Sen. Brice Wiggins

Maddy summarySB 2053 would require Mississippi's Medicaid agency to set fixed pre-set amounts that entities must pay if they challenge a rejected proposal and lose in court. It also mandates that these entities cover all legal costs, including fees and bond premiums, if Medicaid prevails. The bill applies to all contractors or organizations bidding on Medicaid contracts, affecting those competing for state healthcare service agreements. The legislation died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summarySB 2478 reinstates Mississippi's repealed State Grand Jury Act (previously effective until July 1, 2024) and expands its authority. The bill directly affects state prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement by allowing grand juries to investigate officer-involved shootings, certain embezzlement/fraud cases, and public corruption (pending a constitutional amendment), and removing the requirement that crimes must span multiple court districts. Key procedural changes include requiring panel judges to impanel juries within 30 days of the Attorney General’s notice, eliminating judges’ power to limit grand jury investigations, and mandating cooperation from local officials for jury accommodations. The bill also reinstates specific code sections and streamlines petition processes. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Mississippi Court of Appeals' establishment (1994), recognizing its role in resolving the Mississippi Supreme Court's appeal backlog and efficiently handling appellate caseloads. It highlights the court's achievement of issuing over 15,000 merit opinions with an average processing time of 200 days since its inception. The resolution formally honors the court's accomplishments, including its community outreach programs and the dedication of its judges and staff over three decades. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the joint Senate Rules and House Management Committees to reassign fourth-floor office space in the Mississippi Capitol Building. Specifically, it aims to take space currently reserved for the press and divide it equally between the Senate and the House of Representatives. The legislation relies on existing laws that grant the legislature authority to allocate office space within the new Capitol building. Although the bill was referred to the Rules Committee in January 2024, it did not advance and died in committee by May 2024.

Maddy summarySB 2792 updates Mississippi laws regarding foster care and adoption to better protect children and support families involved in the system. The bill requires that children aged 12 or older be served with legal summons and represented by counsel in cases where parents' rights are being terminated, while also ensuring courts consider the preferences of children aged 14 and above. It establishes a new fund to pay for legal representation for indigent parents and guardians, clarifies definitions of child neglect, and sets specific timelines for permanency hearings. Additionally, the legislation mandates training for court intake officers and judges on child safety and introduces a waiver for adoption filing fees when the Department of Child Protection Services is involved.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill appropriates $20 million from the state's Capital Expense Fund to support the construction and renovation of the CARES Center, a facility for children and youth psychiatric treatment. The funds are designated for a subgrant to Canopy Children's Solutions, which must agree to reserve at least 33 beds for patients under state care and meet specific health regulatory standards. To protect state investment, the legislation requires Canopy to provide a financial security interest in the facility and allows the state to recoup the funds if the facility fails to meet standards for three consecutive months or ceases operations. Additionally, the bill explicitly prohibits using these funds to pay employee premium payments and releases the state from any future obligation to maintain the center if the agreement is breached.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $14.2 million in state funds to cover the salaries and operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Audit for the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation authorizes the department to maintain a permanent workforce of 156 employees and establishes strict rules to prevent salary increases for current staff unless new positions are added. It also sets specific performance targets for audits, investigations, and technical assistance services, while requiring the department to prioritize purchasing from the Mississippi Industries for the Blind. Additionally, the bill allocates $30,000 for employee training and provides up to $1 million specifically for non-budgeted law enforcement activities related to federal equitable sharing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the salary schedule for sworn officers in the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, establishing new pay rates based on rank and years of experience. It creates a detailed pay structure that starts at $54,000 for entry-level positions and increases to over $131,000 for top leadership roles, while also removing the previous "David R. Huggins Act" from state law. The legislation requires the Department of Public Safety to report necessary data to budget officials to fund these salaries and allows the Commissioner to set pay for officers in related divisions like the Capitol Police using the same scale.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Revenue for the fiscal year 2025. The money will support various divisions, including those handling tax exemptions, vehicle registration, alcohol distribution, and tax enforcement, while also reimbursing local governments for tax losses related to home exemptions. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the hiring of 668 permanent employees and sets strict rules on how salary funds can be used, ensuring they are allocated to new hires rather than raises for current staff. The bill also establishes specific performance targets for the department, such as limits on the cost per tax audit and goals for issuing permits for alcohol and medical cannabis.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $38.7 million from state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Secretary of State's office for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding supports a specific workforce of 96 permanent and 12 temporary positions while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for current employees and requiring written approval for any pay escalations. Additionally, the legislation sets performance targets for elections, business services, and public lands management, and allocates specific amounts for litigation costs, voter system bonds, and land records maintenance.