Sen. Jeremy England

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of a local hotel and motel tax in Jackson County, Mississippi, allowing the county Board of Supervisors to continue collecting a 2% tax on overnight room rentals to fund tourism promotion. The tax applies only to hotels and motels, excluding medical facilities and non-overnight day-use rooms, and must be approved by voters through a referendum requiring at least 60% support before implementation. Revenue collected from the tax must be used exclusively for tourism-related activities in Jackson County, with separate accounting and annual audits if funds are directed to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi joint resolution provides a backup plan for Senate district lines if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the state's current redistricting plan in a pending voting rights case. If such a ruling occurs, the resolution would replace the 2025 Senate district map with the 2022 version, which includes two new districts designed to address Voting Rights Act concerns. The bill directly affects Mississippi voters by determining which legislative districts they belong to and which candidates they can elect. It does not change any districts at this time but establishes a contingency plan for future court decisions.

Maddy summarySB 2632 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi's Emergency Management Law (Mississippi Code of 1972) by moving specific code sections (33-15-1 through 33-15-53) to new positions in the code. It does not change the content or policy of these sections, which cover definitions, purposes, and structure of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The bill’s sole purpose is to facilitate future amendments by updating the code’s numbering. This reorganization affects the legal code itself, not individuals or entities, and requires no action from the public or agencies.

Maddy summarySB 2263 requires Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officers to have probable cause before boarding any vessel or stopping a boat. This directly affects marine law enforcement officers who previously could board vessels without probable cause under existing rules. The bill amends two sections of Mississippi law (59-21-127 and 59-23-5) to add this requirement, making it illegal to board or stop a vessel without reasonable suspicion of a boating safety violation. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change other provisions like chemical testing for boating under the influence.

Maddy summarySB 2409 creates the "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Program" within the Mississippi Department of Insurance to provide financial grants for homeowners and commercial property owners to retrofit structures against hurricane, tornado, and other windstorm damage. The bill increases grant amounts to $15,000 per home, replaces the previous "Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program," and establishes a dedicated "Strengthen Mississippi Homes Fund" funded partly by increased insurance agent fees. Property owners must be insurable, and insurance companies must notify clients about the program within 30 days of filing discount schedules. The program requires the Department of Insurance to set eligibility rules, prioritize grants based on reducing state risk, and report annually on grants awarded and homes retrofitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of a restaurant tax in the City of Moss Point, Mississippi, from its original end date to July 1, 2030. The tax allows the city to collect up to 2% on sales of prepared food from restaurants to fund tourism and parks and recreation programs. Implementation requires a public referendum where at least 60% of voters must approve the tax before it takes effect, with strict rules about how the campaign is conducted and how funds are collected and spent. The bill also mandates separate accounting for tax revenues and annual audits to ensure funds are used only for their designated purposes.

Maddy summarySB 3124 revises Mississippi's Pregnancy Resource Act to expand eligibility for a state income tax credit. It allows individual taxpayers (not just businesses) to claim a credit for cash donations to pregnancy resource centers meeting specific criteria, such as not providing or referring for abortions and limiting administrative spending to 20% of funds. The bill requires organizations to certify compliance with these standards annually and verify they serve Mississippi residents. Taxpayers can use the credit to offset up to 50% of their state income or property tax liability, with unused credits carrying forward for five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum total annual tax credit amount available to employers sponsoring employee skills training through Mississippi community colleges. It directly affects businesses that provide job-related training programs, allowing them to claim a 50% credit on qualified expenses (like instructor costs and materials) up to $2,500 per employee per year. The key changes are raising the statewide cap on total credits claimed and extending the program's expiration date beyond 2030. Employers must work with local community colleges for certification, and credits can be carried forward for up to five years if unused. The bill maintains existing rules requiring training to be job-focused and certified by community colleges.

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.