Sen. Jeremy England

Maddy summarySB 2642 establishes the Mississippi Cemetery Board within the Office of the Secretary of State to regulate perpetual care cemeteries. The board, composed of seven members including cemetery operators and a public representative, oversees cemetery maintenance, financial oversight of trust funds, and enforces rules through inspections, permit requirements, and penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects cemetery operators and families using cemeteries that promise ongoing maintenance, while excluding religious and municipal cemeteries. The bill aims to protect public financial interests by ensuring physical care and sound financial management of cemetery operations.

Maddy summarySB 2724 updates Mississippi towing regulations to improve notice requirements for vehicle owners and lienholders. It requires towing companies to notify owners within five business days (via email for lienholders and registered mail for owners) and make a good-faith effort to locate missing contact information using tag details, inspection stickers, or vehicle documents. Failure to comply bars towing companies from charging fees and imposes civil penalties of $1,000 for the first violation and $2,000 for repeat offenses. The bill also mandates towing companies maintain compliance records for three years.

Maddy summarySB 2804 creates a new crime of "capital human trafficking" in Mississippi for individuals who organize or manage human trafficking involving children under 12 or vulnerable adults (e.g., those with mental disabilities) for sexual exploitation. It requires a separate sentencing hearing after conviction to determine whether the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole applies, mandating that at least two aggravating factors be proven for the death penalty. The bill affects prosecutors, courts, and defendants in severe human trafficking cases, with life without parole as the default if the death penalty isn’t imposed. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance to become law.

Maddy summarySB 2881 would allow counties, municipalities, tribes, or other political subdivisions in Mississippi that permit alcohol sales (known as "wet" jurisdictions) to authorize package liquor stores to sell on Sundays through local ordinances. Currently, package retailers in these areas cannot sell alcohol on Sundays under state law. The bill does not require retailers to sell on Sundays - they can continue operating Monday through Saturday if they choose. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2856 prevents lenders from officially recording (perfected) car loan liens while a vehicle is under a valid statutory possessory lien, such as from a mechanic or repair shop for unpaid work. It requires lenders to either certify no such lien exists or obtain written consent from the lienholder before filing. If a lender violates this rule, their lien becomes unenforceable against the possessory lienholder and ranks below it. This bill directly affects car lenders, repair shops holding liens, and vehicle owners with multiple claims on their vehicles.

Maddy summarySB 2916 would allow Mississippi grocery stores to sell wine in sealed, unopened containers for off-premises consumption, but not beer or alcohol for on-site drinking. It creates a new "grocery store wine-only retailer" permit, requiring stores to derive at least 50% of revenue from wine sales and prohibiting beer sales at these locations. The bill amends existing alcohol laws to define "grocery store," set license taxes, and clarify that wine sales must be in original sealed packages. This directly affects grocery stores seeking to expand alcohol offerings under new permit rules.

Maddy summarySB 2892 requires municipalities seeking to annex unincorporated territory to obtain approval from two-thirds of qualified voters living in that territory through a signed petition, rather than relying on court approval. This directly affects residents in areas proposed for annexation and changes how municipalities expand their boundaries. The bill eliminates the previous requirement for annexation disputes to be resolved in chancery court, removing the need for municipalities to file petitions and hold court hearings. Instead, if the petition meets the 2/3 threshold within 60 days of public notice, the annexation becomes effective without judicial review.

Maddy summarySB 2914 would have allowed distillers to ship distilled spirits (alcoholic beverages over 6% alcohol by weight) directly to Mississippi residents, expanding existing rules that currently permit direct wine shipments. The bill required distillers to obtain a state-issued "direct shipper's permit," limit annual shipments to 12 nine-liter cases per address, mandate signature verification for delivery, and require quarterly sales reporting to the state. It also revised tax rules to apply to distilled spirits shipments instead of wine, while prohibiting resale of shipped products and requiring specific labeling. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Mississippi Senate's support for the Beth Israel Congregation following an arson attack on their Jackson building on January 10, 2026. It condemns attacks on houses of worship as violations of religious freedom and references statements from Governor Reeves and Jackson Mayor Horhn condemning antisemitism and hate crimes. The resolution formally offers sympathy to the congregation and directs the Senate to transmit its support to the congregation's board and Mississippi's Public Safety Commissioner. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or allocate funding.

Maddy summarySB 2741 establishes a licensing requirement for professional music therapists in Mississippi, effective January 1, 2026. It mandates that only licensed individuals may use titles implying they are professional music therapists, directly affecting practitioners and ensuring the public receives services from qualified providers. The bill creates a Music Therapy Advisory Committee to advise the State Department of Health, sets licensure qualifications, renewal rules, and disciplinary procedures, and requires all fees collected to fund a special state account. It defines "music therapy" as evidence-based clinical practice using music interventions within a therapeutic relationship, excluding diagnosis or screening. The legislation aims to protect public health by regulating the profession and ensuring service quality.