Rep. Percy Watson

Maddy summaryHB 1112 requires Mississippi circuit and chancery courts to remit $15 from every criminal or civil court action to the Civil Legal Assistance Fund. This fund, managed by the Supreme Court, must allocate all received monies to the Mississippi Center for Legal Services for providing free civil legal aid to low-income Mississippians. The bill specifies that funds cannot be used for prohibited matters or non-eligible clients per federal guidelines. The bill was referred to committees but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1113 redirects specific court and license fees into Mississippi's Civil Legal Assistance Fund to support free legal services for low-income residents. It specifies that $5 from every civil court filing, plus fees from certain court proceedings and specialized motor vehicle license tags, must be deposited into this fund. The bill requires these funds to be distributed exclusively to legal aid organizations serving indigent clients in civil matters, based on poverty rates in their service areas. All funds must be used for eligible legal services, with strict reporting requirements for recipients.

Maddy summaryHB 1109 would require Mississippi car insurance policies to automatically include uninsured motorist coverage limits equal to the policyholder's bodily injury liability coverage limits (and property damage coverage limits equal to property damage liability limits), unless the policyholder specifically selects lower limits in writing. This change applies to all new policies issued after July 1, 2025, and would affect every car insurance policyholder in Mississippi who currently might have lower uninsured motorist coverage. Policyholders would need to actively reject or choose reduced limits instead of the default match, with written consent required for any lower coverage selection. The bill also specifies that property damage uninsured motorist coverage requires separate written rejection if the policyholder has already rejected bodily injury coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1110 requires Mississippi's Workers' Compensation Commission to hold an emergency hearing within 20 days if either a worker (claimant) or employer requests one. This applies directly to parties involved in contested workers' compensation claims needing urgent resolution. The bill amends Section 71-3-47 to mandate this 20-day timeline for emergency hearings, replacing the previous discretionary process. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 732 would allow Mississippi residents to register to vote automatically when applying for, renewing, or updating a driver's license or state ID at the Department of Public Safety. It requires collecting basic personal information (name, address, date of birth, etc.) during these transactions, with an opt-out option for those who decline registration. If not opted out, the Department forwards the information to the Secretary of State for voter registration processing. The bill does not change voter eligibility requirements but streamlines registration through existing DMV interactions. This bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1114 creates the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation Fund in the state treasury, administered by the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Corporation. It redirects $2 from each $152 filing fee for expungement petitions (currently paid by individuals seeking to clear criminal records) into this new fund, instead of retaining it for circuit clerk administration. The fund will provide ongoing financial support to legal aid organizations across Mississippi, with unused balances and interest remaining in the fund annually. This policy change directly affects legal services centers statewide by establishing a dedicated, recurring funding source from expungement fees. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1111 would add a $1.00 assessment on certain criminal and traffic fines to fund Mississippi's Civil Legal Assistance Fund. This assessment applies to people convicted of traffic violations (excluding DUI), DUI-related offenses, and game/fish law violations, with the $1.00 specifically allocated to the Civil Legal Assistance Fund while the rest of the fine goes to the State General Fund. The bill aims to generate dedicated funding for legal aid services, primarily benefiting low-income Missourians (Mississippi residents) facing civil legal issues like housing disputes or family law matters. The bill was referred to committees but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 would expand Mississippi Medicaid eligibility to include non-pregnant adults under age 65 who earn up to 133% of the federal poverty level and are not already enrolled in Medicare. This change directly affects low-income working adults who currently fall into a coverage gap under Mississippi’s existing Medicaid rules. The bill amends state law to align with the federal Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion provisions, adding this group to the list of eligible recipients. It does not alter current eligibility for children, pregnant women, seniors, or disabled individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow the city of Hattiesburg to use some of its traffic fine revenue to fund local community development projects. Specifically, the city could direct these funds toward housing assistance, violence prevention, and traffic safety programs. The legislation gives city officials the discretion to decide how to allocate the money within these approved areas. Although the bill was introduced in 2024, it did not advance beyond the committee stage and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1817 is a budget bill that allocates state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Legislature and its various committees for the 2025 fiscal year. The legislation provides money to pay salaries, mileage, insurance, and daily allowances for legislators, as well as funding for specific groups such as the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Reapportionment Committee. It also sets aside money for the state's share of assessments for organizations like the Southern States Energy Board and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes previously approved funds for the House and Senate, ensuring these resources remain available for their designated purposes.