Sen. Joey Fillingane

Maddy summarySB 2490 would require Mississippi youth court referees to receive salaries and benefits no less than those of justice court judges in the same county. This bill directly affects youth court referees who handle juvenile cases in counties without family or county courts. The key provision amends Section 43-21-111 to mandate equal compensation, ensuring referees' pay aligns with justice court judges' salaries as set by county boards of supervisors. The bill does not change referee duties or training requirements but specifically targets salary parity. It died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2370, the Equality in Financial Services Act, prohibits Mississippi financial institutions (including banks with over $100 million in assets and major payment processors) from denying, restricting, or terminating financial services based on a person’s protected First Amendment activities - such as religious exercise, political speech, refusal to support certain social initiatives (e.g., diversity audits or abortion services), or lawful business associations. It requires institutions to provide written explanations within 90 days if they deny services, and defines "discrimination" to include using "social credit scores" that evaluate protected conduct. The bill directly affects consumers denied services and mandates transparency, aligning with existing anti-discrimination law (Mississippi Code § 75-24-5). The bill died in committee in February 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2427 requires all onshore oil wells in Mississippi to meet anchoring standards set by the rig manufacturer, the American Petroleum Institute, or an equivalent industry standard approved by the State Oil and Gas Board. It mandates that operators obtain anchoring certificates from the Board before connecting wells to pipelines. The bill also clarifies the definition of "onsore well" and updates existing codes to enforce these requirements. The legislation died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2391 revises the tax assessment rates for hospitals participating in Mississippi's Medicaid program. Psychiatric hospitals must pay 40% of their net patient revenue, while other hospitals pay 1% on the first $20 million of revenue, 9.28% on revenue between $20 million and $200 million, and additional rates for revenue exceeding $200 million. Hospitals operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the State Department of Mental Health are exempt from these assessments. The bill updates the definition of "net patient revenue" to align with Medicaid reporting requirements.

Maddy summarySB 2459 would require Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services to record the name of anyone reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. If a report is later determined to be false, the agency must disclose the reporter's name to the alleged perpetrator and remove all references to that person from its records. The bill also mandates removing names from the central registry if someone was wrongly convicted based on a false report, ensuring records reflect accurate findings. These changes directly affect alleged perpetrators in false abuse reports and the agency managing the registry.

Maddy summarySB 2335, the Mississippi Parental Responsibility Act of 2025, makes it a crime for parents or guardians to negligently, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly contribute to a child (under 18) being convicted of a crime as an adult. It imposes felony penalties: up to 25 years in prison or $10,000 fines for directly causing a child's criminal action, and up to 15 years or $5,000 for actions that "tend to contribute" to such crimes. The bill expands existing law by adding criminal negligence as a basis for liability and removes limits on damages parents can be held liable for when maliciously damaging a minor's property. This law directly affects parents/guardians of minors convicted of adult crimes in Mississippi circuit court.

Maddy summarySB 2375 creates a state fund called the "Small Municipalities Federal Match Fund" to help Mississippi towns with under 10,000 residents match federal grants they receive. The fund reimburses up to 1.25% of its disbursements for oversight costs incurred by state agencies administering the program. It requires annual reports on fund usage to legislative leaders and the governor, with unspent money rolling over yearly. The bill establishes a dedicated fund in the state treasury to support small communities accessing federal funding.

Maddy summarySB 2460 requires that the name of anyone reporting suspected child abuse (such as teachers, doctors, or social workers) must be included in official reports to Mississippi's child protection services and youth courts, ending previous confidentiality protections for reporters. This change directly affects mandatory reporters and agencies handling abuse cases, as their identities must now be disclosed in reports rather than kept secret. The bill amended Mississippi Code § 43-21-353 to specify that reporter names are "not confidential," aligning with related provisions. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2455 restores previously deleted requirements for a document called an "affidavit of affixation" that manufactured home owners must file to permanently attach their home to real property. The bill specifies detailed information that must be included in this affidavit, such as property descriptions, proof of ownership, tax payments, lien releases, and confirmation that wheels/axles are removed. This process allows homeowners to have their manufactured home treated as a permanent part of the land for tax and legal purposes, rather than as a separate titled vehicle. The bill directly affects owners of manufactured homes seeking to retire their mobile home title and integrate it into real property ownership.

Maddy summarySB 2310 clarifies when a bail bond in Mississippi becomes legally void, directly affecting defendants, bail agents, and courts. The bill specifies five situations that automatically discharge a bail bond: when a defendant is found guilty and sentenced, charges are dismissed or dropped, the case is closed, the defendant surrenders to authorities, or the defendant is placed in an alternative sentencing program. It codifies these rules into Mississippi law (Section 99-5-41) to eliminate ambiguity about when the financial obligation ends. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee without becoming law, so it has no current effect.