Sen. Hob Bryan

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 94) passed by the Mississippi Senate to commend the Tupelo High School Lady Wave Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Matt Justice for winning their second consecutive MHSAA Class 7A State Championship on February 27, 2025. It formally recognizes their victory over Starkville in overtime, their comeback from significant deficits in both the championship and semifinal games, and their first back-to-back state title in program history. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses Senate support and will be presented to the team, coaches, and school leadership.

Maddy summarySB 2697 extends the deadline for Mississippi hospitals to claim reimbursement for pandemic-related capacity expansions from December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024. It directly affects hospitals that created ICU beds (reimbursed up to $200,000 per bed) or negative pressure beds (up to $50,000 per bed) during the pandemic, requiring expenses to align with federal ARPA guidelines. The bill allows funds from Mississippi’s Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund to cover these reimbursements, prioritizing ICU bed costs first before negative pressure beds. Hospitals must submit applications by the new deadline, and the program ends July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2695 extends the automatic expiration date of Mississippi's Professional Massage Therapy Act to July 1, 2029. This keeps the current licensing requirements for massage therapists and establishments in place, preventing the law from being repealed earlier. The bill also brings forward the existing sections of the act (73-67-1 through 73-67-37) to allow for future amendments. It directly affects massage therapy professionals and businesses operating under Mississippi's licensing system.

Maddy summarySB 2698 extends Mississippi's Alzheimer's and dementia care program through July 2029, allowing families caring for loved ones with dementia to continue receiving respite care services. The program directly serves caregivers of individuals aged 60+ who cannot afford respite care without risking basic needs like food, shelter, or medications. It limits enrollment to 60 families in the first year, maintaining that number for subsequent years, with eligibility requiring a financial assessment confirming the family’s inability to pay for care without hardship. The state must annually report program costs, participant demographics, and effectiveness to the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 2691 raises Mississippi's minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21. It prohibits retailers from selling tobacco to anyone under 21, requiring them to check government-issued ID before each sale and imposing fines for violations (starting at $50 for first offenses). The law also mandates clear point-of-sale warning signs stating "STATE LAW PROHIBITS SALE TO PERSONS UNDER 21" and bans tobacco sales via vending machines unless access is restricted to those 21+ or accompanied by an adult. This law directly affects retailers who sell tobacco and minors attempting to purchase it, taking effect after Governor approval on March 12, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Concurrent Resolution 505 is a ceremonial tribute honoring Emily Wagster Pettus for her 30-year career as a Capitol correspondent for The Associated Press in Mississippi. The resolution formally thanks her for covering legislative sessions, state government, and major events like Hurricane Katrina and civil rights trials. It recognizes her role in providing fair coverage, mentoring new reporters, and her service to Mississippi citizens. This resolution has no policy impact - it is purely a gesture of appreciation from the Mississippi Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) recognizing Senator Angela Turner Ford for receiving the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) 2024 Legislative Champion Award. It formally commends her advocacy for adult education in Mississippi, citing her support during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week and her role as a keynote speaker for a High School Equivalency ceremony. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any programs or individuals beyond honoring the Senator. It was adopted by the Mississippi Senate on March 6, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commends the life and service of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, a Mississippi native and Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in a 2025 training mission crash near Washington, D.C. It expresses the Mississippi Legislature’s sympathy to his family and honors his memory as a fallen soldier. The resolution has no policy provisions or direct impact beyond ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summarySB 2393 modifies Mississippi's Medicaid rules to help disabled workers maintain eligibility for long-term care services. It requires Medicaid to exclude savings in an "independence account" (created from post-Medicaid-eligibility work income) and retirement savings earned during employment from asset calculations. This directly affects disabled workers who qualify for Medicaid under the "disabled workers categories" and have saved through work while receiving benefits. The policy change ensures these specific assets won't count toward eligibility thresholds for long-term care services.

Maddy summarySB 2075 revises Mississippi's medical licensure laws to clarify definitions, procedures, and disciplinary actions for the Board of Medical Licensure. It directly affects physicians, medical license applicants, and the licensing board by updating requirements for obtaining licenses (including electronic renewal notices), adding behavioral conduct as grounds for license restrictions, and requiring the Physician Health Program to report performance data to the board. Key provisions include shortening disciplinary hearing timelines (to 30 days for immediate patient safety risks), excluding midwives from the medical practice chapter, and revising temporary license rules. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and has not become law.