Rep. Josh Hawkins

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 62), not a policy bill. It formally commends the Lafayette High School "Commodores" Girls Soccer Team and Head Coach Melinda Scruggs for winning the 2025 MHSAA Class 5A State Championship. The resolution expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' recognition of the team's achievement, highlighting their championship victory and season record. It has no binding effect or policy changes - it is purely a symbolic gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryHB 532 requires Mississippi's Office of Healthy Schools to create a statewide salary schedule for school nurses based on their education and experience. All public school districts must use this schedule as the minimum pay rate when hiring school nurses. The bill directly affects school districts across Mississippi and school nurses employed in public schools. It establishes a standardized pay structure to ensure consistent compensation, replacing district-specific salary decisions with a state-mandated minimum. The schedule becomes effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1807 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to provide funds for the City of Oxford to extend and connect Pegues Road to Ed Perry Boulevard. The state would borrow money through these bonds, using its full credit to guarantee repayment, with proceeds transferred directly to Oxford for road construction costs. The bill specifies that bond funds must be used exclusively for this project and related expenses, without requiring new taxes. This provides a financing mechanism for a specific infrastructure improvement in Oxford.

Maddy summaryHB 1808 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to fund specific road projects in Oxford. The bill directly affects the City of Oxford by providing funds for constructing two roundabouts (at College Hill Road/McElroy Drive and College Hill Road/Old Sardis Road) and adding a turn lane with bicycle lanes at College Hill Road/Jackson Avenue. Key provisions include creating a special fund for these projects and requiring bond proceeds to be used solely for the named infrastructure improvements. The state pledges its full credit for bond repayment, with funds disbursed directly to Oxford for the specified construction costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1231 would amend Mississippi law to classify a mother as committing felonious child abuse if a newborn tests positive for non-prescribed controlled substances at birth. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals who use controlled substances without a physician's prescription, making this a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for a first offense. Key mechanisms include updating the definition of felonious child abuse to include unexplained drug-positive birth tests (Section 97-5-39(2)(d)) and strengthening mandatory reporting requirements for such cases (Section 43-21-353). The law would not apply if the substance was medically prescribed.

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 summaryHB 1381 is a procedural bill that reorganizes two existing sections of Mississippi law for potential future amendments. It moves Section 45-2-1 (which governs the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund providing $100,000 death benefits to survivors of first responders killed in the line of duty) and Section 27-19-31 (which regulates motor vehicle license tag renewals) to new locations in the Mississippi Code. The bill itself does not change any policy or create new benefits; it only prepares these sections for possible legislative updates. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and no action was taken.

Maddy summaryHB 1229 makes it a misdemeanor to harass first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) after being verbally warned to stay away. It prohibits approaching within 25 feet with intent to impede their duties, threaten them, or cause serious emotional distress. Violators face fines up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in such behavior toward emergency personnel while performing their duties. It aims to provide legal recourse for responders facing intentional, repeated harassment.

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.