Rep. Bubba Carpenter

Maddy summaryHB 1558 amends Mississippi law to set a specific daily compensation rate of $84 for commissioners of the Tishomingo County Water District, aligning them with existing rates for commissioners of several Hancock County water and sewer districts. The bill establishes that these commissioners will be paid $84 per meeting attended (regular or special) and reimbursed for necessary expenses under existing rules. It does not change the annual limit of 24 meetings for compensation or alter other reimbursement procedures. This is a procedural adjustment to standardize compensation rates for water district commissioners in Tishomingo County.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally commends and congratulates the Tishomingo County High School "Bravettes" Dance Team for winning the 2025 Mississippi State Championship in the 1A-4A Hip-Hop Division. The resolution recognizes the team's historic first state title, achieved on December 12, 2025, in Jackson, Mississippi, and highlights the contributions of coaches, student leaders, and individual team members. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the team's coaches and the Capitol Press Corps as an official record of the achievement. This measure serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the team's accomplishment rather than establishing new policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau officers to retain their issued sidearm upon retirement, instead of returning it to the agency. It amends Section 45-9-133 of Mississippi law to explicitly permit these officers to keep one firearm as personal property when retiring under the Public Employees' Retirement System. The policy change directly affects current and future retirement of officers employed by the Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 660 formalizes salary schedules for Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MHP), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), and Commercial Traffic Enforcement Division (CTED) officers within the Department of Public Safety. It establishes specific pay rates based on officer rank and years of experience, such as Troopers earning $54,000 for under 4 years and Captains earning up to $104,500 for over 25 years. The bill directly affects sworn law enforcement officers in these divisions by defining their compensation structure through a detailed salary scale. It does not create new salary increases but codifies existing pay classifications for these state law enforcement roles.

Maddy summaryHB 1085 creates a program to reimburse Mississippi National Guard members for costs of Tricare Reserve Select health coverage and Tricare Dental premiums. It directly affects Guard members who pay these premiums themselves and do not have health/dental coverage through a civilian employer. The Mississippi Military Department will administer the program, using funds approved annually by the legislature, and must report yearly on participation and program effectiveness to the legislature. The bill ensures state reimbursement only covers premiums not already covered by federal sources.

Maddy summaryHB 1084 increases the authorized military leave period for Mississippi state and local government employees who are members of reserve military units. It amends existing law to allow more than 30 days of paid leave for training, without loss of pay, annual leave, or job status. The bill requires employers to reinstate employees to their previous positions upon return from training, with protections against termination without cause for one year. This affects all officers and employees of state departments, counties, municipalities, or political subdivisions who serve in reserve components.

Maddy summaryHB 1019 creates the "Association Self-Funded Health Benefit Plan Coverage Act" to allow Mississippi professional and trade associations (like lawyers, doctors, plumbers, or electricians) to offer self-funded health plans regulated by another state or federal authority instead of Mississippi insurance laws. The bill exempts such plans from Mississippi's insurance regulations if they prove they meet specific requirements, including being established for at least three years, operating as a nonprofit, maintaining proper reserves, and complying with federal ERISA standards. Plans must provide written notice to participants that they are not regulated under Mississippi law and designate the state Insurance Commissioner as their agent for legal service. This directly affects association members seeking alternative health coverage options without Mississippi's insurance oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 647 designates November 9 as Gold Star Father's Day in Mississippi, honoring fathers who lost children or had children permanently disabled in military service. The bill adds this day to Mississippi’s calendar of commemorative observances, similar to existing days like Elvis Presley Day. It does not create a legal holiday but establishes a day for recognition and remembrance of Gold Star Fathers’ sacrifices. The designation takes effect January 1, 2026, as part of the state’s official observances.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 increases base teacher salaries by $5,000 annually starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with an additional $3,000 annual supplement for licensed special education teachers and $6,000 for certified occupational therapists and school psychologists. It also raises assistant teachers' pay by $5,000 and caps superintendent salaries at 250% of equivalent teacher pay, including district supplements. The bill includes related provisions for retirement benefits for first responders and revised roles for student success coaches, but its core focus is direct compensation increases for educators.