Rep. Jansen Owen

Maddy summaryHB 1518 would exempt Mississippi volunteer fire departments from paying state sales tax on 26 specific firefighting and emergency medical equipment items. The bill lists items including cardiac monitors, oxygen kits, trauma kits, and defibrillator pads that qualify for the exemption when purchased for department use. This change would reduce costs for volunteer fire departments when acquiring essential supplies. The exemption applies only to the exact items specified in the bill and does not cover other equipment or services.

Maddy summaryHB 1710 would amend Mississippi's state income tax code to exclude tips from taxable "gross income." This change directly affects tipped workers, such as restaurant servers and bartenders, by removing tips from the portion of their earnings subject to state income tax. The bill modifies Section 27-7-15 of the Mississippi Code to add tips to the list of exempt income items under the tax law. This is a straightforward policy change that would reduce the state tax burden for eligible workers receiving tips.

Maddy summaryHR 46 is a resolution passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives to commend the Poplarville High School Hornets football team and head coach Jay Beech for winning their first-ever Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship. The resolution specifically recognizes their 29-28 victory over Louisville on December 7, 2024, which ended Louisville's two-year title streak and marked the school's first state championship in football history. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies - it solely honors the team's athletic achievement and the community's pride.

Maddy summaryHB 1337 allows Mississippi courts to legally adopt adults under two specific conditions: with the adult’s written consent or if the adult has an intellectual disability. It updates existing adoption laws to explicitly include adults, aligning procedures for adult adoption with those already used for minors. The bill clarifies that court procedures, including home studies and documentation requirements, will apply to adult adoptions as they do for minors. This directly affects adults seeking formal adoption relationships and Mississippi chancery courts handling such cases. The legislation does not create new requirements but formally authorizes adult adoption within the state’s current legal framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1340 would amend Mississippi law to add an affirmative defense for individuals charged with possessing machine gun conversion devices if they are legally authorized under federal law. The bill does not change the underlying prohibition on such devices but creates a legal defense for those who lawfully possess them under federal regulations. It directly affects residents with federal permits for machine gun conversions who might face state charges. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed. It is named the "Jeremy Todd Malone Law" but does not alter existing federal or state firearm possession requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1515 clarifies the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners' authority to set limits on what licensed dental hygienists can do while working under a dentist's supervision. The bill specifically amends Section 73-9-13 to ensure the board can regulate dental hygienists' activities without conflicting with existing laws. It does not change licensing requirements for dentists but focuses on defining supervision boundaries. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1511 allows Mississippi counties and municipalities to publish certain official notices on their websites or social media instead of in newspapers, modernizing notice requirements. It specifically amends multiple statutes to permit digital publication for most notices (like bond resolutions and contracts), while maintaining the newspaper requirement only for tax levy notices. The bill requires local governments to use their official website or social media if they have one, but still mandates newspaper publication for tax-related notices. This change aims to reduce costs and improve accessibility for public notices.

Maddy summaryHB 1517 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing Mississippi school accountability provisions by moving specific sections (e.g., 37-1-2, 37-3-2) from the Mississippi Code to a more prominent position. It does not create new policies or alter current requirements but prepares these provisions for potential future amendments. The bill directly affects public schools, districts, and educators under Mississippi’s existing accountability model, which rates schools based on measurable educational outcomes. The purpose is strictly administrative - repositioning the code to facilitate future legislative changes without altering current standards or processes.

Maddy summaryHB 1521, "Alyssa's Law," requires all Mississippi public and charter schools to install silent panic alarm systems by the 2025-2026 school year. The law mandates that schools provide wearable panic alert devices to all staff for discreet, immediate contact with law enforcement during emergencies and establish coordination agreements with local police. Schools must conduct annual training for staff and law enforcement, submit compliance reports to the state, and protect security data from public disclosure (except in limited circumstances). A state grant program will fund system installation, maintenance, and training, with annual legislative appropriations to support school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1516, the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act," establishes that parents in Mississippi have a fundamental right to direct their child's upbringing, education, health care, and mental health. The bill requires school districts to create policies allowing parents to access their child's educational records (including grades, health information, and curriculum materials) within 10 days of a written or electronic request, and prohibits school staff from withholding health-related information or pressuring children to hide information from parents. It also sets a high standard for state actions that might limit parental rights, requiring any such action to demonstrate a compelling government interest and use the least restrictive means possible. The bill directly affects parents of children under 18 in Mississippi public schools and school district employees.