Sen. Angela Hill

Maddy summarySB 2611 would have removed a requirement in Mississippi law that professional school counselors must follow the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics. Specifically, it aimed to delete the provision mandating that counselors spend at least 80% of their time delivering direct student services as defined by the ASCA. This change would have directly affected Mississippi school counselors by removing this specific ethical and service-delivery standard. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2824 would have prohibited ambulance services from entering exclusivity contracts that force patients to use a single provider for nonemergency transport, specifically banning hospital contracts requiring patients to go only to one facility. It would have required patients or their families to decide which ambulance provider handles county-to-county or county-to-state transfers during nonemergency situations. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2676 requires healthcare professionals and students to obtain **detailed written permission** before performing intimate exams (like pelvic or breast exams) on patients who are sedated, anesthetized, or unconscious. Exceptions include medical emergencies, standard care with general consent, or court-ordered exams for evidence. The bill mandates that consent forms clearly explain the exam’s purpose, who will perform it, whether students are involved, and allow patients to decline specific aspects. It also requires providers to notify patients after such exams and states violations could lead to professional discipline. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have applied to all Mississippi healthcare settings.

Maddy summarySB 2663 prohibits the sale, distribution, or offering for sale of most electronic cigarettes and related nicotine delivery products in Mississippi, directly affecting retailers and manufacturers selling these items. The bill bans products not legally marketable under federal FDA rules (with an exception for products with pending FDA premarket applications), while requiring age verification for sales to individuals under 21. It establishes escalating fines ($250 to $1,000 per violation) for noncompliance and specifies that products containing controlled substances face additional penalties. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2896, the "Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act," establishes parental rights to direct a child's upbringing, education, health care, and mental health as a fundamental right protected from state interference. It requires the state to demonstrate a "compelling governmental interest" and use the "least restrictive means" before substantially burdening these rights, and mandates written parental consent for medical procedures, biometric scans, DNA records, and certain school content (like sexual education or gender identity topics). The bill also grants parents access to school and medical records, the right to withdraw children from specific instruction, and requires schools to develop policies promoting parental involvement. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2891 would create a new felony offense called "aggravated reckless driving" for drivers who cause accidents resulting in serious injury (such as loss of a limb, disfigurement, or brain damage). It increases penalties for simple reckless driving (fines up to $500 or 30 days in jail for first offense) and makes aggravated reckless driving punishable by 1-15 years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill applies directly to drivers convicted of reckless driving who cause specific types of bodily harm. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2755, the "Vaccine Discrimination and Transparency Act," prohibits discrimination against individuals who refuse specific vaccinations based on conscience (including religious or ethical beliefs). It bans employers, schools, healthcare entities, and others from taking adverse actions (like firing, denying services, or charging fees) due to vaccination refusal, and creates a civil cause of action allowing individuals to sue for triple damages or $10,000. The bill also standardizes medical exemptions for vaccines, requires healthcare providers to complete a specific form for exemptions, and removes the state health department’s authority to mandate isolation/quarantine. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2487 would require courts to order defendants convicted of aggravated DUI (where the victim was a parent of a minor child) to pay child support to the child until they turn 21. The court must set a reasonable amount considering the child’s needs, the surviving parent’s resources, the child’s standard of living, and other factors. Payments would go to the surviving parent or guardian via the court clerk, with a one-year grace period after incarceration for payment, and would continue until fully paid regardless of the child’s age. The bill also specifies that any future civil judgment for the child would offset the child support order.

Maddy summarySB 2064 would have required Mississippi vehicle owners to provide proof of liability insurance before receiving or renewing license tags. Owners would have signed a certificate at county tax offices confirming coverage, with penalties including $500 fines or up to one year in jail for false claims. Insurance companies would have been required to notify tax collectors of coverage lapses, potentially leading to tag confiscation. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2223 prohibits Mississippi's public land-grant universities from using any funds - whether from state appropriations, donations, or tuition - to create or maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices or hire DEI officers. It bans requiring diversity training, diversity statements for hiring, or preferential treatment based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics, while defining prohibited DEI activities to exclude discussions of concepts like "systemic oppression" or "anti-racism." Universities may redirect funds saved from DEI programs toward merit scholarships or lower tuition for in-state students, but must report compliance with the law. Exemptions include Title IX compliance offices, academic departments, and student organizations.