Sen. Andy Berry

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) expressing the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of Edwin Lloyd Pittman, a former Mississippi public servant. It honors his service as Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Attorney General, Secretary of State, two-term State Senator, and Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard. The resolution recognizes his career spanning multiple branches of state government and his efforts to improve judicial transparency and access to justice. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, serving solely as a formal tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SC 506) is a concurrent resolution expressing the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to the surviving family of former State Senator Nickey Reed Browning of Pontotoc, Mississippi, following his death on October 29, 2024. It commends his 24-year service in the Senate, his community leadership, and his role as a longtime coach for the Pontotoc Red Sox American Legion Baseball team. The resolution formally extends condolences and recognizes his contributions to Pontotoc and Union Counties. As a commemorative measure, it does not create any new laws or policies.

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 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 2472 would shield pesticide manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits related to product labeling, including failure-to-warn claims, if the pesticide had an EPA-approved label under federal law (FIFRA) at the time of sale. It specifically applies to pesticides registered both with Mississippi’s commissioner and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill provides limited immunity only for labeling issues, not other product defects or safety concerns. This change would directly affect manufacturers, sellers, and potentially consumers who might otherwise file lawsuits over labeling. The bill died in committee and was not enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2823 allows Native wineries and distilleries in Mississippi to ship native wines and spirits directly to state residents without using the state's Alcohol Beverage Control Division. It expands their permits to cover up to two additional tasting rooms (each requiring a separate permit) and exempts them from a 24.5% markup for on-site retailer pickups. The bill requires clear labeling on shipments, annual sales reporting, and prohibits shipping to counties still under "dry law" bans. It also mandates that recipients be 21+ and use products for personal consumption only.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2858) is a procedural measure to reorganize existing tax exemption code sections in Mississippi's statutes. It moves specific sections (like those covering cemetery exemptions, agricultural property, and religious charities) to new positions within the code for potential future amendment, without changing any current exemptions or creating new policies. The bill does not alter any tax rules or affect taxpayers, as it only rearranges how existing law is structured in the codebook. It died in committee in February 2025 and had no substantive impact on tax policy.

Maddy summarySB 2758 would ban the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells (lab-grown meat) in Mississippi. It prohibits these activities for all businesses, with violations classified as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 or up to three months in jail. Retail food establishments violating the ban could face license suspension or revocation under existing health and agriculture laws. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law, so it has no current effect. The proposed law directly affects food businesses and manufacturers of cultivated meat products in Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2382 exempts the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) from standard public purchasing bidding requirements when spending funds for the United States Semiquincentennial Commission (celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence). The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 31-7-13 to create this specific exception, meaning the DFA could bypass typical competitive bidding processes for these commission-related expenses. This is a procedural change affecting only DFA spending on this particular commission, not a broader policy shift. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summarySB 2013 defines "geoengineering" in Mississippi law as the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather or sunlight, then prohibits this activity within the state. It amends environmental statutes to give the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality authority to regulate and penalize such actions, with violations subject to fines. The bill directly affects any entity (including government agencies) conducting atmospheric chemical dispersal for weather modification within Mississippi. The legislation died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.