Sen. Jason Barrett

Maddy summarySB 3216 appropriates $6 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the City of Brookhaven for a public safety complex. The funding covers land acquisition, design, construction, site development, and equipment for the facility during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). This bill directly affects Brookhaven by providing state funding for a new public safety facility, which would house services like police or fire operations. The allocation is specific to the city's project costs without altering existing laws or creating new regulations.

Maddy summarySB 3217 appropriates $6,000,000 from the State General Fund to Pike County for the US 51 Railroad Bridge Project during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The funds are specifically designated to cover costs associated with this infrastructure project. This bill provides a one-time state funding allocation to support the project’s expenses without creating new policy or altering existing laws.

Maddy summarySB 3219 allocates $1,644,240 from Mississippi's General Fund to Lawrence County for courthouse repair and renovation during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). The bill directly provides funding for Lawrence County to cover costs associated with maintaining its courthouse building. It specifies that funds will be paid by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions, with the appropriation taking effect July 1, 2026. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy provisions, solely addressing the financial support for courthouse infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 3215 appropriates $3 million from Mississippi's General Fund to Lincoln County for infrastructure projects during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The funds specifically cover $2 million for repairing and resurfacing county roads and $1 million for making accessible features (ADA improvements) at the county courthouse. This bill directly provides financial support for Lincoln County's local infrastructure maintenance and accessibility upgrades without creating new laws or altering existing policies.

Maddy summarySB 3218 appropriates $1,200,000 from the state General Fund to the City of Brookhaven for the acquisition of a traffic signal at Biglane Drive and Highway 51. The funding is designated for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027), covering costs associated with purchasing and installing the signal. This bill directly affects Brookhaven residents and drivers at that intersection by authorizing state funds for the infrastructure project. It is a procedural appropriation with no new policy provisions, solely providing financial support for an existing traffic safety improvement.

Maddy summarySB 2470 appropriates $150,000 from the State General Fund to cover cost-of-living wage increases for support staff at the Mississippi School of the Arts during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). The funding directly affects support staff at this specialized arts school, ensuring their wages keep pace with inflation. This is a one-time budget allocation with no policy changes beyond the specified financial support.

Maddy summarySB 2861 increases Mississippi's income tax credit for private landowners who plant eligible trees (pine or hardwood) using approved reforestation methods like seedling planting, mixed-stand regeneration, or direct seeding. It raises the annual credit limit to $20,000 per taxpayer (with a lifetime cap of $125,000) for costs related to these practices on nonindustrial private lands. Landowners must follow a written reforestation plan verified by a certified forester and cannot claim the credit if they received state/federal cost-share funds for the same work (unless their income is below federal earned income levels). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly benefiting private forest landowners seeking tax savings for sustainable tree planting.

Maddy summarySB 2418 prohibits geoengineering activities in Mississippi, defined as the intentional release of chemicals into the atmosphere to alter weather or temperature. It directly affects any entity conducting such activities within the state, excluding standard agricultural pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. The bill amends environmental laws to define geoengineering, grant the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality authority to regulate it, and establish penalties for violations. Research institutions are exempt from the prohibition, and the law explicitly excludes routine farming chemical use. The measure aims to protect public health and environmental welfare by restricting atmospheric interventions not yet fully understood.

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 2346 would require all future candidates for sheriff in Mississippi to be certified law enforcement officers with at least 10 years of experience. This applies to new candidates starting July 1, 2026, but current sheriffs elected before that date would be exempt. The bill also includes training requirements for new sheriffs, mandating completion of law enforcement coursework at state academies unless previously certified. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.