Sen. Nicole Boyd

Maddy summarySB 2243, the "Don Triplett Act," creates a new Office of the Ombudsman for Parental Assistance within Mississippi's State Department of Education. This office directly helps parents, teachers, and school stakeholders resolve disputes with schools or districts by investigating complaints, mediating conflicts, and tracking systemic issues. Key provisions include requiring the ombudsman to have specific education/experience qualifications, mandating confidentiality for communications (exempting records from public disclosure), and authorizing annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The office will operate independently, accepting grants for support, and must be implemented by December 2026.

Maddy summarySB 2613 creates a dedicated "PERS Tier 5 COLA Account" within Mississippi's public employee retirement system. It requires the State Treasurer to transfer $5 million annually from the State General Fund to this account on July 1 each year, beginning July 1, 2026, and continuing through July 1, 2035. The funds are designated for "additional annual benefit" payments specifically for Tier 5 retirees under the PERS system. This bill directly affects current and future Tier 5 public employee retirees by establishing a funding mechanism for their cost-of-living adjustments. The transfer schedule and account management are explicitly defined by the bill's provisions.

Maddy summarySB 2668, the "Preserving Lawful Utilization of Services for Veterans Act of 2026" (PLUS Act), regulates paid assistance with veterans' benefit claims in Mississippi. It prohibits charging fees for such services unless the veteran signs a waiver acknowledging they’re within the one-year post-discharge period and choosing to deny free VA services. The bill requires written agreements with clear fee terms (capped at 5x monthly benefit increase or $12,500), bans upfront fees, mandates a specific disclosure about free VA services, and prohibits using veterans’ personal data without consent. It directly affects veterans seeking claim assistance and businesses/individuals offering paid services, while exempting VA-accredited representatives. Violations can result in civil penalties under Mississippi’s Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Mississippi public schools to incorporate financial literacy into the curriculum for grades 6-8 starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It also mandates that all high school students pass either a half-credit personal finance course or a full-credit course where at least half focuses on financial literacy to graduate, beginning with the 2032 graduating class. The law directly affects all Mississippi public schools (including charter schools) and students in grades 6-12. It amends existing education law to formalize these requirements, focusing on practical financial skills like budgeting and credit management.

Maddy summarySB 2259, "The Peoples Access Act," requires most local government meetings in Mississippi (cities, towns, villages, and hamlets) to be broadcast via video livestream on the agency’s official website, with exceptions for executive sessions. It mandates that public notices include the livestream link and detailed agendas, and any meeting action taken without proper livestreaming is void. If technical issues prevent livestreaming, the meeting must be recorded and posted online with an explanation. The law phases compliance: cities by January 2027, towns by July 2027, and villages/hamlets by January 2028, excluding the Legislature and judiciary.

Maddy summarySB 2732 requires Mississippi consumer reporting agencies to place a free security freeze on a child’s credit report upon request from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The bill directs health care facilities to provide parents with a form (at their discretion) to authorize this freeze within 10 days of a child’s birth. This applies only to children born in Mississippi health care facilities, creating a new procedure to block access to a child’s credit report before identity theft could occur. The law uses existing federal credit freeze rules (15 USC § 1681c-1) and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMississippi Senate Bill 2293 amends the state's student funding formula to increase the weight and multiplier for gifted education funding. It requires that all funds allocated under this revised calculation go directly toward gifted education instruction in schools. The bill also adds seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in career and technical education courses to the calculation for those funds. This change affects all Mississippi public school districts serving students identified as gifted, increasing their per-pupil funding for specialized gifted programs. The bill does not specify the exact new percentage but revises the existing 14.5% weight calculation method.

Maddy summarySB 2484, the BRIDGE Act, creates a framework for developing regional schools in Mississippi focused on two distinct needs: specialized education for students with disabilities (including dyslexia, autism, and IEPs) and career/technical education (CTE) programs. The Mississippi Department of Education must conduct a statewide study by October 2026 to identify partnership opportunities with school districts, universities, and workforce entities, and propose governance, staffing, and funding plans. The bill prioritizes rural and underserved areas (counties without cities over 15,000 people) for pilot programs. It aligns both programs with federal special education laws (IDEA, Section 504) and state CTE standards, aiming to address teacher shortages and expand access to specialized learning and workforce training.

Maddy summaryMississippi SB 2242 establishes the "Moving Mathematics in Mississippi" (M3) program to improve math education across public K-12 schools. It requires schools to implement K-5 math screening with targeted interventions for struggling students, use 5th-grade test scores as an Algebra-Readiness Indicator to guide middle school placement, and expand math coaching for teachers in all grade bands. The bill mandates grade-specific professional development aligned with state standards and creates a state fund to support these initiatives. These changes directly affect all Mississippi public school students, teachers, and districts through new assessment protocols and support structures.

Maddy summarySB 2402 (The Amy Act) eliminates the grace period allowing lobbyists to register with Mississippi's Secretary of State after starting lobbying activities. It requires lobbyists and their clients to register and pay fees *before* engaging in lobbying, rather than after. The bill creates "The Amy Act" under Section 5-8-17, authorizing the Secretary of State to assess daily fines of $50 (up to $500 total) for late registration. This directly affects all lobbyists and their clients who lobby in Mississippi, making timely registration mandatory to avoid penalties.