Sen. Dennis DeBar

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 54 is a symbolic resolution by the Mississippi Senate commending Colonel William L. Henry for his 34 years of military service, including his role as Commander of Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center. It specifically honors his leadership during a Change of Command Ceremony on February 6, 2026, recognizing his service managing a major training site and deployments. The resolution will be presented to Colonel Henry, the Mississippi National Guard Adjutant General, and the incoming commander for display, with no new policies or obligations created. This is a ceremonial gesture of appreciation with no direct impact on legislation or affected parties.

Maddy summarySB 2266 designates a one-mile segment of U.S. Highway 98 in Greene County, Mississippi (from the Chickasawhay River Bridge northward) as the "Michael Robbins Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Mississippi Department of Transportation to install and maintain commemorative signs along this specific highway segment. This is a symbolic, non-substantive designation with no impact on highway operations, funding, or policy. It directly affects travelers using this segment of Highway 98 by adding a commemorative name to the road signage.

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 2003 shortens the waiting period for retired Mississippi educators to return to teaching from 90 to 45 days. It removes requirements that retirees must have a minimum service history, teach only in districts with critical shortages, or work only in specific subject areas. The bill also sets a 65% cap on salary for returning retirees, adjusts pension liability payments, and allows school districts to cover health insurance premiums for these educators using local funds. These changes directly affect retired teachers seeking to return to classroom roles in Mississippi public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the minimum salary for Mississippi public school teachers and assistant teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, establishing specific pay scales based on experience and license type (e.g., $43,500 for entry-level teachers with certain licenses). It requires school districts to maintain or increase local supplements and not pay assistant teachers below the state minimum salary, with potential funding reductions for violations. Additionally, the bill mandates a $2,000 annual salary increase for all full-time faculty at Mississippi's state colleges and universities.

Maddy summarySB 2002 changes Mississippi's student transfer rules by removing the requirement for a student's current school district to approve transfers to another district. Instead, the new district (transferee) must approve or deny a transfer request at its next regular meeting after receiving a parent's written petition, with approvals required by March 15 each year unless "good cause" exists to deny. The bill allows the new district to charge a reasonable fee for accepting a student but clarifies it doesn't affect existing desegregation orders or extracurricular eligibility rules set by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. This directly impacts parents/guardians seeking to move students between districts and school boards handling transfer requests.

Maddy summarySB 2480 directs the State Fiscal Officer to transfer $265 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Capacity Project Fund upon the bill's effective date. This transfer specifically funds transportation infrastructure projects (known as "capacity projects") included in the Mississippi Department of Transportation's Three-Year Plan, as defined under existing law. The bill amends Section 65-1-141.2 to clarify that unspent funds in the Capacity Project Fund do not lapse into the general state fund, and earnings from the fund remain within it. The bill does not create new policy but reallocates existing state funds for transportation project financing.

Maddy summarySB 2479, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (referred to as "dental carriers") to calculate and report annually how much of their premium revenue is spent directly on patient care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file detailed reports by June 30 each year, including data matching federal standards, and make these reports publicly accessible online by December 1. The law applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi, excluding Medicaid and state-sponsored programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. This transparency measure aims to clarify where premium dollars go, allowing consumers and regulators to review carrier spending patterns.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Mississippi county law libraries and courtrooms to use existing court fee funds for technology upgrades. Specifically, it authorizes boards of supervisors to spend collected fees (up to $2.50 per case in chancery/circuit courts) on electronic resources like computers, legal research tools, and courtroom technology such as audio systems, digital evidence displays, and video recording. It directly affects county law libraries and courtrooms by expanding how existing court fee revenue can be spent, without creating new taxes. The change applies to all counties maintaining law libraries and enables modernization of both library services and courtroom infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 2286 consolidates Mississippi's Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement and Office of Dropout Prevention into a single office within the State Department of Education. It requires all school districts to implement statewide-approved dropout prevention programs by the 2026-2027 school year, focusing on reducing absenteeism and supporting at-risk students. The bill also establishes new minimum salary standards for school attendance officers and mandates monthly attendance reporting to the state office. These changes directly affect school districts, attendance officers, and the State Department of Education, aiming to standardize enforcement and prevention efforts across the state.