Maddy summarySB 2479, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (referred to as "dental carriers") to calculate and report annually how much of their premium revenue is spent directly on patient care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file detailed reports by June 30 each year, including data matching federal standards, and make these reports publicly accessible online by December 1. The law applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi, excluding Medicaid and state-sponsored programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program. This transparency measure aims to clarify where premium dollars go, allowing consumers and regulators to review carrier spending patterns.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2589 modifies Mississippi's campaign finance reporting by requiring the Secretary of State to create and maintain a centralized, searchable public website for all campaign finance reports. This applies to candidates, candidate committees, and political committees filing reports for state, county, or municipal offices or ballot measures. The bill mandates that all reports - detailing contributions and expenditures - must be filed online through this system and made searchable by candidate, office, and financial details. It replaces current filing methods with local clerks by centralizing access under the Secretary of State, effective February 1, 2028.
Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2587 creates the "In-Person Absentee Voting Act," establishing a 22-day in-person absentee voting period (beginning 22 days before an election and ending at 12:00 p.m. on the Saturday before election day). The bill removes the requirement for absentee ballots to be placed in envelopes when cast in person and mandates extended voting hours during the last full week before elections, including until 7:00 p.m. and on two Saturdays. Voters must present photo ID at their county registrar's office (or an adjacent government building) during specified hours, with notice posted in three public locations 8 days prior. This directly affects Mississippi voters who qualify for in-person absentee voting due to specific excuses like military service, residency, or other approved reasons.
Maddy summarySB 2292 requires all Mississippi public and charter schools to teach civics courses starting in 8th grade and before 12th grade, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The bill mandates instruction on U.S. and Mississippi constitutions, government structures (including federalism and separation of powers), historical context, critical thinking skills, and civil discourse. The State Department of Education will develop and update curriculum standards to align with current civics scholarship, renaming existing U.S. Government courses to "United States Government and Civics." This policy directly affects all K-12 students and school staff in Mississippi's public and charter schools.
Maddy summarySB 2484, the BRIDGE Act, creates a framework for developing regional schools in Mississippi focused on two distinct needs: specialized education for students with disabilities (including dyslexia, autism, and IEPs) and career/technical education (CTE) programs. The Mississippi Department of Education must conduct a statewide study by October 2026 to identify partnership opportunities with school districts, universities, and workforce entities, and propose governance, staffing, and funding plans. The bill prioritizes rural and underserved areas (counties without cities over 15,000 people) for pilot programs. It aligns both programs with federal special education laws (IDEA, Section 504) and state CTE standards, aiming to address teacher shortages and expand access to specialized learning and workforce training.
Maddy summarySB 2816 amends Mississippi law to increase penalties for crimes committed against employees of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS). It adds MDCPS employees to the list of protected individuals - alongside law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs - whose targeted crimes trigger enhanced felony or misdemeanor penalties. The bill specifies that penalties will be elevated if a crime was committed "because of actual or perceived employment" as an MDCPS worker. This change directly affects MDCPS employees by providing stronger legal consequences for attacks against them while on duty. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 2819 increases penalties for illegally dumping solid waste in Mississippi. It raises fines for larger violations: amounts exceeding 15 pounds or 27 cubic feet become misdemeanor offenses ($500-$1,500 fines or up to 1 year in jail), while commercial dumping, hazardous waste, or over 500 pounds becomes a felony ($1,000-$75,000 fines or up to 5 years in prison). Convicted individuals must also cover cleanup costs, repair property damage, perform community service related to waste removal, and pay investigative expenses. This directly affects anyone illegally discarding solid waste, including individuals, businesses, and vessel operators.
Maddy summarySB 3223 appropriates $2,000,000 from Mississippi's General Fund to the City of Gautier for utility relocation costs related to widening U.S. Highway 90. The funds, effective July 1, 2026, will cover expenses incurred by Gautier as the Mississippi Department of Transportation carries out the highway project. This is a straightforward funding bill with no policy changes, directly supporting the city's costs for infrastructure improvements. The appropriation is limited to fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027).
Maddy summarySB 3225 appropriates $2,000,000 from the State General Fund to the City of Moss Point for the State Highway 63 natural gas pipeline extension project. The funds cover costs associated with this infrastructure project during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). As a procedural appropriation bill, it provides specific funding without creating new policy or altering existing laws.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $750,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to Jackson County for the construction of a new fire department near Old Fort Bayou Road and Eglin Road in West Jackson County. The funds are designated specifically for the 2027 fiscal year (July 2026-June 2027) to cover construction costs. The bill directly affects Jackson County residents in that area by enabling the development of a new fire service facility. It is a straightforward funding allocation with no additional policy provisions or voting requirements.