Sen. David Parker

Maddy summarySB 2577 would allow Mississippi public bodies (like city offices or state agencies) to deny public records requests they deem disruptive to essential operations. The bill requires written justification for denials and mandates that public bodies maintain these records for three years. It does not change existing exemptions but adds "disruption" as a new basis for denial, separate from other legal exemptions. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2539 would require school resource officers (SROs) in 12 Mississippi school districts (three per congressional district) during the 2025-2026 school year to serve as student mentors, focusing on academic support and mental health. It mandates new training for SROs through the MCOPS grant program, including specific curriculum on mentoring students and building relationships with schools and families. Starting in 2026-2027, the bill would require the MCOPS program to provide at least one grant per school district for an SRO, regardless of whether the applicant is a school or law enforcement agency. The bill directly affects participating schools, SROs, and the state’s school safety funding program, with a requirement for a legislative report on the pilot program’s results.

Maddy summarySB 2538, the Mississippi School Safety Act of 2019, would have required public school districts to adopt an "Erin's Law Awareness" policy addressing child sexual abuse (based on a state-developed model) and implement stress-management programs for K-5 students in 12 districts during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The bill would have expanded school safety grants to cover community policing partnerships between schools and law enforcement, mental health screenings by approved screeners, and allowed districts to hire chaplains (with background checks and excluding sex offenders) after a board vote. It would have also shifted threat assessment officer responsibilities to local law enforcement, mandated memorandums of understanding for these roles, and created a council to oversee behavioral support programs for students needing mental health resources.

Maddy summarySB 2624 requires Mississippi public school districts to adopt and implement age-appropriate policies prohibiting student cell phone use during all "bell-to-bell" school hours (from first bell to dismissal, including class transitions and lunch). It mandates that elementary students store phones off-person during school, middle school students store phones during class time, and high schools follow similar rules while allowing limited use outside classrooms. Crucially, the bill prohibits suspending or expelling students for violating these policies and bans school internet access to social media except for teacher-directed educational use. The law also requires school boards to publicly post policies, integrate safety plans, and prevent using recess as punishment for phone violations. (Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.)

Maddy summarySB 2595 establishes Mississippi's Educational Counselor, Psychologist and Psychiatrist Loan Repayment Program, providing financial support to eligible mental health professionals working in public schools or colleges. It offers tiered annual loan repayments ($1,500-$6,000) based on school type (regular schools or those needing extra support), plus a specific $6,000 annual salary supplement for licensed school psychologists employed full-time by school districts or the state education board (not as administrators). To qualify, applicants must hold a standard license, work full-time in Mississippi public schools or higher education, have qualifying student loans, and not be in default. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2077 would have required Mississippi's Attorney General to issue written legal opinions within 60 days for regular requests and 25 days for urgent ("expedited") requests. It applies to state officials (like the Governor and department heads), county officers, school boards, and other authorized entities that seek legal guidance on their duties. The bill also included liability protections for officials who follow the Attorney General's opinion in good faith, unless a court later deems it "manifestly wrong." However, the bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 2402 establishes a program to help Mississippi counties and municipalities purchase fire trucks by providing state funding through a dedicated Rural Fire Truck Fund. Counties receive tiered financial assistance based on how many trucks they’ve already acquired: up to $50,000 per truck for the first six, $70,000 for the next five, and $90,000 for additional trucks, with all vehicles required to meet national safety standards. The program, administered by the Department of Insurance, allows unspent funds to carry over annually and be used as matching funds for future applications. This bill does not create new policy but updates existing sections of Mississippi law to streamline the funding process for rural fire departments.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 24) is a ceremonial commendation honoring Dr. Steven Reed, a Vicksburg optometrist, for becoming the first Mississippian elected to lead the American Optometric Association (AOA). It recognizes his leadership role, 30-year career in eye care, community service, and previous presidency of the Mississippi Optometric Association. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses legislative praise and will be presented to Dr. Reed, the AOA, and Mississippi Optometric Association.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 7) urges Allen Media Broadcasting, the owner of WTVA Channel 9 in Tupelo, Mississippi, to retain its local meteorology team. It does not create new law but requests the station maintain on-site weather forecasting, citing historical examples where local storm coverage saved lives during tornadoes in 2014 and 2023. The resolution emphasizes that community trust in WTVA’s local reporting cannot be replaced by remote weather updates. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal force but aims to influence the station’s operational decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Mississippi Adequate Education Program by changing how the base cost of educating a student is calculated and how funds are distributed to school districts. It requires the base student cost to increase annually by 25% of the previous year's cost, adjusted for inflation, while also mandating that 90% of state contributions be spent on teacher salaries and classroom resources rather than administrative roles. The legislation sets specific rules for funding charter schools, requiring them to return prorated funds if students return to their home districts, and ensures that no district receives less state funding in 2025 than it did in 2024. Ultimately, the bill aims to standardize the formula used to determine the amount of money each school district receives to support its students.