Sen. Jason Barrett

Maddy summarySB 2332 prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders from working as first responders (including paramedics, EMTs, and emergency personnel) without prior approval from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry. The bill defines "first responder" as anyone responding to fire, medical, or hazardous material emergencies in professional or volunteer roles. This restriction applies directly to sex offenders seeking employment in these emergency response positions. The law amends existing Mississippi Code Section 45-33-26 to add this employment prohibition, with violations punishable as misdemeanors.

Maddy summarySB 2333 requires the Mississippi Justice Information Center to create an electronic system by January 1, 2028, for criminal justice agencies to track misdemeanor warrants across jurisdictions as they are issued, served, or canceled. This system will replace manual tracking, allowing police, courts, and other agencies to share warrant status in real time. The Department of Public Safety must create rules to implement the system, and all criminal justice agencies must assist in its development. The bill directly affects local law enforcement, courts, and state agencies handling misdemeanor cases by improving coordination and reducing delays in warrant processing.

Maddy summarySB 2411 would allow courts to avoid formally convicting commercial driver's license (CDL) holders for a first-time DUI offense if they were operating a non-commercial vehicle at the time of the offense. Currently, CDL holders are ineligible for nonadjudication (avoiding a conviction) even for first offenses, but this bill would expand eligibility to those not driving a vehicle requiring a CDL. The key provision amends Mississippi's DUI statute to remove the ineligibility for CDL holders in this specific scenario. This change would directly affect CDL holders who commit DUI while driving personal vehicles, potentially preventing a criminal record for their first offense. The bill died in committee and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2376 restores a legal assistant position in Mississippi's Fourteenth Circuit Court District that was previously removed. The bill amends Mississippi Code § 25-31-5 to authorize six full-time legal assistants for this district, reversing an earlier reduction. This change directly affects the Fourteenth Circuit Court District by restoring staffing capacity for legal support. The key mechanism is a specific line-item amendment to the court staffing code, effective July 1, 2026. The bill does not alter funding mechanisms or other districts' staffing levels.

Maddy summarySB 2513 would require Mississippi public school districts to provide every school bus driver - including temporary and substitute drivers - with an annual $5,000 salary supplement. This supplement would be paid from the district's existing transportation budget, which is allocated by the state based on factors like student enrollment and school district density. The bill does not change the current minimum monthly wage for drivers but adds this fixed annual payment as a new requirement. It would directly affect all school bus drivers employed in Mississippi's public school system.

Maddy summarySB 2822 makes kratom illegal in Mississippi by adding it to Schedule III of the state's Controlled Substances Act, classifying it as a restricted drug. This directly affects anyone who uses, sells, or distributes kratom products within the state, effectively banning its sale and possession. The bill also repeals existing laws that previously imposed an excise tax on kratom sales and established regulatory rules for kratom products. These changes remove all legal pathways for kratom commerce, treating it like other controlled substances under Mississippi law.

Maddy summarySB 2876 redirects state sales tax revenue generated within qualified "municipal historical hamlets" (former small communities under 600 residents that lost their charters before 1945) to the county where they're located. The county board of supervisors must spend this revenue solely within the hamlet's boundaries for local improvements. The bill requires county tax assessors to annually list businesses in these hamlets subject to sales tax and provide the list to the state revenue department for proper allocation. This change modifies existing tax distribution rules to ensure funds from these historic areas directly benefit their specific communities.

Maddy summarySB 2837 creates a 12-member study committee to examine the impact of eliminating ad valorem property taxes on real property in Mississippi and explore replacement revenue methods. The committee, composed of legislative leaders and the Revenue Commissioner, must review local government revenue sources, cost savings from tax elimination, and alternative funding mechanisms over a 10-year period, then submit recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2026. The bill requires state agencies to provide staff support and sets a dissolution date of January 1, 2027. This procedural bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial Senate Resolution (SR 12), not a policy bill. It formally recognizes the Brookhaven High School Panthers football team and head coach Darien Dorsey for winning the 2025 MHSAA Class 5A State Championship. The resolution commemorates their victory over West Point (31-19) and notes it marks the team's first state title since 2004. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or affect any policies, services, or individuals beyond the expressed commendation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 10) formally commemorates Mississippi College's bicentennial in 2026, marking 200 years since its founding on January 24, 1826. It honors the institution's history as Mississippi's oldest college and the second oldest Baptist college in the U.S., highlighting its contributions to education, its Christian mission, and its role in developing leaders across Mississippi. The resolution has no policy or funding provisions - it is purely ceremonial, extending recognition to the college's students, faculty, and administration. It was adopted by the Mississippi Senate in early 2026 with no reported opposition.