Sen. Dennis DeBar

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 21) formally commends the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College men's golf team for winning their second consecutive NJCAA Division II national championship. It specifically highlights their record-breaking season, including three national titles, 10 tournament wins, and multiple individual awards for players and coach Brad Thornton. The resolution also recognizes the team's academic achievements, including NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Honorable Mention. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves only to express legislative praise and will be presented to college leadership.

Maddy summarySB 2069 requires all Mississippi public school districts, charter schools, and specific state schools (like the Mississippi School for the Arts) to adopt cell phone policies by January 1, 2027, banning or restricting student phone use during class or under staff supervision. Schools failing to comply face daily funding deductions from the state's total funding formula. The bill allows exceptions for emergencies, medical needs (per a healthcare provider), or individualized education programs (IEPs). It also prohibits suspending or expelling students solely for violating this policy, permitting suspension only as a last resort.

Maddy summarySB 2070, the "Tim Tebow Act," would allow homeschooled students in Mississippi to join public school sports and clubs in their assigned school district. To participate, homeschooled students must provide academic proof (like test scores, a portfolio, or transcripts), pay the same fees as public school students, and follow the same rules, including academic standards and safety requirements. School districts would receive $2,250 per participating homeschooled student annually from a new state fund, but only if they apply for the funds by January 30 each year. The bill specifies participation is a privilege, not a right, and prohibits schools from discriminating against homeschooled students in team selection. Note: The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2199 would have allowed licensed podiatrists in Mississippi to perform ankle surgeries under specific conditions. To qualify, podiatrists would have needed a 24-month surgical residency approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education and certification from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. The bill restricted such surgeries to accredited Mississippi hospitals where podiatrists held approved surgical privileges, and limited procedures to those listed in CPME 320. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2200 would have revised Mississippi's definition of podiatric medicine to explicitly include treatment of the foot, ankle, and related structures (such as lower leg muscles and tendons up to the tibial tubercle). It would have clarified that podiatrists - defined as physicians specializing in this field - can prescribe certain medications (excluding general/spinal anesthesia) and perform both conservative and surgical treatments for these areas. The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure would have been required to establish rules governing podiatrists' training standards. This bill would have directly affected licensed podiatrists and their patients receiving foot/ankle care in Mississippi. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.)

Maddy summarySB 2245 requires all Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to evaluate long-term costs (including repair expenses and resale value) before purchasing technology like computers or tablets. Each school board must annually report device break/fix rates (percentage of malfunctioning devices), total devices in use, repair costs, and replacement needs to the State Board of Education by August 15. The State Board then compiles these reports into an annual summary for the legislature by November 15, including recommendations to reduce repair rates. The bill directly affects all public schools by mandating standardized tracking of technology performance and costs. Its key mechanism is creating a transparent reporting system to identify and address recurring technology failures.

Maddy summarySB 2244 requires Mississippi school districts that accept transfer students from districts rated "F" for two consecutive years to receive state funding covering the difference between the standard per-student funding amount and the district's average per-pupil cost for similar students. This directly affects receiving districts by providing additional financial support when enrolling students from underperforming schools. The bill mandates the State Department of Education to create rules for calculating per-pupil costs and documenting these transfers. It does not change student transfer policies but adjusts funding mechanisms to offset costs for districts taking in these students. The bill was scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before passage.

Maddy summarySB 2291 is titled to update Mississippi's education funding formula by revising multipliers for gifted education and including seventh and eighth graders in Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding. The bill text states it will amend Section 37-151-205 to increase funding weights for gifted students and adjust CTE multipliers, but the provided context does not include the specific language of these revisions. Instead, the truncated bill text details unrelated provisions about rehiring retired teachers (amending Section 25-11-126), which is inconsistent with the bill's stated purpose. Without the full text of the funding formula changes, a complete summary of the policy impact cannot be generated. The bill died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2289 revises the legal definition of "dyslexia" to include specific neurological and educational characteristics, such as difficulties with word reading, spelling, and phonological processing that persist despite effective instruction. The bill establishes a scholarship program allowing students in grades 1-12 diagnosed with dyslexia to access licensed dyslexia therapy at public or approved nonpublic schools. Therapy must be delivered by Mississippi Department of Education-licensed professionals using evidence-based, Orton-Gillingham methods in small groups, focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, and multisensory instruction. This policy directly affects students with dyslexia and their families by creating a new pathway for accessing specialized reading support through state-funded scholarships.

Maddy summarySB 2290 would have allowed Mississippi school boards to provide bus transportation to students living less than one mile from school when demonstrable safety risks exist (e.g., lack of sidewalks, heavy traffic, crime hotspots). It also permitted temporary emergency transportation for students who normally wouldn’t qualify if new safety threats were documented. The bill required smaller vehicles (10-15 passengers) transporting students to meet federal school bus safety standards but did not require commercial licenses for these vehicles. Additionally, it allowed school buses to be used in declared emergencies (like natural disasters) without interfering with student transportation. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.