Sen. Ben Suber

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a policy bill) expressing the Mississippi Senate's condolences to the family of Edwin Lloyd Pittman, a former Mississippi public servant. It honors his service as Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, Attorney General, Secretary of State, two-term State Senator, and Brigadier General in the Mississippi National Guard. The resolution recognizes his career spanning multiple branches of state government and his efforts to improve judicial transparency and access to justice. It contains no policy changes or funding provisions, serving solely as a formal tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SC 506) is a concurrent resolution expressing the Mississippi Legislature's sympathy to the surviving family of former State Senator Nickey Reed Browning of Pontotoc, Mississippi, following his death on October 29, 2024. It commends his 24-year service in the Senate, his community leadership, and his role as a longtime coach for the Pontotoc Red Sox American Legion Baseball team. The resolution formally extends condolences and recognizes his contributions to Pontotoc and Union Counties. As a commemorative measure, it does not create any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryBill SC 504 is a commemorative resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's deepest sympathy to the family of Charles James Pittman, a former Mississippi State Senator and former staff member to Governor Haley Barbour. The resolution also commends his decades of public service, including founding the "MS Singing Senators" and his dedication to Mississippi communities. It honors his legacy of ethics, community involvement, and service to the state, as detailed in the resolution's preamble. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect policy, but serves as a formal tribute.

Maddy summarySR 27 is a ceremonial resolution extending the Mississippi Senate's sympathy to the family of Jeanne Carter Luckey, a National Republican Committee Woman and community leader from Louisville, Mississippi, following her death on November 7, 2024. The resolution commends her service, including her work as Mississippi Federation of Republican Women President, her advocacy for disability access on the Institutions of Higher Learning board, and her decades of community involvement. This resolution has no policy effect - it solely expresses the Senate’s condolences and acknowledges her life’s contributions. It was adopted by the Senate on February 17, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2281 requires all hunters, fishers, and trappers aged 16 or older in Mississippi to obtain a conservation stamp before engaging in these activities. Non-resident users must pay a $25 annual fee, while residents receive the stamp at no cost (though voluntary donations are allowed). Proceeds from non-resident fees fund wildlife conservation efforts, including habitat restoration, scientific research, and expanding public access to hunting and fishing opportunities, as specified in the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund. Violations carry a misdemeanor penalty of up to $100.

Maddy summarySB 2759 allows licensed nursing homes (institutions for the aged or infirm) to host mobile end-stage renal dialysis services on-site for residents, provided the dialysis provider uses its own staff, maintains appropriate care standards, and doesn’t exceed its certified number of dialysis stations. The bill removes mobile dialysis facilities from Mississippi’s Certificate of Need (CON) law, eliminating the state approval process required for major health care investments. This directly affects nursing homes seeking to provide on-site dialysis and mobile dialysis providers looking to expand services within these facilities. The policy change simplifies regulatory requirements for mobile dialysis operations in nursing homes without altering patient care standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 2589) is a procedural reorganization of existing Mississippi Code sections related to county garbage collection and liens. It moves sections 19-5-17, 19-5-21, 19-5-22, 21-19-2, and 27-41-59 into a more logical sequence for potential future amendment. It does not change current requirements for counties to establish garbage systems, set fees, or levy ad valorem taxes (up to 7 mills depending on county size/population). The bill directly affects county boards of supervisors responsible for managing waste services and collecting fees.

Maddy summarySB 2549 prohibits anyone from selling or distributing door decals or patches featuring Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) division logos without written approval from both the division director and the DPS Commissioner. It requires the DPS to maintain a current list of approved items and forbids unreasonable denial of approval for current DPS employees. Violating this law would result in a misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to 48 hours in jail or a $1,000 fine per offense. The bill directly affects vendors, retailers, and individuals selling or giving away DPS-branded merchandise. It takes effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summarySB 2758 would ban the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells (lab-grown meat) in Mississippi. It prohibits these activities for all businesses, with violations classified as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $500 or up to three months in jail. Retail food establishments violating the ban could face license suspension or revocation under existing health and agriculture laws. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law, so it has no current effect. The proposed law directly affects food businesses and manufacturers of cultivated meat products in Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2680 would have allowed Mississippi's Department of Health to license psychiatric inpatient beds to a separate but affiliated entity when a hospital converts from an acute care or critical access hospital to a rural emergency hospital (per federal rules). It would have required the new psychiatric facility to maintain full separation from the rural emergency hospital in operations, finances, and governance, with a separate certificate of need. The bill directly affected rural hospitals converting their status and their associated psychiatric services. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is no longer active.