Sen. Brian Rhodes

Maddy summarySB 2239, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have required all Mississippi public and charter schools to display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments (min. 16x20 inches) and a U.S. flag (min. 36x24 inches) in every classroom, and to conduct a daily non-denominational prayer at the start of each school day. The bill also prohibited school staff from discrimination based on religious views and allowed students or faculty to opt out of participating in prayer or the Pledge of Allegiance without penalty. It would have applied starting in the 2026-2027 school year but has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2234 creates a Mississippi Study Committee to examine alternatives to statewide standardized testing for measuring student outcomes in public schools. The committee, composed of 9 members including the State Superintendent, school superintendents, teachers, and education committee chairs, must evaluate methods like project-based assessments and competency measures by December 2026. It will prioritize models that promote equity, reduce testing burdens, and improve data accuracy for classroom instruction. The State Department of Education will provide staff support, and the committee must submit final recommendations to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2026. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

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 2508 establishes the "Student 24/7 Teletherapy Pilot Project" within Mississippi's State Department of Education to provide teletherapy services to students in grades 5-12 at public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools. The bill requires vendors to meet strict qualifications (e.g., 10+ years in teletherapy, serving 50,000+ students) and provide 24/7 access with no cost or insurance barriers to students. Funding would come from the Education Enhancement Fund, with up to 10% of funds allowed for program administration. The Department must report participation rates, usage data, and student outcomes to the legislature by October 1, 2027. Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2509, the "Mississippi School Resource Officers Safety Act," proposes to create a state-funded program that reimburses local law enforcement agencies and school districts for hiring school resource officers (SROs) at all public and private elementary and secondary schools in Mississippi. It requires schools and police departments to jointly apply for funds, submit a written agreement outlining roles, and develop a school safety plan within 60 days of an SRO's hiring. The state would establish a special fund to cover SRO salaries, benefits, training, and equipment, aiming to place one SRO per school campus. This bill directly affects public school districts, accredited private schools (including those in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools), and local law enforcement agencies. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryThe Mississippi Safe Schools Information-Sharing Act of 2026 would create a secure online system for Mississippi schools to track student safety risk assessments (like threat assessments) and share key information with law enforcement and juvenile courts. School districts would be required to enter notices of such assessments within 48 hours, and local law enforcement must notify schools within 24 hours of a juvenile felony arrest, with both entries flowing into the system. The bill restricts access to designated school staff (superintendents, principals), prohibits sharing medical details, mandates annual privacy training, and limits data retention to what’s necessary for safety. It aims to improve student safety coordination while maintaining strict privacy protections under state law.

Maddy summarySB 2519, the "Mississippi Get to School and Stay Safe Act of 2026," would create a secure statewide online system for schools to track student safety risks. It requires school districts to enter risk assessments (e.g., threats or behavioral concerns) into the system within 48 hours, mandates behavioral threat assessment training for school leaders, and requires law enforcement to notify schools within 24 hours of a juvenile felony arrest. The system limits access to authorized school staff only, prohibits entry of medical details, and ensures privacy compliance under state law. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and would have affected Mississippi school districts, juvenile courts, and school attendance officers (who would receive a $10,000 pay increase).

Maddy summarySB 2531 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services to seek a federal waiver that would allow the state to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) beneficiaries from purchasing candy or soft drinks. The bill defines "candy" as sugar-based treats (excluding flour-based items or refrigerated products) and "soft drinks" as nonalcoholic sweetened beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or high-juice beverages). If the waiver isn't granted, the state must resubmit the request annually until approved. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.