Maddy summarySB 2101 requires Mississippi public school districts to create policies allowing students to be excused from school for up to three class periods weekly (max 125 annually) to attend off-campus religious or moral instruction courses. It mandates parental consent, prohibits school funding or resources for the instruction, and requires schools to award elective credit based on secular criteria like course syllabi and instructor qualifications - not religious content. The bill explicitly excludes charter and virtual schools from its requirements and protects school districts from liability for student participation outside school supervision. This policy directly affects public school students seeking credit for off-campus moral or religious education under strict administrative guidelines.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2127 would require all settlement agreements between Mississippi public bodies (like state agencies, cities, or school boards) and other parties to be made public, prohibiting confidentiality clauses in such settlements. The bill states that neither the parties nor courts could keep settlement terms secret or seal related court records. This directly affects public entities and anyone involved in civil disputes with them, ensuring transparency in how public funds are resolved. The law would amend Mississippi's public records statute to explicitly require disclosure of settlement details, aligning with broader public access principles. It was introduced but died in committee in February 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2129 prohibits Mississippi courts and other authorities from enforcing foreign laws or religious legal systems in specific contexts. It specifically bans applying foreign law in divorce or child custody cases if it violates constitutional rights, and prohibits enforcing religious codes entirely. The bill also allows courts to award attorney fees to parties successfully opposing the enforcement of foreign law. Business contracts are exempt from these restrictions under the bill. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee in February 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2278 would require Mississippi state agencies to email all legislators about proposed new rules within one business day after filing the notice with the Secretary of State. Currently, agencies only need to publish notices in an administrative bulletin, but this bill adds direct electronic notification to lawmakers. The bill also updates procedures for agencies to notify the public about proposed rules, including maintaining mailing lists for public requests. It was introduced in 2026 but died in committee and never became law.
Maddy summarySB 2231 reclassifies the first offense of procuring prostitution (arranging or paying for sex) as a felony, increasing penalties to up to two years in prison or a $5,000 fine, compared to previous misdemeanor penalties. It requires law enforcement to impound any vehicle used in the commission of the offense, with the arrested person responsible for all impoundment costs regardless of income. The bill also significantly increases penalties for offenses involving minors under 18, imposing mandatory prison terms of 5-30 years or fines up to $500,000. These changes apply to individuals and entities (like businesses) that facilitate prostitution, with no defense for minor consent.
Maddy summarySB 2284 allows Mississippi residents who own up to nine cows, goats, or sheep to use the milk from those animals for personal consumption and to sell raw milk directly to consumers from their farm. It permits "incidental sales" (not for institutions) under strict conditions: no advertising, mandatory risk warnings to buyers, clean milking environments, and use of sterile containers. The bill explicitly excludes public schools and state institutions from certain regulatory fees but maintains penalties for non-compliance (up to $100 fines). This amendment to existing dairy law clarifies that personal raw milk use and small-scale farm sales are legal, while preserving public health regulations for commercial operations. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.
Maddy summarySB 2250 prohibits Mississippi state, county, and municipal agencies from reserving public contracts for minority-owned businesses (set-aside contracts) or giving them preferential treatment based on the owner's race, ethnicity, or sex. It defines "minority business" to include businesses owned by African Americans, Hispanic/Latino individuals, Asians, American Indians/Alaska Natives, or women. The bill amends Mississippi law to require that public contracts be awarded without considering these factors, and establishes a Public Procurement Review Board to oversee procurement rules. This would have eliminated race, ethnicity, and sex-based preferences in public contracting across the state.
Maddy summarySB 2283 would have removed Mississippi's $10,000 annual sales limit for cottage food operations and lifted the ban on selling products via mail order or online (though advertising online was already permitted). It would have directly affected small home-based food businesses (like bakers or jam makers) by allowing them to sell more widely without exceeding the sales cap. The bill maintained existing labeling requirements (including the "not subject to Mississippi food safety regulations" warning) and required compliance with federal tax laws. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, so these changes were never enacted.
Maddy summarySB 2271 would increase the percentage of sales tax revenue counties receive from business activities outside municipal boundaries, changing the allocation from 18% to 18.5% of sales tax revenue collected on such activities. This directly affects Mississippi counties, particularly those without incorporated municipalities, by redirecting more funds to county treasuries for local projects like road and bridge maintenance. The bill amends existing tax distribution rules to adjust these percentages for county funding, while maintaining separate allocations for municipalities and state institutions. It does not change current tax rates or create new revenue streams.
Maddy summarySB 2303, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, would have required Mississippi public schools to include a specific video or animation showing human fetal development stages in science classes for grades 6-12. The bill mandated that schools provide written parental notification one week before showing the material and allow parents to opt their children out. It specified the content must cover cell growth and organ development at each pregnancy stage, while requiring compliance with federal and state laws. The bill never became law and remains inactive.