Sen. Brice Wiggins

Maddy summarySB 2536 directs Mississippi's State Department of Health to issue a certificate of need for a specific home health provider participating in a CMS Guide Model program to establish in-home care services in Copiah and Stone Counties. This bill creates an exception to standard certificate requirements under Mississippi law, allowing this particular provider to bypass typical approval processes for home health services in those counties. The key mechanism is a targeted waiver for the CMS Guide Model participant offering an "in-home continuum of care" in the specified counties. This bill does not affect broader home health regulations or other counties, and it died in committee in February 2026 without becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 2716 revises Mississippi's domestic abuse protection order laws to streamline emergency relief. It updates the definition of "abuse" to explicitly include cyberstalking, sexual offenses, and stalking, while clarifying that self-defense isn't considered abuse. The bill allows chancery courts to issue emergency protection orders immediately and requires sheriffs to serve these orders within 24 hours, prioritizing them over other duties. This directly affects victims of domestic abuse, courts handling these cases, and law enforcement responsible for service. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryMississippi's SB 2737 amends the state's appeal bond rules to allow appellants challenging nonmonetary court judgments (like injunctions) to post a bond based on estimated monetary harm they would face during the appeal. To qualify, appellants must prove at an evidentiary hearing the estimated financial loss from the judgment's enforcement, with the bond amount set to cover that harm - capped at 50% of the appellant's net worth or $35 million, whichever is lower. This change directly affects individuals or entities appealing nonmonetary rulings, replacing the previous requirement to post a full judgment bond. The bill applies to all nonmonetary judgments entered on or after July 1, 2016, and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2807 (Mississippi Code § 99-39-7) proposes to require certain post-conviction relief motions - specifically those involving affirmed convictions, denied prior motions with affirmed appeals, or cases over three years old - to first seek permission from the Mississippi Supreme Court before being filed in a trial court. This would directly affect individuals convicted of crimes who seek to challenge their convictions after initial appeals. The bill’s key mechanism mandates that these motions cannot be filed in trial courts until the Supreme Court grants an order authorizing the filing, following procedures outlined in § 99-39-27. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2776 modifies Mississippi's parole process by requiring inmates whose parole petitions have been denied by a circuit court to wait two years before filing a new request. This rule applies specifically to inmates who have already had a parole eligibility petition denied, adding a mandatory waiting period before they can reapply. The bill does not change existing eligibility criteria for parole (such as minimum sentence requirements or offense-specific restrictions) but only addresses the timing for re-filing after a denial. It directly affects inmates in the Mississippi Department of Corrections who have been denied parole eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 2855 defines a specific industrial zone in Pascagoula and allows its operator to enter a 30-year agreement with the municipality. This agreement prohibits the city from annexing the project site without the operator's written consent. The bill directly affects the Pascagoula industrial project by legally binding future city governments to respect this non-annexation agreement. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

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 summaryThis resolution (SR 10) formally commemorates Mississippi College's bicentennial in 2026, marking 200 years since its founding on January 24, 1826. It honors the institution's history as Mississippi's oldest college and the second oldest Baptist college in the U.S., highlighting its contributions to education, its Christian mission, and its role in developing leaders across Mississippi. The resolution has no policy or funding provisions - it is purely ceremonial, extending recognition to the college's students, faculty, and administration. It was adopted by the Mississippi Senate in early 2026 with no reported opposition.

Maddy summarySB 2026 appropriates $438.2 million from the state General Fund and $30.8 million from special funds for Mississippi's Department of Corrections during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill allocates specific funding to key areas including $122 million for medical services, $69.5 million for private prison contracts, and $144 million for personnel costs (salaries, benefits, and staffing positions). These funds directly support state correctional facilities like Parchman, South Mississippi Correctional, and community corrections programs, covering operational expenses and staffing for approximately 2,900 positions. As a funding measure, it does not change policy but authorizes financial resources for existing correctional operations.

Maddy summarySB 2015 appropriates $168,604,209 from the State General Fund and $117,126,547 from Special Funds to cover the Department of Public Safety's expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically allocates $154,691,960 for "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and benefits), with strict limits on spending to prevent exceeding budgeted amounts when annualized. The bill authorizes 4 new positions (including Medical Examiner and Sexual Assault Kits staff) and requires that "Vacancy Funding" ($705,000) be used solely to fill unfilled roles, not for raises or promotions. It also mandates that funds must comply with Mississippi’s Variable Compensation Plan and prohibits using state funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds.