Rep. Larry Byrd

Maddy summaryHB 957 allocates $550,000 from the state General Fund to the City of Petal to help the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce purchase, renovate, and equip a specific building at 226 E. Central Avenue for its new headquarters. The funding is intended to cover costs associated with this project for the 2027 fiscal year (July 2026-June 2027). The city will distribute the funds to the chamber as the direct recipient. This is a straightforward funding appropriation with no policy changes beyond providing financial support for a local business organization's facility needs.

Maddy summaryHB 958 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce’s purchase, renovation, and equipment costs for a building at 226 E. Central Avenue in Petal. The funds would flow from the state to the City of Petal, which would then provide them directly to the Chamber for the project. The bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of Mississippi, meaning the state treasury would repay them if needed. The State Bond Commission would manage the bond sale and disbursement process.

Maddy summaryHB 953 allocates $4 million from the State General Fund to the Rural Fire Truck Fund for an additional round of fire trucks under Mississippi's existing Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program. This funding directly supports counties and municipalities seeking to purchase new fire trucks for rural fire departments during fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). The bill provides a specific budget line item for this purpose without creating new eligibility requirements or altering the program's structure. It is a straightforward funding authorization, not a policy change. The appropriation becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 947 exempts small business-owned property valued at $25 or less from property taxes if it's used solely on the business premises for operations. It directly affects small businesses (including sole proprietorships, LLCs, and corporations) that own qualifying furniture, fixtures, or basic equipment under $25. The exemption excludes motor vehicles, property in Class IV (as defined by Mississippi law), and items already covered by income tax credits. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, providing relief for low-value operational assets.

Maddy summaryHB 959 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund road improvements for the Petal School District. The bonds will provide money specifically for constructing and widening Herrington Road near the site of a proposed new Petal Elementary School in Petal. The state pledges its full credit to repay the bonds, and the bond proceeds will be transferred to a special fund for the district's use on this project. This bill directly affects the Petal School District by providing state funding for infrastructure supporting a new school.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a binding law) passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives. It expresses support for strengthening economic ties and friendship between Mississippi and the Republic of China (Taiwan), highlighting Taiwan's role in global trade and technology. Key provisions include supporting the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan, advocating for Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the WHO and UN climate talks, and celebrating the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. The resolution does not create new policy but formally encourages deeper economic collaboration and diplomatic engagement.

Maddy summaryHB 960 requires all new documents and instruments of record (like land deeds, legal filings, and property records) filed after July 1, 2026, to be written in English. This applies to county clerks and courts recording documents in Mississippi, directly affecting property owners, legal practitioners, and government offices handling official records. The bill amends existing laws to mandate English language use, with limited exemptions for documents executed before 2009, military papers, foreign documents, certified copies, and records involving deceased parties. It focuses on standardizing record-keeping for clarity and accessibility without altering substantive legal content.

Maddy summaryHB 997 would have authorized an additional funding round for Mississippi counties and municipalities to purchase fire trucks through the existing Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program. The bill would have allowed eligible jurisdictions to apply for new fire trucks at tiered cost rates - $50,000 per truck for the first six, $70,000 for the next five, and $90,000 for subsequent trucks - capping total funding at $1.1 million per county. It would have amended program rules to permit this new round while maintaining fund management provisions, including unspent money rolling over annually. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 950 requires Mississippi school districts to reimburse parents and districts up to $800 for comprehensive psycho-educational evaluations that diagnose dyslexia, covering costs for evaluations administered by licensed professionals. It mandates schools to accept such diagnoses for dyslexia therapy programs or scholarships, and fines schools $800 or more if they refuse to accept a valid diagnosis. The bill directly affects parents of students with dyslexia, school districts, and licensed evaluators (psychologists, psychometrists, or speech pathologists). Key provisions include setting a $800 reimbursement cap, requiring evaluations to cover specific components like decoding skills and reading comprehension, and establishing penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHB 956 requires doctors to discuss specific risks and alternatives with patients before prescribing opioid pain medications. Before issuing the initial prescription for acute or chronic pain treatment and again before the third prescription in that course, prescribers must explain risks like addiction, overdose dangers (especially when mixed with alcohol or other sedatives), the necessity of the prescription, and available non-opioid alternatives. This applies directly to patients receiving opioid prescriptions and their doctors, mandating documentation of these discussions in the patient's medical record. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and covers all opioid drugs prescribed for pain management.