Sen. Daniel Sparks

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution honors James Earl Jones, the Mississippi-born actor (born in Arkabutla, Mississippi), celebrating his career and expressing the legislature's sympathy for his passing. It commemorates his legacy as a groundbreaking Black actor known for iconic roles like Darth Vader and Mufasa, recognizing his influence on American culture and entertainment. The resolution directs the legislature to present its sentiments to Jones' family and major entertainment organizations, such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and SAG-AFTRA. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic concurrent resolution (not a law) commending Trudy Moody, a Mercedes-Benz dealership owner in Ridgeland, Mississippi, for being nominated for the 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year Award. It formally recognizes her industry achievements and community service, particularly her leadership with the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association and partnership with Batson Children's Hospital. The resolution has no policy provisions or legal effect - it simply expresses the legislature's support through formal commendation. It was adopted by both chambers of the Mississippi legislature on March 5, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SC 524), not a policy bill. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to Jimmy Carter's family and commends his life, public service, and legacy following his passing. The resolution details his presidency (1977-1981), key achievements like the Camp David Accords, and post-presidency work through the Carter Center. It does not create new laws or affect any individuals or policies - it is solely a symbolic gesture of remembrance. The resolution was adopted by the Mississippi Legislature on March 5, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2359 revises Mississippi's definition of "technical violation" for parole supervision. It specifically excludes pleas or sentences in intervention courts (like drug or mental health courts under Chapters 23, 25, or 27 of Title 9) from being counted as a violation. This means parolees who participate in these specialized court programs will not face parole revocation for their involvement. The bill directly affects individuals on parole who engage with intervention courts as part of their supervision. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commends the life and service of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, a Mississippi native and Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in a 2025 training mission crash near Washington, D.C. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature’s sympathy to his family and honors his memory as a fallen soldier. The resolution has no policy provisions or direct impact beyond ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summarySB 2147 requires Mississippi public schools to integrate financial literacy into grades 6-8 curriculum by the 2026-2027 school year and mandates a personal finance course (either a half-credit or full course with at least half focused on finance) for high school graduation starting with the 2031 graduating class. The bill establishes a "Financial Literacy Trust Fund" within the state treasury to support this program, administered by the State Board of Education with annual audits and legislative reporting. It directly affects all public school students in Mississippi from middle school through high school, requiring new coursework to meet graduation standards. The fund must be managed responsibly, with unspent money lapsing to the general fund annually, and the State Board must develop specific curriculum standards for financial literacy.

Maddy summarySB 2197 changes Mississippi law to treat impersonating police officers as a felony instead of a misdemeanor. It increases penalties for falsely claiming to be a state highway patrolman or any law enforcement officer, raising potential jail time to up to three years and fines to $5,000 for both offenses. The bill repeals a duplicate law (Section 97-7-43) that previously covered similar offenses. This directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers or patrolmen, making such actions carry significantly harsher criminal consequences. The bill was approved by the Senate but died in committee in March 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2347 revises penalties for simple possession of methamphetamine in Mississippi. It requires courts to assess whether first-time offenders should participate in a state-approved drug treatment program (unless a written finding deems it inappropriate), and mandates participation in such a program for a specified duration for second offenses. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of possessing methamphetamine in certain amounts, shifting focus from incarceration to treatment for non-violent drug possession cases. It applies specifically to methamphetamine under Mississippi's controlled substances laws, not other drugs or trafficking offenses. The legislation aims to address substance use through treatment rather than solely punitive measures.

Maddy summarySB 2449 restricts Mississippi's Optional Retirement Program (ORP) for state university employees, limiting it to those hired before March 1, 2026. Employees hired on or after that date will no longer qualify for the ORP and must join the standard Public Employees' Retirement System. The bill requires current ORP participants to contribute 9% of their salary monthly, with employer contributions allocated as 9% to participant accounts, 0.2% to administrative costs, and the remainder to the retirement fund. It also repeals a prior rule allowing 2% of employer contributions to cover ORP administration costs.

Maddy summarySB 2439 creates a new retirement tier for Mississippi state employees hired on or after March 1, 2026, replacing the current system for this group. It combines a traditional pension (defined benefit) with a 401(k)-style account (defined contribution), requiring employees to contribute 9% of earnings (4% toward the pension, 5% into the account) and allowing employer contributions up to federal limits. Employees must complete 8 years of service to receive retirement benefits at age 62, or 35 years for benefits at any age, with no cost-of-living adjustments for this tier. The bill also terminates the older Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan (SLRP) for new legislators and state employees joining after the effective date.