Sen. Brice Wiggins

Maddy summarySB 3015 appropriates $643,363 from the State General Fund and $109,286 from the State Treasury to fund the Commission on Judicial Performance for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes four permanent staff positions for the commission and requires detailed accounting of funds, aligning with existing fiscal year 2025 reporting standards. It also directs the commission to prioritize purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal, but does not create new judicial policies or affect judges directly.

Maddy summarySB 3042 provides $16.9 million in general funds and $16.7 million in special funds to support the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 95 permanent and 11 time-limited staff positions, mandates strict spending limits on salaries (no increases for current employees), and requires the office to meet specific performance targets like answering 95% of customer calls and updating 6,400 voter registrations online. The bill also restricts funds to approved duties under state law, prohibits using general funds to replace withdrawn special funds, and allocates $500,000 for county voting system bonds. It directly affects the Secretary of State’s office operations, staffing, and accountability for fiscal year 2026 expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SC 539) expresses Mississippi's support for strengthening economic ties with Taiwan. It specifically advocates for establishing a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan to help small and medium businesses engage in trade, while also endorsing Taiwan's international participation and honoring Mississippi's existing sister-state relationship since 1983. The resolution notes Mississippi exported over $200 million in goods to Taiwan in 2024. As a non-binding statement of support, it does not create new laws or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 2381 clarifies that the Mississippi Secretary of State must approve all leases for Public Trust Tidelands used in gaming projects, requiring gaming licensees (including those seeking new licenses) to obtain a separate lease from the Secretary of State rather than relying on municipal or county authority. It specifically applies to gaming establishments in Mississippi’s three southernmost counties and mandates this lease requirement for new projects, while exempting sites approved before December 31, 2024. The bill also prohibits leasing tidelands with constructed sand beaches (as defined in state law) for gaming purposes and confirms the Secretary of State holds exclusive management authority over these tidelands unless the legislature explicitly divests it. This eliminates ambiguity about lease requirements for gaming operations on state-owned coastal lands.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 125) formally recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Mississippi State Fire Academy. It honors the Academy's history since 1974, its role in training firefighters and emergency responders, and its contributions to public safety across Mississippi. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment presented to the Academy's leadership.

Maddy summarySB 2787 prohibits businesses from sending patent infringement claims without a reasonable basis, such as falsely threatening lawsuits or claiming infringement on invalid patents. It allows affected companies to sue for attorney fees, actual damages, and up to three times the damages if they win. The Mississippi Attorney General can enforce these rules to stop unfounded patent threats against businesses. This law targets tactics that harass companies with baseless legal claims, directly protecting commercial entities receiving such communications.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2383 designates the sweet potato as the state's official vegetable, effective July 1, 2025. This symbolic bill directly affects Mississippi's state identity by formally recognizing the sweet potato in its official designation. The legislation contains no policy changes or funding mechanisms - it solely establishes a state symbol through a procedural designation. The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by the governor in March 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) honoring former Mississippi House Speaker Pro Tempore Robert George Clark, Jr., who died on March 4, 2025. It extends the Legislature's sympathy to his family and recognizes his historic service as Mississippi's first African American legislator since Reconstruction (1967-2003), his leadership roles, and his advocacy for education and Mississippi's historical preservation. The resolution directs that it be presented to his family and forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. No policy changes or funding are involved.

Maddy summarySB 2899 increases salary caps for Mississippi court reporters in circuit and chancery courts based on experience: $59,400 for ≤5 years, $70,200 for 5-10 years, and $76,800 for ≥10 years. It allows court reporters to do freelance reporting outside their assigned court’s jurisdiction if they have no delinquent work and aren’t required to attend court. The bill also shifts funding responsibility to county treasuries via the Administrative Office of Courts, replacing direct county payments, and prohibits using government equipment or getting reimbursed for freelance work. These changes take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 80) formally commends Lamont Davis, a Maritime Multi-Craft Instructor at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), for being selected as "Instructor of the Year" by the college's Alumni Association. The Senate resolution recognizes Davis's teaching excellence, college service, community involvement, and professional background, including his prior roles in the U.S. Navy and as a mechanic. It has no policy impact or direct effect on constituents, as it is purely ceremonial. The resolution was adopted by the Mississippi Senate on March 13, 2025.