. The bill, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed this specific uniform modification as part of Section 47-5-124 amendments, with a planned implementation date of July 1, 2026. The bill did not alter other provisions in the referenced section (like radio restrictions or air conditioning rules), which were unrelated to the uniform change.