Rep. Bubba Carpenter

Maddy summaryHB 1878 specifies new rules for calculating property taxes on rural structures like barns and poultry houses in Mississippi. It requires tax assessors to revalue structures appraised before 2025 using older appraisal guidelines and apply a 7% annual depreciation rate thereafter, with a 20% minimum value floor for poultry houses. Commercial poultry operations must also have a 45% economic obsolescence adjustment applied to their structures. These changes directly affect agricultural property owners, particularly those operating poultry farms, by standardizing how these structures are valued for tax purposes starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 812 extends Mississippi's homestead property tax exemption to unremarried surviving spouses of honorably discharged veterans who were 90 years old or older when they died. This law, now signed into law by the governor, directly affects surviving spouses of eligible veterans who own their homes. The bill amends existing tax code to automatically include these surviving spouses in the exemption, which previously only applied to the veteran homeowners themselves. The exemption covers all ad valorem taxes on the home's assessed value, reducing property tax burdens for these households.

Maddy summaryHB 1006 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells (referred to as "cultivated food products") within Mississippi. It directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retail food establishments selling such products, with violations carrying fines up to $500 or 3 months in jail for individuals. The bill also amends meat inspection laws to explicitly ban labeling these products as meat and requires the Department of Agriculture and Health to adopt implementing rules. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to all cultivated food products, including those derived from animal cells grown outside the animal.

Maddy summaryHR 88 is a non-binding Mississippi House resolution commending Caterpillar, Inc. for its 100th anniversary, with specific recognition of its Mississippi operations. It highlights the company’s 1,600+ local jobs in Corinth and Booneville, its environmental recycling efforts at remanufacturing facilities, and its $147,000 in community support to Mississippi nonprofits. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Caterpillar’s economic and community impact in northeast Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 565 requires Mississippi law enforcement agencies to report officer resignations and terminations to the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Agencies must provide timely notification within a specified timeframe and include an explanation if the resignation or termination resulted from disciplinary action. Failure to report carries penalties, though agencies may appeal the board's decision. This bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency in officer employment history.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 revises Mississippi's Plant and Soil Amendment Law to replace the term "amending ingredient" with "beneficial substance" and formally define "plant biostimulant" to align with standards set by the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO). The bill requires that labels for soil amendments and plant biostimulants display specific information, including brand, net weight, purpose statement, usage directions, and ingredient composition. This change directly affects manufacturers and sellers of these agricultural products in Mississippi, who must update their labeling to meet the new requirements. The legislation ensures consistency with industry guidelines without altering the underlying regulatory framework for these products.

Maddy summaryHB 287 designates the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) as Mississippi's official state vegetable. This symbolic bill, introduced by Representatives Lancaster and Carpenter, takes effect July 1, 2025. It has no regulatory, funding, or practical policy impact - it simply establishes a ceremonial designation for the sweet potato. The bill directly affects Mississippi's identity as a state symbol, with no provisions affecting agriculture, commerce, or residents' daily lives.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 revises Mississippi's definition of "agritourism activity" to include public viewing of farming, ranching, or cultural/historical attractions on commercial agricultural properties. It requires agritourism professionals (like farms offering public tours) to post a specific warning sign at entrances - using black letters at least 1 inch tall - stating participants assume risks inherent to farm activities, such as land conditions, equipment, animals, or participant negligence. Failure to post this sign means professionals lose liability protection for injuries caused by these inherent risks. The bill directly affects farm operators hosting public agritourism activities and visitors participating in them.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HC 48) is a Mississippi legislative resolution designating November 9, 2025, as "Gold Star Father's Day" to honor fathers who lost children in military service. It directly affects fathers of fallen or permanently disabled U.S. Armed Forces members by formally recognizing their loss and relationship. The resolution complements existing recognition of Gold Star Mothers (since 1936) and follows the 2015 Gold Star Fathers Act, which ensured equal benefits for fathers but did not establish a dedicated day. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or benefits but formally observes the date through state recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 1262 allows U.S. Army Combat Medic Specialists, U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen, and U.S. Air Force Aerospace Medical Service Specialists to take Mississippi's Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) exam after completing their military training and two years of direct patient care experience. The bill amends Mississippi's nursing licensing law to create a specific pathway for these military medics, recognizing their existing training without requiring additional nursing education. It does not change other standard LPN requirements, such as a high school diploma or passing the exam. This bill directly affects eligible military medics seeking to work as LPNs in Mississippi.