Rep. Jimmy Fondren

Maddy summaryHB 804 reauthorizes distinctive license tags for Mississippi residents supporting Pascagoula High School, allowing owners to pay an annual $30 fee for tags displaying school support. The bill specifies that $24 of each fee goes to the Pascagoula Athletic Foundation, $1 to the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, $2 to the State Highway Fund, and $1 to a special fund. It exempts these tags from standard presale and expiration requirements under existing law. The bill directly affects vehicle owners who choose to display the school-supporting tags.

Maddy summaryHB 1781 appropriated $25,000 from the state general fund to Jackson County's Board of Supervisors for a needs assessment to determine the best location for a new county sheriff's office. The bill authorized the county to hire an engineering firm directly or provide funds to the sheriff's office to hire one, with the assessment to be completed by June 2026. This was a procedural funding measure focused solely on studying potential locations, not constructing a new building. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1923 exempts boat trailers from Mississippi's highway privilege tax, ad valorem (property) tax, and registration/tag requirements. It directly affects owners of boat trailers used for transporting boats, removing financial and administrative burdens associated with these vehicles. The bill defines "boat trailer" within existing tax codes and amends related sections to implement this exemption. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 975, the "Mississippi Comprehensive Anti-Bullying and Cyberbullying Act of 2025," aimed to establish a phased pilot program for all Mississippi public schools to address bullying and cyberbullying. It required schools to designate an Anti-Bullying Coordinator, implement staff training, provide counseling for victims and perpetrators, and define bullying (including cyberbullying) under Section 3. The program would roll out gradually: 10% of schools in 2025-2026, 50% in 2026-2027, and full statewide implementation by 2027-2028, prioritizing schools with high bullying incidents. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so it never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 805 prohibits individuals aged 16 or older from intentionally releasing or discarding non-biodegradable or non-photodegradable balloons (or those taking over five minutes to degrade) outdoors in Mississippi. Violators face a $25 fine per balloon, paid to the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, with liability extending to adults arranging releases by minors. Exceptions include scientific/meteorological releases by state/federal agencies, recoverable hot air balloons, and balloons used under state contracts. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 678, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, prohibits intentionally sharing restricted personal information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email) of specific protected individuals with the intent to harass or threaten them. It directly affects law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and informants (defined as "covered persons") by creating criminal penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 6 months jail or $2,000 fine), while repeat offenses or cases involving violence become felonies (up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine). The bill also amends Mississippi’s public records law to exempt the restricted personal information of these covered persons from public disclosure. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 765 creates a task force to address odor and toxic air pollution from menhaden processing plants on Mississippi's Gulf Coast. The task force, composed of state environmental agency leaders and Gulf Coast legislators, will assess pollution impacts, review current plant measures, and recommend changes to reduce emissions and update state laws. It must meet monthly, provide regular reports to the legislature, and submit a final report by December 1, 2025. This bill directly affects the menhaden processing industry and residents in Gulf Coast communities exposed to the pollution.

Maddy summaryHB 1485 would create the "CASA Capacity Growth Program" within Mississippi's Administrative Office of Courts (AOC) to provide funding to local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs. The bill specifies that only CASA programs in good standing with the National CASA/GAL Association would qualify for funds, which would be distributed based on factors like the number of children in custody, children served, and active volunteers. The AOC would manage the program, oversee fund usage, and allow for administrative cost coverage through agreements with CASA Mississippi. This bill aims to strengthen local CASA programs that advocate for abused and neglected children by increasing their capacity through state funding. (Note: The bill died in committee and was not enacted.)

Maddy summaryHB 889 creates the "Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund" to reimburse hospitals for burn care provided to uninsured or underinsured Mississippi residents. It adds a $2 fee to distinctive vehicle license tags starting July 2025, with all proceeds deposited into this fund. The fund will cover costs for Mississippians treated at in-state burn centers and out-of-state burn centers affiliated with Level I trauma centers in Mississippi. This policy directly affects all vehicle owners purchasing specialty license tags and ensures hospitals receive reimbursement for uncompensated burn care.

Maddy summaryHB 797 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a financial literacy curriculum for all public school students in grades 6-12, to be implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates that every public high school student complete a half-credit personal finance course (during grades 10-12) to earn a diploma. The bill establishes a Financial Literacy Trust Fund in the state treasury to support this education, allowing private contributions, grants, and state/federal funds, with unspent balances rolling over annually. This directly affects all Mississippi public school students and school districts by adding a new graduation requirement and funding mechanism for financial education.