Sen. Rita Parks

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $73.47 million total for Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $20.57 million from general funds for operations and $52.90 million from special sources (including $750,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund), specifically funding the Wise Center construction ($17.5 million), rural veterinarian scholarships ($120,000), and Chronic Wasting Disease testing ($125,000). The bill requires the college to track performance metrics like 95% graduation pass rates on vet licensing exams and 40,000 annual animal clinic visits. It mandates efficient spending and reporting to the legislature on these targets.

Maddy summarySB 2002 is a funding bill that allocates $86.1 million (from state general and special funds) to support 15 specific research centers and programs at Mississippi's public universities for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects institutions like the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Mississippi Law Research Institute, and Jackson State University's Urban Research Center. The bill specifies exact dollar amounts for each program, such as $8.6 million for the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and $5.4 million for the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. This is a routine appropriations bill that provides operating funds for existing university research initiatives, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 2003 appropriates $7,887,984 from the State General Fund and $335,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural research, extension, and land-grant programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds directly support specific programs, including $165,000 for the Poultry Sciences Research Center and $715,000 for broader agricultural research (covering poultry, animal, and environmental science). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires compliance with state budgeting rules. It was signed into law by the governor on June 4, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2006 appropriates $6,262,007 from the State General Fund and $1,369,899 from special sources (including $450,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the operating and maintenance costs of Mississippi State University's Forest and Wildlife Research Center for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifies that general funds cannot replace withdrawn federal or special funds and requires that any matching federal grants be accounted for under the special source funds. It also reappropriates $1,000,000 from the Capital Expense Fund for Deer Lab renovations, subject to prior unexpended balances. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes, directly affecting the research center’s operations.

Maddy summarySB 2035 appropriates $5.67 million from the General Fund and $3.63 million from special funds to cover the State Veterans Affairs Board's salaries and operations for fiscal year 2026. It also allocates $6.36 million from the General Fund and $54.54 million from special funds to support Mississippi State Veterans Homes operations and staff salaries during the same period. The bill specifies exact funding amounts for "Personal Services" (covering salaries and benefits) and sets authorized headcounts (40 permanent and 25 time-limited positions for the Board; 265 permanent and 317 time-limited for Veterans Homes), with strict rules preventing fund transfers or salary increases beyond approved amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating April 24, 2025, as "Reman Day" in Mississippi. It does not create new laws or requirements; instead, it symbolically encourages businesses, schools, and communities to recognize remanufacturing (the process of restoring used products to like-new condition) as environmentally and economically beneficial. The resolution cites job support and sustainability benefits from remanufacturing but has no binding effect on policy or funding. As a procedural measure, it was adopted by both chambers but later died in committee on April 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 2917 is a bill that would restore voting rights to Pamela Null, a resident of Alcorn County, Mississippi, who lost her right to vote after multiple criminal convictions between 2002 and 2016. The bill specifically addresses her disqualification due to a forgery conviction in 2002 and subsequent sentences for crimes including receiving stolen property and false statements, noting she completed all sentences and has since been a law-abiding citizen. It would formally reinstate her voting eligibility under Mississippi law, directly affecting only Pamela Null. The bill was referred to committee but died there in April 2025, so it did not become law. This is a case-specific restoration, not a change to general voting rights laws.

Maddy summarySB 2918 restores voting rights to Teddy Null of Alcorn County, Mississippi, who was disqualified from voting due to past criminal convictions. The bill specifically addresses his 1995, 2002, and 2016 convictions for offenses including receiving stolen property and burglary, after he completed all sentences and supervision by 2017. It states he has since lived as a "law-abiding and honorable citizen." The bill died in committee on April 3, 2025, and does not create a general voting rights policy.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 148) passed by the Mississippi Senate to formally commend Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard for winning the 2025 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award. It recognizes his leadership in guiding Ole Miss to a 24-12 record, an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (tying a program record), and his previous coaching honors. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely symbolic, expressing Senate support and congratulations. It was adopted by the Senate on April 2, 2025, and will be presented to Coach Beard and university officials.

Maddy summarySB 3004 appropriates over $7.8 million from the state General Fund and $335,000 from the Education Enhancement Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural programs for fiscal year 2026. The funds specifically cover the Poultry Sciences Academic Research Center ($300,000 from Section 1 and $165,000 from Section 3), broader agricultural research and extension programs ($715,000), and agency operations ($170,000). This bill directly affects Alcorn State University's land-grant agricultural research, extension services, and related academic programs. It is a funding measure with no policy changes, solely providing financial support for existing university programs.