Sen. Joey Fillingane

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution commends the Columbia High School Wildcats Football Team for winning the 2025 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A State Championship. The resolution formally recognizes the team's athletic achievement and lists the names of the student-athletes, coaches, and support staff who contributed to their victory. It directs that the resolution be presented to the school administration and made available to the press for public dissemination. This document serves as an official expression of appreciation rather than a law with binding policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution 74 is a ceremonial bill that formally commends the Mississippi Forestry Commission on its 100th anniversary. The resolution recognizes the agency's century-long service in protecting forest resources, preventing wildfires, and supporting rural economies across Mississippi. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as an official acknowledgment of the commission's historic contributions to the state.

Maddy summarySB 2794 removes a prohibition in Mississippi law that previously denied death benefits to families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who died by suicide or intentional self-harm. The bill amends Section 45-2-1 to allow the standard $150,000 death benefit (plus up to $25,000 per child, totaling $250,000) and funeral expense payments to be paid in these cases. This change directly affects beneficiaries of eligible officers and firefighters who die while on duty, including in suicide-related incidents. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or the trust fund's administration structure.

Maddy summarySB 2135 clarifies that to serve as a competent juror in Mississippi, a qualified elector must be designated as an active voter in the state's election system, replacing the previous requirement of simply being a "qualified elector." The bill does not change existing requirements like residency, literacy, or criminal history checks, but adds this active voter status as a new qualification. It directly affects potential jurors who are registered voters but not currently active in the election system. The law also maintains the process where judges verify literacy by having jurors complete a written form before service.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 56 commends the Sumrall High School Bobcats boys soccer team and coach Jared Lee for winning their first-ever Class 5A state championship with a 4-0 victory on February 21, 2026. The resolution specifically recognizes senior Wyatt Jones as the game's MVP and the team's roster, highlighting their achievement as a culmination of multiyear program growth. This ceremonial resolution, presented to the coach and school officials, does not create new policy or affect any legal rights - its sole purpose is to formally congratulate the team and acknowledge their community pride.

Maddy summarySB 2018 creates the Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program, which reimburses actively drilling Mississippi National Guard members for their Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The program applies to members eligible for Tricare Reserve Select coverage who are not covered by another employer, with reimbursements paid at the current "Tricare Reserve Select - Member only" rate. The Adjutant General administers the program, requiring legislative funding each year and annual reports starting in 2026 to assess its impact on medical readiness and participation. This policy directly affects National Guard members by reducing their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, aiming to support retention and readiness.

Maddy summarySB 2801 increases fines for drivers using handheld phones to text or check social media while operating a vehicle in Mississippi. It sets a $250 base fine (doubled to $500 if involved in a crash) for violations in school or work zones, and a $100 base fine (doubled to $200 in crashes) elsewhere. Law enforcement must document phone use in crash reports, and no additional state assessments apply. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting drivers who text or access social media while driving.

Maddy summarySB 2107 amends Mississippi's drug trafficking law (Section 41-29-139) to add "dosage units" as a measurement standard for determining penalties when trafficking Schedule I or II controlled substances (like opioids or cocaine). It directly affects individuals trafficking these specific drugs in quantities meeting new dosage thresholds (e.g., 10 or more dosage units triggers harsher penalties). The key mechanism replaces or adds dosage units alongside weight (grams) to define penalty tiers, such as increasing minimum sentences for trafficking 10+ dosage units of Schedule I/II drugs. This change applies only to Schedule I/II substances, not marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, or lower-schedule drugs.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 526 is a symbolic resolution congratulating the Ole Miss Rebels football team and head coach Pete Golding for winning the 2025-2026 Sugar Bowl championship and finishing No. 3 in national rankings - the highest finish for an SEC team since 1962. It recognizes their 13-2 season, historic College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, and significance as the highest-ranked Ole Miss team in over six decades. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, commending the team's achievements without altering laws or regulations.

Maddy summarySB 2108 amends Mississippi bail laws to directly affect bail agents, defendants seeking release, and charitable bail funds. It requires suspending a bail agent’s license if a court rules they owe money to an insurer due to employment issues (license may be reinstated after payment), clarifies that credit card fees aren’t part of bail premiums, and allows defendants to post 10% of bail as cash with eligibility requirements (including a sworn affidavit). The bill prohibits unsecured release for defendants charged with "bail-restricted offenses" (requiring secured bonds instead), mandates charitable bail funds follow the same rules as surety companies, and requires courts to provide statutory notice before accepting cash bail. These changes aim to increase accountability for bail agents and standardize cash bail procedures.