Sen. Daniel Sparks

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $891,741 from the State General Fund and $27,268 from the State Treasury to cover the Commission on Judicial Performance's expenses for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It authorizes six permanent staff positions, caps the director’s salary at chancellor-level pay (Mississippi Code §25-3-35), and requires detailed financial reporting. Additionally, $140,000 is specifically allocated to hire an attorney to audit and monitor Youth Courts operations. The bill funds existing commission operations without creating new policy, directly affecting the commission’s staffing and oversight capabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $466 million in state funds for Mississippi's Department of Corrections operations during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It allocates resources to fund salaries, maintenance, and services across all state correctional facilities - including Parchman Prison, South Mississippi Correctional Facility, and regional prisons - as well as medical services, parole operations, and community corrections programs. The funding comes from both the state General Fund and special funds designated for corrections. This is a routine budgetary measure to support existing correctional system operations, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 2805 amends Mississippi law to require courts to send copies of criminal convictions or youth court rulings involving child abuse or neglect to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS). This directly affects parents or guardians convicted of felony-level physical or sexual abuse, or neglect posing a life threat, who may then be added to MDCPS’s state central registry. The bill clarifies that a "substantiated perpetrator" must have a court-ordered conviction or adjudication, and mandates that registry entries include the perpetrator’s name and address while keeping the registry confidential. These changes aim to standardize how abuse/neglect cases are documented and shared within the state’s child protection system.

Maddy summarySB 2898 directs the State Treasurer and State Fiscal Officer to transfer $20 million from Mississippi's Capital Expense Fund to the Disaster Assistance Trust Fund upon the bill's effective date. This technical amendment reallocates existing state funds without creating new programs or changing eligibility for disaster assistance. The transfer affects state budget accounting by moving money between two designated funds (Fund No. 6499C00000 to Fund No. 3372500000) to support disaster response resources. The bill has no direct impact on citizens or businesses but modifies how state funds are allocated. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 2821 creates a new crime called "capital sexual battery" for sexual battery committed against children under 12 years old. It authorizes the death penalty as a sentencing option but requires a jury to unanimously find at least two aggravating factors before recommending it. The bill mandates a separate sentencing hearing after conviction, where the jury must determine if aggravating factors outweigh mitigating circumstances. If the death penalty is not imposed, life imprisonment without parole is automatically required. This applies specifically to defendants convicted of sexual battery against minors under 12.

Maddy summarySB 2401 extends temporary exemptions for Mississippi's Office of Workforce Development from standard public procurement requirements. It delays the expiration dates for these exemptions on leasing and specific contracts (covering sections 27-104-7, 37-153-7, and 37-153-17 of the Mississippi Code). The bill makes technical adjustments to related provisions without changing the core policy. These extensions allow the Office of Workforce Development to continue operating under existing procurement rules for a longer period. The bill does not create new requirements or affect other state agencies.

Maddy summaryMississippi's Senate Concurrent Resolution 534 is a request to Congress, not a law. It urges Congress to include in the 2026 Water Resources Development Act a requirement for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a reliability report on Marine Highway 65 (M-65). This report would assess the condition and risks of locks and infrastructure along M-65, including documented failures at the Demopolis, Holt, and Wilson locks. The resolution directly affects Mississippi's ports (like Yellow Creek and Itawamba), industries, and communities that rely on this waterway for transporting goods like steel, coal, and agricultural products. The report aims to guide future infrastructure investments to maintain the corridor's reliability.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution recognizes World War II veteran Staff Sergeant William Thurman Epps of Golden, Mississippi, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The bill formally honors his military service, which included guarding German prisoners in Nuremberg, and acknowledges his receipt of multiple medals for his contributions during the war. It directs that copies of the resolution be presented to Epps and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of his life and service.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution formally congratulates Meg Moore of Tishomingo County High School as the 2025-2026 Gatorade Mississippi Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The resolution recognizes her athletic achievements, including leading her team to a state championship and maintaining strong academic performance. It directs that the resolution be presented to Moore, her family, her coach, and the school principal, and made available to the press. This is a ceremonial acknowledgment rather than a policy change, with no impact on laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally commends the Tishomingo County High School Lady Braves girls basketball team and head coach John Strickland for winning the 2026 MHSAA Class 4A State Championship. The bill recognizes the team's victory over Louisville, highlights key players like Meg Moore, and lists the full roster and coaching staff who contributed to the achievement. It directs that the resolution be presented to the coach and school principal, forwarded to the county board of education, and made available to the press. This measure serves as an official acknowledgment of the team's accomplishment rather than establishing new laws or policies.