Rep. Bubba Carpenter

Maddy summaryHB 1952 allocates $800,000 from the state general fund to fund scholarships for paramedic training and retention in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security will administer these scholarships under existing law (Mississippi Code Sections 37-153-231-239) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This is a funding appropriation bill, not a policy change, directly supporting paramedics and aspiring paramedics seeking education.

Maddy summaryHB 1091 would have allowed Mississippi veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces to park motor vehicles for free at any state airport or airport parking facility. To qualify, veterans would need to show specific proof of service (like a DD-214, military ID, or "Vet" designation on a Mississippi driver's license) and be the driver or passenger exiting the facility. The bill required airports to implement this policy but did not mandate state funding for the free parking. It died in committee on February 13, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1360 designates November 9th as "Gold Star Father's Day" in Mississippi, honoring fathers who lost a son or daughter in military service. The bill adds this date to the state's calendar of recognized days for commemoration, specifying it shall not be a legal holiday. It directly affects Gold Star Fathers by providing a formal day to recognize their sacrifice, aligning with similar observances like Tuskegee Airmen Day. The measure does not alter public school schedules or create new legal holidays, as explicitly stated in the bill text.

Maddy summaryHB 872, the "Health Care Facility Right to Visit Act," would require Mississippi hospitals, nursing homes, and other licensed health care facilities to allow patients to be visited by designated family or friends during hospitalizations longer than 24 hours, including during public health emergencies. The bill mandates facilities permit at least two designated visitors for a minimum of two hours daily while allowing reasonable safety rules (like visitor limits or health screenings). It also shields facilities from liability claims if they comply with the visitation rules. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law, so it does not currently affect any patients or facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1210 increases specific fees and assessments to fund Mississippi's trauma care system. It raises the traffic violation assessment for emergency medical services from $25 to $50 per ticket, increases vehicle license tag fees from $35 to $50, and boosts sales fees on ATVs and motorcycles for trauma care funding. These additional revenues would support trauma centers, emergency services, and indigent care programs under the state's trauma care plan. The bill directly affects drivers paying traffic fines, vehicle owners, and ATV/motorcycle buyers.

Maddy summaryHB 1044 establishes a state-run Mississippi Bullion Depository under the State Treasurer's Office to securely hold precious metals (like gold and silver) and coinage (specie) for the state, its agencies, and private individuals or entities. The depository would accept deposits of bullion or specie, record them in troy ounces, allow account holders to transfer or withdraw holdings, and prohibit interest payments on deposits. It requires contracts between depositors and the depository, mandates annual reporting to the legislature, and authorizes private depository agents to handle retail transactions. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1207 is a procedural bill that reorganizes Mississippi's existing legislative compensation laws without changing pay amounts. It revises Section 5-1-51 to clarify payment schedules for legislators' base salary ($10,000 per regular session) and mileage, while bringing forward Sections 5-1-41, 5-1-45, 5-1-46, and 5-1-47 to consolidate provisions for regular pay, per diem for extra sessions ($75/day), monthly office expense allowances ($1,500/month), and leadership salaries ($15,000 annually for President Pro Tempore and Speaker). The bill directly affects all Mississippi state legislators, including the Lieutenant Governor and leadership roles. It does not alter current compensation levels but reorganizes the legal references for clarity. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 678, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, prohibits intentionally sharing restricted personal information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email) of specific protected individuals with the intent to harass or threaten them. It directly affects law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and informants (defined as "covered persons") by creating criminal penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 6 months jail or $2,000 fine), while repeat offenses or cases involving violence become felonies (up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine). The bill also amends Mississippi’s public records law to exempt the restricted personal information of these covered persons from public disclosure. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have prevented Mississippi Medicaid from seeking repayment for benefits from ABLE savings accounts established under state law. It specifically protects funds in these accounts - designed for people with disabilities to save without losing eligibility for benefits - from being used to cover Medicaid costs after the account holder's death. The bill amended state laws to ensure ABLE accounts are exempt from estate recovery rules that typically allow Medicaid to reclaim funds from a beneficiary's estate. This change would directly affect Mississippi residents with disabilities who use ABLE accounts to save for future needs while maintaining eligibility for public assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 1043 would have established a Mississippi state depository to store physical gold and silver bullion for individuals, businesses, and state entities. It defined "legal tender" as currency fully backed by gold or silver value and set rules for deposits (measured in troy ounces), withdrawals, and account transfers without interest payments. The depository would have been managed by the state treasurer, requiring private agents to handle retail transactions and mandating transparent pricing and reporting. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.