Sen. John Polk

Maddy summaryThis bill (SC 506) is a concurrent resolution expressing the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to the surviving family of former State Senator Nickey Reed Browning of Pontotoc, Mississippi, following his death on October 29, 2024. It commends his 24-year service in the Senate, his community leadership, and his role as a longtime coach for the Pontotoc Red Sox American Legion Baseball team. The resolution formally extends condolences and recognizes his contributions to Pontotoc and Union Counties. As a commemorative measure, it does not create any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryBill SC 504 is a commemorative resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's deepest sympathy to the family of Charles James Pittman, a former Mississippi State Senator and former staff member to Governor Haley Barbour. The resolution also commends his decades of public service, including founding the "MS Singing Senators" and his dedication to Mississippi communities. It honors his legacy of ethics, community involvement, and service to the state, as detailed in the resolution's preamble. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but serves as a formal tribute.

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's sympathy to the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey, a National Republican Committee Woman and community leader from Louisville, Mississippi, following her death on November 7, 2024. The resolution commends her service, including her work as Mississippi Federation of Republican Women President, her advocacy for disability access on the Institutions of Higher Learning board, and her decades of community involvement. This resolution has no policy effect - it solely expresses the Senate’s condolences and acknowledges her life’s contributions. It was adopted by the Senate on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2472 would shield pesticide manufacturers and sellers from civil lawsuits related to product labeling, including failure-to-warn claims, if the pesticide had an EPA-approved label under federal law (FIFRA) at the time of sale. It specifically applies to pesticides registered both with Mississippi’s commissioner and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The bill provides limited immunity only for labeling issues, not other product defects or safety concerns. This change would directly affect manufacturers, sellers, and potentially consumers who might otherwise file lawsuits over labeling. The bill died in committee and was not enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2845 requires the suspension of an alcohol permit for bars or restaurants if two violent deaths occur on the premises within 365 days (during business hours or within one hour of closing), as determined by police reports. If a third violent death happens within 365 days after the permit is reinstated following a suspension, the permit must be revoked. After revocation, the specific location cannot receive a new permit for one year, and the business or individual that held the permit is permanently barred from obtaining any future alcohol permit for any location. The bill amends Mississippi law to add these violent death incidents as specific grounds for permit suspension or revocation.

Maddy summarySB 2456 would have updated Mississippi's notary laws to allow remote online notarization (RON), enabling notaries to legally notarize documents for people who are not physically present using approved technology. The bill defined key terms like "remote online notarization" and required documents created through RON to include specific language indicating this method was used. It also established rules for verifying identities remotely, setting requirements for electronic notarization systems, and updating journal entries for notaries. The bill directly affected notaries, individuals needing remote notarization (e.g., for real estate or legal documents), and businesses handling electronic records. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill provides $164,556 in general funds and authorizes $342,584 in special funds for the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority to operate during fiscal year 2025. The legislation authorizes three permanent staff positions and includes standard financial rules, such as prohibiting the use of state vehicles for non-official purposes and requiring the agency to give purchasing preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal. It also mandates that the agency maintain detailed accounting records similar to the previous year and submit its 2026 budget request in a comparable format. The bill sets a deadline for spending the funds and holds responsible officers accountable for any financial obligations that exceed the approved appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Department of Finance and Administration, the Tort Claims Board, and the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women for the 2025 fiscal year. It authorizes specific permanent and time-limited job positions within the Department of Finance and Administration and the Tort Claims Board while establishing strict rules to prevent using these funds for salary increases or promotions of current employees. The legislation also includes provisions requiring that general funds not replace withdrawn federal money and ensuring compliance with tax reporting requirements for contract workers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funding for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security to cover its expenses for the 2025 fiscal year. It allocates money from the State General Fund and the Unemployment Trust Fund to support staff salaries, operational costs, and specific programs like One-Stop Career Centers and unemployment compensation administration. The legislation also establishes rules for hiring, limits salary increases to new hires only, and grants preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or services. Additionally, it sets aside specific amounts for data systems, workforce training initiatives, and administrative support.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to support the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for the 2025 fiscal year, covering scholarships, loans, and grants for eligible students. It establishes specific funding priorities, such as reserving money for new optometry students and ensuring that the FAITH Scholarship Program receives a designated portion of federal and special source funds. The legislation also sets rules for fund allocation, including a preference for the Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing equipment and a limit preventing students from receiving aid from multiple undergraduate grant programs simultaneously. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to submit detailed annual reports on award amounts and recipient data while mandating that official transcripts cannot be issued to students with unpaid loan balances.