Rep. Bubba Carpenter

Maddy summaryHB 1391 allows Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to hire or accept chaplains as volunteers to provide student support services, subject to background checks and a prohibition on sex offenders. The bill requires school boards to vote on chaplain policies by December 2025 and integrates chaplains into school safety programs, including crisis response teams and security funding under amended education codes. It mandates background checks for chaplains and ties chaplain services to existing school safety initiatives like threat assessments. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have affected all Mississippi public schools and their students.

Maddy summaryHB 1214 would allow Mississippi counties to maintain all required law books in courtrooms and public law libraries solely in electronic format, instead of requiring physical copies. It amends existing law to replace the requirement for printed books with an option for exclusive electronic maintenance, affecting county boards of supervisors and sheriffs responsible for courthouse legal reference materials. The bill specifically updates sections of Mississippi law governing courthouse bookcases (Section 19-7-25), sheriff custody (Section 19-25-65), and public law libraries (Section 19-7-31) to permit this shift. This change would eliminate the need for counties to purchase, bind, or store physical law books in these locations. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1217 requires Mississippi’s Department of Human Services to set aside $10 million annually from federal TANF block grant funds to provide grants for marriage counseling, preparation, and support services. The program specifically targets nonprofit organizations serving military families (including National Guard and Reserves) and first responder families (firefighters, EMTs, police, etc.). This funding must supplement, not replace, existing resources for these services. The bill mandates that TANF funds be allocated this way each fiscal year, subject to federal rules and state appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 1215 removes a limit preventing counties that have already received funding for eight fire trucks under Mississippi's Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program from applying for additional funding. Previously, counties with eight prior truck acquisitions could only apply for seven more trucks, but this bill eliminates that restriction entirely. The change allows any county with remaining eligibility under the program - regardless of prior funding rounds - to continue applying for new fire trucks. The program still provides matching funds for new or used fire trucks meeting NFPA standards, with specific per-truck funding caps based on the number of trucks already acquired.

Maddy summaryHB 1221 would have exempted pesticide manufacturers and sellers from civil liability claims related to labeling if the pesticide was registered and labeled under federal EPA rules (FIFRA) at the time of sale. It specifically protected companies from product liability lawsuits alleging failure to warn, as long as the labeling met EPA requirements. The bill applied only to pesticides approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under FIFRA, not to all pesticides sold in Mississippi. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution from the Mississippi State Legislature expresses support for strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between the state and Taiwan. It specifically advocates for expanding trade partnerships, establishing a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan, and encouraging Taiwan's participation in various international organizations. The document also marks several anniversaries related to the Taiwan Relations Act and the sister-state relationship between Mississippi and Taiwan.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to address border security. The text frames the situation as an invasion and calls for the transport of undocumented individuals back across the border to Mexico. It does not create any new laws or alter federal policy but serves as a symbolic statement of solidarity with Texas. The bill was referred to a committee and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryThis legislative bill is a concurrent resolution from the Mississippi State Legislature that formally expresses support for strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The document highlights the existing trade relationship between Mississippi and Taiwan, noting that Taiwan is a significant export partner for the state. It calls for the creation of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan to boost business engagement and celebrates the state's sister-state relationship with Taiwan. Additionally, the resolution advocates for Taiwan's participation in various international organizations and frameworks, including the World Health Organization and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. As a non-binding resolution, it serves to record the legislature's stance rather than enact enforceable laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1003 amends Mississippi law to extend the deadline for specific veterans and surviving spouses to apply for a homestead property tax exemption. Currently, these individuals must apply within 30 days of a home purchase or by December 31 of that year, but the bill removes this strict time limit for them. The change directly affects totally disabled veterans, unremarried surviving spouses of disabled veterans, and unremarried surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty. While the bill does not alter the general April 1 filing deadline for other homeowners, it provides greater flexibility for this specific group of military-connected residents to secure their tax benefits.