Rep. Bubba Carpenter

Maddy summaryHB 1263 allows Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to employ or accept chaplains as volunteers to provide student support services. The bill requires schools to conduct criminal background checks on chaplains and prohibits employment of individuals required to register as sex offenders. School boards must vote on implementing chaplain programs by December 2025, and the law mandates that school safety plans and crisis response teams (including chaplains) be funded through local school budgets. It also amends existing education codes to integrate chaplain services into school safety protocols and crisis management teams.

Maddy summaryHB 1264 increases base salaries by $6,000 for all sworn officers in Mississippi's Highway Safety Patrol (MHP), Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), and Commercial Traffic Enforcement Division (CTED) within the Department of Public Safety. The bill revises the existing salary schedule to add $6,000 to the base pay for every rank category across all experience levels, such as raising Troopers' starting pay from $60,000 to $66,000. This applies to full-time officers serving in these three divisions, directly affecting their compensation without changing promotion structures or job classifications. The adjustment aligns with the current salary framework but provides a uniform $6,000 increase across all positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1225 revises Mississippi's Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program to support EMTs pursuing paramedic certification. The bill provides full funding for tuition, fees, books, uniforms, and National Registry exam costs at accredited paramedic programs. To qualify, applicants must be certified EMTs, commit to working in Mississippi for three years after graduation, and meet additional criteria set by the Office of Workforce Development. The program would be funded through legislative appropriations, with no more than 5% of funds used for administrative costs. This change aims to address paramedic shortages by reducing financial barriers to training.

Maddy summaryHB 1394 would authorize distinctive license tags for retired members of Mississippi's Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division who are state residents. It requires an additional $30 annual fee (on top of regular registration) for these tags, with fees allocated as follows: $24 to law enforcement death benefits, $1 to burn care, $2 to highway repairs, and $1 to a special fund. The bill, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, also specifies that retired officers must surrender regular tags and that replacement tags cost $10. This is a targeted benefit for a specific retired law enforcement group, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 would have established a state-run Mississippi Bullion Depository under the State Treasurer's office to hold precious metals (gold/silver) deposited by individuals or entities. It would require deposits to be measured in troy ounces, prohibit interest payments on deposits, and mandate the Treasurer to set exchange rates and publish annual operational reports. The depository would allow account holders to withdraw or transfer metals, use licensed third-party agents for retail transactions, and operate under specific rules for recordkeeping and fees. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected Mississippi residents and businesses seeking to store or trade precious metals through a state-administered system.

Maddy summaryHB 1092 proposed to amend Mississippi's Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program by removing a restriction that previously limited counties to receiving funding for no more than eight rounds of fire trucks. The bill would have allowed counties and municipalities to apply for additional matching funds beyond the eight-round cap, enabling them to secure more fire trucks under the program. Specifically, it aimed to eliminate the requirement that a county must have received funding for only eight or fewer rounds to qualify for further assistance. This change would directly affect rural Mississippi counties and municipalities seeking to replace aging fire equipment, with funds covering up to $90,000 per fire truck for eligible purchases meeting NFPA standards. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1362 would have allowed Mississippi residents to purchase distinctive vehicle license tags supporting the National Guard Association of Mississippi for a $30 annual fee. The additional fee would fund the National Guard Association ($24), Mississippi Burn Care Fund ($1), Highway Fund ($2), and another special fund ($1) per tag. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1226 provides tuition, fee, and book cost waivers at Mississippi's public universities and community colleges for specific family members of veterans. It offers 100% tuition waivers for children of veterans who died in service or have a 100% VA disability rating, and 60% waivers for children, spouses, or unremarried widows/widowers of veterans with a 40-90% VA disability rating. To qualify, applicants must provide VA documentation, be Mississippi residents, and meet age limits (under 24, or continuing studies after 24). The program is administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, with funding secured by the Legislature. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 889 creates the "Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund" to reimburse hospitals for burn care provided to uninsured or underinsured Mississippi residents. It adds a $2 fee to distinctive vehicle license tags starting July 2025, with all proceeds deposited into this fund. The fund will cover costs for Mississippians treated at in-state burn centers and out-of-state burn centers affiliated with Level I trauma centers in Mississippi. This policy directly affects all vehicle owners purchasing specialty license tags and ensures hospitals receive reimbursement for uncompensated burn care.

Maddy summaryHB 1119 (the "Representative Andy Stepp Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act") requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) for drugs plus a standard dispensing fee, ensuring pharmacies are paid fairly for medications. It prohibits PBMs from charging patients more than the amount retained by the pharmacy and bans PBMs from penalizing patients for choosing specific pharmacies or favoring certain pharmacies in networks. The bill also mandates clear appeal processes for pharmacies disputing low reimbursements and prohibits PBMs from retaliating against pharmacies for exercising rights under the law. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and patients in Mississippi by setting fair reimbursement standards and protecting patient choice.