Rep. Jansen Owen

Maddy summaryHB 389 requires Mississippi schools to accept a parent's or guardian's current Mississippi automobile registration as proof of residency when enrolling students whose families are on active military duty. It specifically applies to military-connected students whose parents are stationed at or transferring to a military installation in Mississippi. If a parent does not own a vehicle, they must submit a signed affidavit affirming the student's residence at the enrolled school district's address. Schools may also request additional documents like utility bills or lease agreements for verification. The bill does not change enrollment rules for non-military students.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi airport authorities to manage abandoned vehicles left on airport property. It requires authorities to make reasonable efforts to locate owners, send 30-day written notices (via certified mail and newspaper publication), and allow owners to reclaim vehicles by paying towing/storage fees. If unclaimed, authorities may sell the vehicle at public auction, dispose of it reasonably, or retain it for airport use (like maintenance or security). Proceeds cover costs first, with any remaining balance deposited into the airport’s general fund after 90 days if unclaimed.

Maddy summaryHB 2 establishes Mississippi's "Magnolia Student Account" (MSA) program, providing state-funded accounts for K-12 education expenses to eligible students, primarily low- and middle-income families. The program creates income-based eligibility pools, allows funds to cover private school tuition, homeschooling, or postsecondary costs after graduation, and requires the State Treasurer to administer it through certified organizations. Key provisions include prohibiting state regulation of school curriculum or religious instruction, requiring annual assessments for participants, and separately funding special needs scholarships under the program. The bill also expands homeschool access to public school extracurricular activities and streamlines student transfers between school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1294 revises Mississippi law to increase the age threshold for enhanced penalties when a person in a position of trust (such as a teacher, coach, or parent) commits child grooming. Currently, the law applies to children under 16 for general grooming offenses, but this bill changes the age to 18 for those in trusted roles. Under the amendment, individuals in such positions who groom children under 18 face felony penalties of 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $20,000 - up from 2-10 years for standard grooming. The bill does not alter the definition of "grooming" but strengthens consequences for trusted adults exploiting minors. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 788 modifies Mississippi's election rules to allow voters who are not registered in the jurisdiction they are voting in (but are otherwise eligible) to cast an affidavit ballot. This ballot will be used as their official voter registration, adding them to the statewide voter rolls as if they had completed a standard registration form. The bill also allows the affidavit ballot to serve as a written request to transfer voting precincts or wards, and automatically reactivates voters who were placed on inactive status (due to a confirmation notice) after they cast such a ballot. These changes aim to streamline voter registration and address common issues at polling places.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 increases base teacher salaries by $5,000 annually starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with an additional $3,000 annual supplement for licensed special education teachers and $6,000 for certified occupational therapists and school psychologists. It also raises assistant teachers' pay by $5,000 and caps superintendent salaries at 250% of equivalent teacher pay, including district supplements. The bill includes related provisions for retirement benefits for first responders and revised roles for student success coaches, but its core focus is direct compensation increases for educators.

Maddy summaryHB 419 increases Mississippi's homestead property tax exemption for a specific group: unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who were honorably discharged and are 85 years or older. The bill amends existing law to grant these individuals a full exemption from all ad valorem taxes on their homestead property's assessed value, rather than a partial reduction. This expands the current homestead exemption program to include this veteran spouse demographic, providing complete tax relief on their primary residence. The exemption applies to the entire assessed value of their home, not just a portion of it.

Maddy summaryHB 1589 amends Mississippi law to prohibit teachers found guilty of sexual relations with students from resigning and instead mandates their termination. The bill specifically adds that if a school board finds an employee responsible for such misconduct, the employee must be terminated and cannot resign to avoid this outcome. This change applies within the existing disciplinary hearing process outlined in Section 37-9-111, where the school board reviews evidence and issues a final decision. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and directly affects teachers in Mississippi public schools who face termination for this specific violation.

Maddy summaryHB 1292 requires all Mississippi public school board members to serve four-year terms and be elected in either statewide general elections (starting November 2027) or presidential elections (starting November 2028), giving each school district the choice of election cycle. It directly affects all county, municipal, and special school districts by replacing current election methods with standardized four-year terms and flexible election timing. Key provisions include allowing districts to choose between single-member districts or at-large elections, standardizing nomination petition requirements, and establishing procedures for filling vacancies. The bill updates election rules for all school boards under the State Board of Education's jurisdiction, excluding charter school boards.

Maddy summaryHB 574 would increase the paid military training leave allowance for Mississippi state and local government employees who are reserve military members, raising the current 30-day limit. The bill requires employers to grant additional leave without loss of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating, and mandates reinstatement to the employee's original position or an equivalent after training. It also establishes a process for enforcement through county or district attorneys if reinstatement is denied. This change would directly affect reserve members working for state agencies, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions.