Sen. Juan Barnett

Maddy summarySB 2249 legalizes mobile sports betting and online race book wagering in Mississippi, requiring platforms to hold manufacturer/distributor licenses, verify age (21+), and confirm users are physically in-state. It mandates that licensed casinos partner with only one platform and imposes a fee on gross revenue from these activities. All collected fees are dedicated exclusively to the Mississippi HOPE Scholarship Program, which funds higher education assistance for students. The bill explicitly prohibits all other forms of online gambling (like casino games) and amends existing gaming laws to align with these provisions. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2389 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include low-income adults who qualify under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically those with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level who are currently excluded from Mississippi Medicaid. The bill amends state law to automatically include these individuals in Medicaid coverage and requires that they receive essential health benefits. This change would allow eligible adults to enroll directly in Medicaid instead of navigating the ACA marketplace. The bill died in committee in 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2565 proposed to remove the requirement for certified nurse midwives in Mississippi to have a written agreement with a physician to practice. Currently, Mississippi law mandates that certified nurse midwives must have such a collaborative agreement or protocol agreement with a physician. This change would have directly affected certified nurse midwives by granting them greater practice autonomy without physician oversight. The bill aimed to update the state's regulatory framework for midwifery services, aligning with broader trends in nurse practitioner scope-of-practice laws.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to require all candidates for state and county offices to receive a majority of votes cast (more than 50%) to win an election. If no candidate achieves this, a runoff election would be held between the top two candidates, as outlined in existing election law. It directly affects all candidates running for state or county positions, including governor, legislators, and local officials. The amendment would need voter approval in the 2026 general election, with ballot language stating it requires "a majority of the number of votes cast."

Maddy summarySB 2675 would automatically clear certain criminal records in Mississippi. It requires judges to expunge records for individuals arrested but released when cases were dismissed, charges dropped, no court disposition occurred, or the person was found not guilty at trial. This applies to all qualifying cases without needing separate applications or judicial discretion. The bill directly affects people whose cases ended in these specific outcomes, removing barriers linked to past arrests or dismissed charges.

Maddy summarySB 2796 proposes creating the Mississippi Violent Crime Task Force to study why violent crimes are not being solved (low clearance rates) and identify solutions. The task force would review statewide crime-solving data, examine barriers faced by small/rural law enforcement agencies, and evaluate strategies to improve investigations, prosecutions, and victim support. It would include members from state agencies, prosecutors, law enforcement, judges, and community representatives, with a report due by December 2026. The bill aims to recommend specific policy changes to enhance public safety and justice outcomes for communities affected by violent crime.

Maddy summarySB 2774 would allow Mississippi's Department of Corrections (MDOC) to review and set terms for conditional release for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment for capital murder who are age 65 or older and have served at least 15 years of their sentence. This specifically affects elderly inmates convicted of capital murder, as the current law excludes them from such reviews. The bill amends Mississippi Code § 47-5-139 to add this eligibility, requiring MDOC to determine release terms. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2779 authorizes Mississippi's Department of Corrections (MDOC) to run a 3-year pilot project (2026-2029) using data analytics technology to address operational challenges like staffing shortages, preventable medical emergencies, and safety risks - without hiring new staff. The pilot would monitor inmate health trends, optimize staffing patterns to reduce overtime, support Medicare transitions for inmates, and identify behavioral risks to prevent assaults or self-harm. MDOC must report annually on metrics including reduced medical transports, overtime hours, and safety incidents to evaluate the program’s impact. The bill explicitly prohibits replacing correctional officers, mandates strict data privacy compliance, and requires a final report on whether to expand, modify, or end the pilot. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.)

Maddy summarySB 2903 modifies Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) by establishing a 3% annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for members who join the system on or after March 1, 2026. This COLA is capped at $15,000 per year, meaning retirees in this category cannot receive more than that amount annually, even if the 3% calculation would exceed it. Every three years, the Mississippi legislature may review and potentially raise the $15,000 cap based on inflation rates. The bill only affects new members joining after March 2026, leaving existing retirees and earlier members unchanged.