Rep. Missy McGee

Maddy summaryHB 715 removes the requirement that food sold to charitable organizations must be nonperishable to qualify for Mississippi's sales tax exemption. This change directly affects food banks, shelters, and other nonprofits that distribute food, allowing them to receive tax exemptions on both perishable and nonperishable food items. The bill amends Mississippi Code § 27-65-111 to expand the existing exemption for food sales to these organizations. This policy change simplifies access to the exemption, ensuring all food types used for charitable purposes qualify.

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 summaryHB 737 allows Mississippi Medicaid providers to repay overpayments through installment plans under specific conditions. It applies to providers who received incorrect Medicaid payments not caused by their fraud or abuse, and who cannot repay immediately or would face substantial financial hardship. The bill requires the Medicaid Division to permit repayment over up to 12 months (or longer per federal rules) after notification, replacing the previous requirement for immediate repayment. This change directly affects healthcare providers like clinics and hospitals that need flexibility to correct billing errors without immediate cash demands. The policy modifies existing repayment procedures without altering Medicaid eligibility or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 4009 exempts admissions charged for athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This directly affects colleges and universities that charge admission to intercollegiate sporting events. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code to explicitly include these admissions under the existing exemption listed in Section 27-65-22(3)(c), removing them from the standard sales tax calculation. The change applies only to admissions for games between educational institutions, not to professional sports or other event types covered under separate exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1119 allows Mississippi's Department of Archives and History to spend money from the Local Government Records Management Fund to support counties and municipalities. The fund collects 50 cents from each document filing fee (after counties/municipalities meet a $300 monthly threshold), and the Department would use these funds for records management, historic preservation, and museum services. The bill also establishes a Local Government Records Office within the Department to provide training, set records standards, and create storage guidelines. This bill directly affects local governments (which pay the fee) and the Department of Archives and History (which manages the fund and services).

Maddy summaryHB 1164 would have expanded Mississippi's hate crime laws by adding "gender identity" to the protected classes and including victims based on employment as law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical technicians. It required courts to hold separate sentencing hearings where a jury must find beyond reasonable doubt that the crime was motivated by the victim's protected status or employment. If proven, penalties could be doubled for imprisonment or fines. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1163 would eliminate a 90-day waiting period for Mississippi state employees who retired from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to return to work immediately if they take a position not covered by PERS. Currently, retirees must wait 90 days before returning to state employment, but this bill removes that requirement specifically for jobs outside PERS coverage, such as certain state agency roles or non-PERS positions. The change applies to retirees returning to work in roles that were never covered by PERS or were uncovered at the time of retirement. This policy adjustment directly affects PERS retirees seeking employment in uncovered state positions.

Maddy summaryHB 1757, the Mississippi Land Bank Act, allows counties and municipalities to create land banks that acquire, redevelop, and sell vacant or abandoned properties - including tax-forfeited land - to return them to productive use. Land banks can issue bonds, manage properties, and operate with broad authority similar to private owners, without being restricted by typical local government rules on property transactions. The law requires local governments to establish land banks through a resolution specifying board structure and operational details. This framework aims to reduce the economic and safety burdens of blighted properties in communities across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 19 appropriates $597 million from state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates specific sums to critical programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (covering hospitals in Mississippi and select out-of-state partners), $20 million from the Tobacco Control Fund for cancer programs and school nurse initiatives, and $7 million for targeted health disparity and maternal care programs. The bill also sets strict limits on "Personal Services" funding (salaries and benefits) for 2,083 authorized positions. The legislation passed the legislature but was partially vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 22 allocates $13.55 million from general funds and $28.63 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance’s expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically restricts $11.21 million of these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for 131 authorized positions), prohibiting their use for promotions or salary increases for current staff. The bill mandates that "Vacancy Funding" ($619,005) can only fill unfilled positions from fiscal year 2025, not raise existing salaries, and requires the department to maintain detailed spending records. This is a routine funding measure affecting the department’s budget execution, not a policy change.