Sen. Angela Hill

Maddy summarySB 2191 amends Mississippi law to elevate a second conviction for simple domestic violence to a felony, increasing penalties from misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail) to 5-10 years in prison. It directly affects individuals with a prior domestic violence conviction within the past seven years, regardless of whether the prior offense was against the same or different victim. The bill modifies Section 97-3-7 of the Mississippi Code by adding a felony provision for "simple domestic violence" offenses committed by those with one prior conviction. This change applies only to second offenses of simple domestic violence, not first-time or aggravated cases.

Maddy summarySB 2183 would have allowed Mississippi public and charter schools to offer elective social studies courses about the Bible (including the Old and New Testaments) and Hebrew Scriptures. These courses would focus on teaching the texts' content, history, literary style, and cultural influence on society - without requiring students to use a specific Bible translation or promoting any religion. Schools offering such courses would need to maintain religious neutrality and comply with all applicable laws. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2399 amends Mississippi's State Health Plan to require coverage for prosthetic teeth and permanent dental implants specifically for children diagnosed with oligodontia (a condition causing missing multiple teeth). This change directly affects children enrolled in the plan who have this medical condition, ensuring they receive necessary dental care previously excluded from coverage. The bill adds this provision as a new exception to the plan's standard dental coverage limitations under Section 25-15-7. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2196 would criminalize illegal entry into Mississippi by non-citizens who enter outside designated ports of entry (Section 5) or remain in the state after being denied admission or removed by federal authorities (Section 6). It classifies these violations as misdemeanors (up to 180 days jail or $2,000 fine) or felonies (up to 2 years jail or $10,000 fine) depending on prior offenses. The bill includes limited affirmative defenses for those with federal asylum, lawful presence, or approved DACA status (2012-2021), but not for other federal programs. Law enforcement cannot arrest individuals at schools, places of worship, or healthcare facilities under this law (Section 2), and court orders for removal require specific documentation and federal database checks (Section 3). The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2306 amends a state law prohibiting sexual activity between correctional staff or supervisory personnel and individuals in custody. The bill replaces the term "offender" with "person" and clarifies that the law applies to anyone in custody - including incarcerated individuals, those on probation/parole, or detained persons - regardless of their legal status. It prohibits staff (like guards or correctional employees) and civilians with supervisory authority from engaging in sexual acts with these individuals, even with consent, and sets penalties of up to $5,000 or 5 years in prison for violations. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2218, the Mississippi Safe Dormitories Act, requires public universities and colleges to provide single-sex dormitory options where opposite-sex guests are prohibited, except in designated public areas. It specifically mandates that unmarried students under 21 live in these single-sex facilities and bans romantic relationships between university employees and students they supervise. The bill creates a civil legal remedy for students harmed by violations, allowing lawsuits against institutions and staff for failing to comply. It directly affects all students at Mississippi's public higher education institutions, particularly first-year students, and aims to address campus sexual assault by restructuring on-campus housing policies. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2437, the "Prohibition of Exploitation by Deepfakes Act," would have prohibited platforms from knowingly publishing non-consensual intimate visual depictions (like AI-altered sexual images) of identifiable people without their consent, unless specific exceptions apply. It required covered platforms (like social media sites) to remove such content upon notification from the affected person and establish clear removal processes. The bill clarified that consent for creating an intimate image does not cover its publication, and threatened intentional harm through deepfakes would be punishable. This proposed law died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2433 would have prohibited Mississippi counties, municipalities, and other local governments from creating or implementing guaranteed income programs - where residents receive regular, unconditional cash payments without requirements. The bill banned local ordinances or rules that fund, administer, or facilitate such programs, declaring any existing or future violations void as of July 1, 2025. It directly affected local governments by preventing them from establishing or managing these cash payment initiatives. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2473 prohibits nonresident aliens from owning land in Mississippi if they are from countries designated as "foreign adversaries" by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce or known human rights violators. It requires existing nonresident alien owners to sell land within 1-2 years (depending on how they acquired it) or face fines up to $5 million, followed by civil forfeiture. Real estate professionals must disclose these restrictions to clients but are not liable for verifying foreign adversary status. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2156 would allow Mississippi public school students to miss up to three class periods weekly (125 yearly) for off-campus religious or moral instruction with parental consent. School districts would need to adopt policies permitting this, award elective credit based on secular course evaluation (using criteria like syllabus, instruction time, and instructor qualifications - not religious content), and ensure no school funds or resources are used. Independent entities (e.g., religious groups) would provide instruction, handle transportation, maintain records, and assume liability, while excluding charter and virtual schools from the requirement. The bill focuses on creating a neutral framework for student participation in external instruction programs.