Sen. Brice Wiggins

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution congratulates the St. Patrick High School Lady Irish Girls Soccer Team and standout player Meredith Tindell for winning their fourth consecutive state championship in 2026. The resolution formally recognizes the team's undefeated playoff performance and their overall season record of 18-4-4, highlighting key players and coaching staff who contributed to the achievement. It directs that the resolution be presented to the team, coaches, and school administration while also making it available to the Capitol Press Corps for public record.

Maddy summarySB 3102 appropriates $28.9 million total (including $6.05 million from the General Fund and $22.86 million from special funds) for Mississippi's Department of Tourism operations during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). It specifically allocates $3.1 million for personnel costs (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) to cover up to 59 authorized positions (56 permanent and 3 time-limited), strictly limiting how these funds can be used. The bill requires the department to maintain detailed financial records matching its FY2026 standards and prohibits exceeding the allocated personnel budget without new legislative approval. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the department’s budget and staffing operations.

Maddy summarySB 2865 creates an income tax credit for Mississippi casinos that invest at least $2 million in non-gaming projects (like hotels, restaurants, or RV parks) at existing properties. The credit equals 50% of the increased gaming taxes generated by the new facilities, calculated as the difference between post-project tax payments and the three-year average before the project started. Casinos can use the credit against annual income tax liability, but the total credit per project cannot exceed the project cost, and unused credits can carry forward for up to five years. The Mississippi Gaming Commission must approve qualifying projects, and no new credits can be claimed after December 31, 2030.

Maddy summarySB 2704 creates a new option for professional and trade associations in Mississippi (like groups of doctors, lawyers, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority, rather than Mississippi’s insurance laws. These plans must meet specific requirements, including operating for three years without insurance as their primary purpose, being nonprofit, and maintaining proper reserves. The bill requires clear written notices to members that these plans are not regulated by Mississippi’s Insurance Department, not covered by the state’s guaranty association, and have no state oversight on costs or benefits. This provides additional health coverage choices for association members while exempting these plans from most Mississippi insurance regulations.

Maddy summarySB 2018 creates the Mississippi National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program, which reimburses actively drilling Mississippi National Guard members for their Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The program applies to members eligible for Tricare Reserve Select coverage who are not covered by another employer, with reimbursements paid at the current "Tricare Reserve Select - Member only" rate. The Adjutant General administers the program, requiring legislative funding each year and annual reports starting in 2026 to assess its impact on medical readiness and participation. This policy directly affects National Guard members by reducing their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, aiming to support retention and readiness.

Maddy summaryMississippi Senate Bill 2777 clarifies that probation, post-release supervision, or suspended sentence may be revoked if a person commits a new felony offense *before* their supervision period begins. This directly affects individuals sentenced to these supervision terms who commit a felony prior to the start date of their supervision. The bill amends Mississippi Code 47-7-37.1 to state that such pre-commencement felonies trigger revocation "the same as if it had already commenced," aligning with existing revocation rules for violations during active supervision. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the authorization for the "Judicial System Operation Fund" (Section 9-21-45) and amends multiple code sections to replace references to that fund with the "State General Fund." It does not change actual funding amounts or judicial salary structures, only updating the administrative designation of where judicial funds are sourced. The bill affects how Mississippi's judicial system funding is categorized in state law, moving it from a specific fund to the general state fund. This is a procedural change to state code, not a policy shift impacting funding levels or judicial operations.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 526 is a symbolic resolution congratulating the Ole Miss Rebels football team and head coach Pete Golding for winning the 2025-2026 Sugar Bowl championship and finishing No. 3 in national rankings - the highest finish for an SEC team since 1962. It recognizes their 13-2 season, historic College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, and significance as the highest-ranked Ole Miss team in over six decades. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial, commending the team's achievements without altering laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the minimum salary for Mississippi public school teachers and assistant teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, establishing specific pay scales based on experience and license type (e.g., $43,500 for entry-level teachers with certain licenses). It requires school districts to maintain or increase local supplements and not pay assistant teachers below the state minimum salary, with potential funding reductions for violations. Additionally, the bill mandates a $2,000 annual salary increase for all full-time faculty at Mississippi's state colleges and universities.

Maddy summarySB 2002 changes Mississippi's student transfer rules by removing the requirement for a student's current school district to approve transfers to another district. Instead, the new district (transferee) must approve or deny a transfer request at its next regular meeting after receiving a parent's written petition, with approvals required by March 15 each year unless "good cause" exists to deny. The bill allows the new district to charge a reasonable fee for accepting a student but clarifies it doesn't affect existing desegregation orders or extracurricular eligibility rules set by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. This directly impacts parents/guardians seeking to move students between districts and school boards handling transfer requests.