Maddy summarySB 2039 would amend Mississippi law to explicitly authorize certain employees of the Secretary of State - those specifically designated by the Secretary to conduct investigations or regulatory enforcement - to carry firearms while performing their duties. These employees would be required to meet the same background checks, fingerprinting, and weapons training standards as other permitted groups (like law enforcement officers or bank guards) under existing law. The bill adds this category to the current list of state personnel allowed to carry firearms, without creating new requirements or altering the permit process. It directly affects the Secretary of State's investigative and regulatory staff who handle compliance or enforcement tasks.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2366 amends Mississippi's broadband grant laws to clarify and expand the authority of the Office of Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM). It directly affects broadband providers, government entities, and communities lacking adequate internet access by expanding definitions of "applicant" and "eligible project," allowing BEAM to more effectively manage federal grant funds. Key provisions include authorizing BEAM to receive federal broadband grant funds, adding confidentiality protections for proprietary information, requiring a 60-day comment period for preliminary grant awards, and mandating Governor notification before distributing funds. The bill aims to streamline grant processes but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.
Maddy summarySB 2246 would have revised Mississippi's rules for leasing "sixteenth section lands" (school-owned lands reserved for township school funding) to oil, gas, mineral, and clay exploration. It set minimum lease prices ($1 per acre bonus), minimum royalties (e.g., 3/16 of oil/gas value, 50¢ per ton for sulfur), required public newspaper notices in the county, and updated bidding procedures. The bill specifically affected school districts (as landowners), oil/gas/mining companies (as lessees), and local communities (through notice requirements). The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Maddy summarySB 2229 prohibits Mississippi electric utilities from charging customers for costs related to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, including investments in ownership or operation. It requires utilities operating public EV charging stations to use a separate, unregulated subsidiary and charge the same fees as private providers. The bill mandates that utilities set commercial rates based solely on kilowatt-hours (not demand charges) for EV charging station operators, with tariffs due by October 2025. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not advance to become law.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Mississippi tax laws to lower the sales tax rate on equipment and materials used for oil and gas exploration and production from 7% to 4%. It also eliminates a 7% gross income tax on businesses providing services related to these activities and removes a 3.5% contractor's tax on oil and gas well contracts. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that operators rebilling equipment sales to non-operating owners should not pay sales tax on those rebills if the tax was already paid or accrued by the operator. The bill includes technical amendments to update code section designations and was recently suspended from deadlines after failing to reach agreement in conference.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to provide death benefits to Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who die or suffer fatal injuries while performing official duties. It increases the base death benefit payment to $150,000 and allows for an additional $25,000 per child, with a maximum total payout of $250,000, while also authorizing up to $15,000 for funeral expenses. The legislation creates a separate fund for training and equipment grants, directing any money remaining in the death benefits trust after maintaining a $4 million minimum balance to support enhanced training or safety gear for covered individuals.