Rep. Josh Hawkins

Maddy summaryHB 921, the MS ROSS Act, would have created a state-funded program to help Mississippi public and accredited private elementary and secondary schools hire School Resource Officers (SROs). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety would have covered increasing percentages of SRO costs (starting at 30% in 2025-2026 and rising to 70% by 2029-2030), with local law enforcement and school boards responsible for the remaining portion, up to a $55,000 annual cap per SRO. Schools and local agencies would have needed to jointly apply for funding and establish agreements to participate. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 1265 creates a 13-member Sales Tax Diversion Study Committee to examine how Mississippi allocates sales tax revenue between the state Department of Revenue and local municipalities. The committee will review current practices, assess financial impacts on municipalities, and recommend reforms for the 2026 legislative session. It must report findings by December 1, 2025, and includes representatives from state agencies, large and small municipalities, and economic organizations. The bill itself does not change tax law but establishes a process to study revenue distribution.

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 1251, the Mississippi Hemoglobin A1c Screening Coverage Act, requires all health insurance plans in Mississippi issued or renewed after July 1, 2025, to cover 100% of hemoglobin A1c screenings (a blood test measuring 2-3 month average blood sugar levels for diabetes/pre-diabetes detection) as part of an annual wellness exam, with no deductibles or copays. It directly affects health insurers, insured individuals receiving annual wellness exams, and the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan (which must comply per Section 6). The Mississippi Department of Insurance enforces compliance, while self-funded ERISA plans are exempt but encouraged to voluntarily adopt the coverage. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to make annual contributions to the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation. Under the legislation, the county could donate up to $250,000 per year from its available funds for the fiscal years ending in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. The decision to contribute and the specific amounts remain at the discretion of the county board. Although the bill was referred to a committee, it did not advance further and ultimately died in committee.

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.