Sen. Andy Berry

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 33), not a bill with policy changes. It formally commends the Mississippi Forestry Commission for its 100th anniversary, recognizing its century of service in wildfire protection, forest management, and supporting Mississippi's forest-based economy. The resolution has no legal effect or direct impact on any individuals, landowners, or policies - it serves solely as a symbolic gesture of appreciation. The Senate will present it to the Commission and share it with state officials.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 32) formally commends the Simpson Academy Lady Cougars Softball Team and head coach Matt Harrison for winning the MAIS 4A Division I State Softball Championship in 2025. It specifically recognizes their championship victory (a 6-4 Game 3 win over Parklane Academy) and their playoff path (including an 8-1 win and 12-0 shutout). The resolution serves as a ceremonial gesture of recognition, addressed to the team, coach, school leadership, and sponsors, with no associated policy changes or legal effect. It directly honors the team's athletic achievement without impacting any laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 2305 would have required Mississippi public school boards to allow a Christian Bible provided by an external entity (not the school district) to be visible in all classrooms and libraries. It also mandated daily recitation of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance - including the phrase "under God" - and required teaching a new state pledge referencing "Almighty God." The bill aimed to enforce these provisions through school board compliance measures and reporting requirements. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2394, a proposed Mississippi bill, would allow home-based food sellers to increase their annual sales limit from an unspecified lower amount to $120,000 without needing a full food establishment permit. It requires all cottage food sellers to complete certified food safety training (with existing sellers having until October 2026 to comply) and lists specific approved foods like baked goods, jams, dried spices, and wine. The bill also mandates detailed product labeling, prohibits direct online sales (though advertising online is allowed), and exempts homemade wine sold through cottage food operations from certain local restrictions. This bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have directly affected small home-based food businesses operating within Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2391 would have extended Mississippi's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act to cover firetrucks purchased by public fire departments. It defined "public vehicle" as firetrucks and "public consumer" as paid or volunteer fire departments operating under government contracts. The bill amended the law to include these entities within existing warranty protections, ensuring fire departments could seek replacements or refunds for defective firetrucks under the same terms as private vehicle buyers. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2548 revises Mississippi's Veterinary Practice Act to clarify and strengthen oversight of veterinary professionals. It prohibits using titles like "Certified Veterinary Technician" without board credentialing, authorizes the Board to adopt national testing standards (e.g., AVMA or AAVSB exams), and allows the Board to set fees, inspection schedules, and administrative fines for veterinary practices. The bill also adds a public member and a certified vet tech to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, clarifies requirements for vet-client relationships, and raises the age for fee exemptions in part-time practice from 65 to 70. These changes directly affect licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary practices operating in Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2590 would require future candidates for sheriff in Mississippi to be certified law enforcement officers with at least 10 years of service. This applies to all new candidates elected after July 1, 2026, but exempts current sheriffs elected before that date. The bill mandates that new sheriffs complete training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy within one year of taking office, unless they qualify for an exemption based on prior experience or training. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, and was referred to committee before dying in 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2666 defined "geoengineering" as the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather or sunlight, and prohibited such activities within Mississippi. The bill amended state environmental laws to grant the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality authority to enforce this prohibition, including issuing orders and imposing penalties for violations. This would have directly affected any entity conducting geoengineering within the state, including government agencies or private organizations. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2645 would ban the sale, distribution, or possession for sale of beverages containing hemp, THC (including specific cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-9), or kratom. It directly affects restaurants, retail food establishments, and sellers of these products, imposing misdemeanor penalties of up to $500 or 3 months in jail for violations. The bill defines "prohibited beverages" precisely, requires enforcement by the Department of Agriculture and Health, and amends existing kratom sales rules to exclude beverages. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2808 authorizes Mississippi's Department of Agriculture and Commerce (specifically its Bureau of Plant Industry) to issue subpoenas for hearings and, when access to regulated entities (like farms or processing facilities) is denied, to seek court-issued administrative inspection and search warrants. The bill creates procedures allowing inspectors to obtain warrants for premises inspections and evidence seizure from circuit courts, requiring probable cause based on public interest in enforcing agricultural regulations. It also standardizes warrant execution, return timelines (within 10 days), and inventory procedures for seized items. This bill directly affects licensed agricultural businesses and inspectors by providing legal tools to enforce compliance when access is obstructed.