Rep. Percy Watson

Maddy summaryHB 383 requires Mississippi car insurance policies to automatically include uninsured motorist coverage limits equal to the policyholder's bodily injury liability coverage limits (and property damage limits equal to property damage liability limits), effective July 1, 2026. Policyholders can choose in writing to accept lower limits, but not below the state's minimum requirements. This applies to new policies and renewals unless the policyholder specifically requests lower limits in writing. The bill directly affects all Mississippi drivers purchasing auto insurance by changing how uninsured motorist coverage limits are set.

Maddy summaryHB 386 specifies that the Civil Legal Assistance Fund in Mississippi must be funded by a $5 fee from every civil court filing in chancery courts, along with fees from specialized vehicle tags (as outlined in Sections 27-19-56.99 and 27-19-56.135). The bill clarifies that these funds, plus any legislative appropriations, must exclusively support free civil legal services for low-income Mississippi residents. It prohibits using the funds for cases banned by the Legal Services Corporation or for ineligible individuals. Recipients must follow a poverty-based allocation formula and submit annual reports to the Supreme Court. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 387 creates the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation Fund, a new state fund administered by the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation. The bill changes the $152 filing fee for expungement petitions (to clear criminal records) by redirecting $2 of that fee to the new fund instead of other accounts. This $2 per petition will be deposited into the fund, which can also accept private or public donations, with money not lapsing at year-end. The fund will distribute money to legal service centers statewide through legislative appropriations, directly supporting low-income legal aid providers.

Maddy summaryHB 382 would have required all auto insurance policies sold in Mississippi to include mandatory uninsured motorist coverage for both bodily injury/death and property damage. This would directly affect drivers purchasing auto insurance, ensuring they have protection if hit by an at-fault driver without insurance. The bill set minimum coverage limits based on state law and allowed policyholders to choose higher limits up to their liability coverage amount, while permitting a $200 deductible for property damage claims. The bill was referred to the Insurance Committee but died there on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 535 requires Mississippi's Workers' Compensation Commission to hold an emergency hearing within 20 days if either a worker or employer requests one for contested claims. This change modifies existing procedures to ensure urgent cases aren't delayed, directly affecting workers and employers seeking faster resolution of injury compensation disputes. The bill mandates the Commission must schedule these hearings promptly upon request, rather than at its discretion. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 508 is a procedural bill that moves Section 27-65-111 of Mississippi’s sales tax law to a new location in the code to facilitate future amendments. It does not change any existing sales tax exemptions - such as those for hospitals, newspapers, medical supplies, or funeral goods - but simply reorganizes the section where these exemptions are currently listed. The bill’s sole purpose is to make it easier to amend the exemption rules later, without altering who qualifies for exemptions or the specific exemptions themselves. This is purely a technical reorganization of the law’s structure.

Maddy summaryHB 509 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover low-income adults under age 65 who are not pregnant, not enrolled in Medicare, and have incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level. This change would allow more Mississippi residents - particularly working adults and families currently excluded from Medicaid - to qualify for health coverage under the state's program. The bill amends Mississippi Code Section 43-13-115 to implement the Medicaid expansion authorized by the federal Affordable Care Act. The policy change directly affects non-elderly adults in Mississippi with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level who would otherwise lack access to Medicaid.

Maddy summaryHB 1446, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would create a Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to prevent voter suppression and protect voting rights. It prohibits political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and state agencies from implementing election policies that disproportionately affect racial, ethnic, or language minority voters, requiring such policies to be reviewed by the Commission before implementation. The bill also mandates protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities, requires advance notice of election policy changes, and establishes a statewide voting database with universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 35 is an appropriation bill that allocates state funds for Mississippi's legislative operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It directly funds salaries, travel, and daily allowances for House and Senate members, contingent operating funds for both chambers, and expenses for key legislative committees - including the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, Performance Evaluation Committee, and Reapportionment Committee. The bill also covers assessments for interstate organizations like the Southern States Energy Board and allocates $2.4 million for computer systems upgrades for the Budget Committee. As a procedural funding measure, it does not create new policies but ensures existing legislative bodies have resources for their mandated duties.

Maddy summaryHB 40 reappropriates existing state funds for construction and renovation projects at Mississippi state agencies, universities, community colleges, and facilities like water treatment plants. It renews authorization for unused funds from prior fiscal years (up to $175 million total), specifically for projects previously approved under bills like HB 1816 (2024) and HB 1643 (2023). The bill does not create new funding but allows agencies to spend leftover money from the previous year on the same projects they were originally intended for. It explicitly states that spending cannot exceed the unspent balance as of June 30, 2025, and cannot change the original project purpose. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a new policy.