Sen. Albert Butler

Maddy summarySB 3040 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund repairs, upgrades, and improvements to agricultural facilities and infrastructure at Alcorn State University. The bill creates a special fund to receive bond proceeds, which will be used exclusively for these specific facility projects. The State Bond Commission will handle bond issuance, sale, and disbursement of funds under the bill's provisions. This legislation directly affects Alcorn State University's agricultural operations and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund accessibility improvements at Alcorn State University, specifically for repairs and renovations to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The funds would cover costs for making university buildings and facilities accessible, directly benefiting Alcorn State University and its students, faculty, and staff. The State Bond Commission would issue the bonds, backed by the state's full faith and credit, with proceeds directed to a special fund for the university's ADA compliance projects. The bill focuses solely on authorizing the bond financing mechanism, not on specific renovation details or project timelines.

Maddy summarySB 3035 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund repairs, renovations, expansions, and upgrades to the David L. Whitney (HPER) Arena Complex and Wellness Center at Alcorn State University. The bonds, backed by the full credit of the State of Mississippi, will be sold to raise funds specifically for these campus facility improvements. The proceeds will be managed through a dedicated special fund and directly benefit Alcorn State University students, staff, and athletic programs by modernizing their primary sports and wellness facilities. This bill is a funding mechanism, not a policy change, and does not affect other institutions or programs.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 48 formally recognizes and celebrates the 155th anniversary of Alcorn State University's founding. This symbolic resolution commemorates the university as America's first Historically Black Land-Grant University, Mississippi's oldest land-grant institution, and the second-oldest state-supported higher education institution in the state. It highlights the university's historical significance, educational impact, economic contributions ($187 million annual impact, 3,000 jobs), and notable alumni, but does not create new policies, allocate funding, or impose obligations. As a commemorative resolution, it affects no individuals or entities through legislative action.

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 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 2505 would allow Mississippi public school boards to designate specific times at the start of each school day and during school events (like assemblies or sports games) for voluntary, nonsectarian student-initiated prayer or reflection. It directly affects public school students and administrators by expanding existing allowances for prayer under Mississippi law. The bill requires such periods to be voluntary, nonreligious in nature, and not constitute a school-sponsored religious activity. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently active legislation.

Maddy summarySB 2556 allows Mississippi's State Department of Health to issue a certificate of need to a specific nonprofit company in Jefferson County that previously provided home health services but lost its approval during a statewide moratorium on new home health providers. This exemption enables the nonprofit to restart home health services in Adams, Amite, Franklin, Jefferson, and Wilkinson counties, where such services were previously unavailable under the moratorium. The bill modifies existing law to permit this exception for the nonprofit's specific circumstances without requiring a new certificate of need application. It directly affects the nonprofit and residents in those five counties who rely on home health care. The bill died in committee and did not become law.

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 appropriates $189 million from Mississippi's general fund and $1.7 billion from patient/student fees and special funds to cover the University of Mississippi Medical Center's (UMMC) operating expenses for fiscal year 2026. It specifically allocates funds for UMMC's schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing), the Teaching Hospital, and designated programs including $2.17 million for rural physician scholarships, $4.75 million for the Cancer Institute, $595,000 for a tobacco center, and $1.35 million for children's abuse care facilities. The bill requires UMMC to provide detailed expenditure reports to the legislature and mandates that state agencies reimburse UMMC for services within 90 days or risk service discontinuation. It also prohibits using funds for embryo research and specifies how certain allocations (like scholarship programs) must be used.