Sen. Rita Parks

Maddy summarySB 2754 would require Mississippi hospitals to implement a pre-surgical blood alcohol test (BAT) for all patients, with written patient consent. The bill mandates that test results remain confidential under HIPAA rules and requires medical staff to be trained in diagnosing/treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms (delirium tremens) and to have detox medications available. It directly affects patients undergoing surgery, licensed physicians, and healthcare facilities by adding new protocols to surgical preparation. The bill did not advance beyond committee in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2336 increases salaries for all sworn officers in the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics by $6,000 annually. The bill amends the state's pay scale to add this fixed amount to every existing salary bracket across all ranks and experience levels, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects over 1,000 officers currently employed in these divisions, adjusting their base pay without creating new positions or altering promotion criteria. The increase applies uniformly to all ranks, from Troopers to Colonels, as specified in the updated salary schedule.

Maddy summarySB 2170 requires Mississippi's Office of Healthy Schools to create a standardized salary schedule for school nurses based on their education and experience. This schedule would set the minimum pay that all public school districts must use when hiring school nurses. The bill aims to establish consistent compensation across the state, directly affecting school districts and school nurses. It does not specify exact salary amounts but mandates that districts cannot pay below the state-developed minimums.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to restore the right to vote to Teddy Null of Alcorn County, Mississippi, who had previously lost his voting rights due to multiple criminal convictions. The legislation states that Null has behaved as a law-abiding citizen since his last release from supervision in 2017. If passed, the act would officially reinstate his eligibility to participate in elections without requiring further legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to restore the right to vote to Pamela Null of Alcorn County, Mississippi, who had lost her voting rights due to past criminal convictions. The legislation states that she has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen and is eligible to have her suffrage reinstated. Once passed, the act would immediately remove the voting disqualification resulting from her previous sentences for forgery, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to support the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for the 2025 fiscal year, covering scholarships, loans, and grants for eligible students. It establishes specific funding priorities, such as reserving money for new optometry students and ensuring that the FAITH Scholarship Program receives a designated portion of federal and special source funds. The legislation also sets rules for fund allocation, including a preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing equipment and a limit preventing students from receiving aid from multiple undergraduate grant programs simultaneously. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to submit detailed annual reports on award amounts and recipient data while mandating that official transcripts cannot be issued to students with unpaid loan balances.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill appropriates $20 million from the state's Capital Expense Fund to support the construction and renovation of the CARES Center, a facility for children and youth psychiatric treatment. The funds are designated for a subgrant to Canopy Children's Solutions, which must agree to reserve at least 33 beds for patients under state care and meet specific health regulatory standards. To protect state investment, the legislation requires Canopy to provide a financial security interest in the facility and allows the state to recoup the funds if the facility fails to meet standards for three consecutive months or ceases operations. Additionally, the bill explicitly prohibits using these funds to pay employee premium payments and releases the state from any future obligation to maintain the center if the agreement is breached.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill appropriates over $1.5 billion in state and special funds to support the eight state universities for the 2025 fiscal year, covering general operations, maintenance, and repairs. A key provision establishes a rule requiring off-campus centers to receive at least 65% of the funding rate applied to on-campus students while charging only direct costs. The legislation also allocates specific amounts for the Mississippi Governor's School for the Gifted and Talented and the Teacher Corps, and directs the Board of Trustees to eliminate duplicate programs and avoid using general funds to replace withdrawn federal money.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to provide death benefits to Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who die or suffer fatal injuries while performing official duties. It increases the base death benefit payment to $150,000 and allows for an additional $25,000 per child, with a maximum total payout of $250,000, while also authorizing up to $15,000 for funeral expenses. The legislation creates a separate fund for training and equipment grants, directing any money remaining in the death benefits trust after maintaining a $4 million minimum balance to support enhanced training or safety gear for covered individuals.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Act establishes new state laws in Mississippi that require public schools and universities to maintain separate restrooms, changing facilities, and student housing spaces for males and females. Under this legislation, these areas must be designated exclusively for one sex or configured as single-occupant or family-use rooms with secure locks to ensure privacy. The law also restricts entry into these spaces, allowing access only for specific reasons such as assisting young children, responding to emergencies, or performing official government duties. Additionally, the bill defines terms like "female" and "male" based solely on biological sex determined at birth and mandates that social fraternities and sororities on public land adhere to these single-sex housing definitions.