Sen. Ben Suber

Maddy summarySB 2859 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing Mississippi law by moving multiple code sections (27-41-55 through 27-41-89 and 27-45-27) to new positions in the legal code. It does not change tax sale procedures or create new requirements - it only rearranges the existing text for potential future amendments. The bill affects county tax collectors who handle sales of properties with unpaid property taxes, as it repositions the current rules governing those sales. The bill was referred to committee but died there in February 2025 without advancing.

Maddy summarySB 2283 requires owners of high-fenced deer enclosures in Mississippi to submit deer samples for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing annually, mandating at least one sample per 200 acres. It increases penalties for non-compliance: a first violation incurs a $500 fine, a second $1,000, and a third or subsequent violation becomes a felony punishable by $2,000-$5,000 fines. The bill directly affects deer enclosure operators who must comply with these testing rules. Key provisions include specific sample submission requirements and the escalation of penalties for repeated failures to test harvested or dead deer within enclosures. This amendment to Mississippi Code § 49-7-58.6 takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2044 would reduce the additional criminal assessment for misdemeanor assault convictions from $1,000 to $500. This assessment, paid by the convicted individual, would be deposited into the Victims of Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Fund. The bill applies specifically to misdemeanor violations under Section 97-3-7 of Mississippi law and would take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.

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 legislative bill is a concurrent resolution that formally opposes a proposed federal rule change allowing non-employees to serve as representatives during OSHA workplace safety inspections. The bill argues that the current regulation correctly restricts these representatives to actual employees or specific experts like safety engineers, while the new proposal would permit any third party to accompany inspectors. By condemning the Department of Labor's plan, the resolution aims to protect private property rights and prevent government officials from granting access to unqualified individuals on business premises. Ultimately, the document serves as an official statement of the Mississippi Legislature's stance against the federal amendment rather than creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to provide death benefits to Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who die or suffer fatal injuries while performing official duties. It increases the base death benefit payment to $150,000 and allows for an additional $25,000 per child, with a maximum total payout of $250,000, while also authorizing up to $15,000 for funeral expenses. The legislation creates a separate fund for training and equipment grants, directing any money remaining in the death benefits trust after maintaining a $4 million minimum balance to support enhanced training or safety gear for covered individuals.

Maddy summaryThe SAFER Act establishes new state laws in Mississippi that require public schools and universities to maintain separate restrooms, changing facilities, and student housing spaces for males and females. Under this legislation, these areas must be designated exclusively for one sex or configured as single-occupant or family-use rooms with secure locks to ensure privacy. The law also restricts entry into these spaces, allowing access only for specific reasons such as assisting young children, responding to emergencies, or performing official government duties. Additionally, the bill defines terms like "female" and "male" based solely on biological sex determined at birth and mandates that social fraternities and sororities on public land adhere to these single-sex housing definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to give up to $250,000 per year to the Oxford-Lafayette Economic Development Foundation. The funds can be used to support local economic development projects and cover the foundation's administrative costs. The county has the flexibility to decide how to use the money within these limits, drawing from any available county funds. This funding authority will automatically end on July 1, 2028, unless renewed by future legislation.