Rep. Hank Zuber

Maddy summaryHB 1330 revises the legal definition of "qualified resort area" under Mississippi's Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. This change directly affects resorts and hospitality businesses in designated areas by altering how alcohol sales regulations apply to them. The bill amends Section 67-1-5 of Mississippi Code to update the criteria for areas qualifying as "resort areas," which determines the alcohol control rules they follow. This is a technical definition update, not a new policy, and impacts how local governments regulate alcohol service in resort communities. The bill passed the title sufficiency vote on February 3, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally honors the legislative career and public service of former Representative Blaine H. "Bo" Eaton II, who served Mississippi's House District 79 for 20 years from 1996 to 2016. The resolution recognizes his leadership roles on key committees including Agriculture and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and highlights his contributions to economic development initiatives such as the Reforestation Tax Credit and the Mississippi Investment Act. This document serves as an official commendation from the Mississippi House of Representatives and does not create any new laws or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Concurrent Resolution that formally honors and commends Karell Dampeer upon his retirement as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Mississippi House of Representatives. The resolution recognizes Dampeer's 28 years of service, noting he began as an Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms in 1998 and was promoted to Sergeant-at-Arms in 2003 at age 29, making him the youngest in the United States to hold that position. It acknowledges his personal background, including his education at Jackson State University and his family life, while expressing appreciation for his dedication to the Mississippi Legislature. The resolution concludes by extending congratulations to Dampeer and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that handle prescription drug coverage for Mississippi state employees' health plans. It requires PBMs to obtain licenses from the Insurance Commissioner, explain claim denials within seven days, and stop practices like "spread pricing" (charging different prices to different pharmacies). The bill transfers oversight from the State Board of Pharmacy to the Insurance Commissioner, creates a special fund for oversight, and updates how the state selects PBMs for its health plan. These changes directly affect state employees receiving prescription drug coverage through the state health insurance plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes and congratulates the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Men's Golf Team for winning the NJCAA Division II Men's Golf Championship. The resolution highlights the team's achievements, including multiple national titles and individual awards won by players and the head coach. It also acknowledges the team's academic success and directs copies of the resolution to college officials and the press. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes or funding implications.

Maddy summaryHB 1117, the "Creating Transparency and Accountability in Dental Services Act," requires dental insurance companies (dental carriers) to calculate and annually report their dental loss ratio (DLR) - the percentage of premium dollars spent directly on patient dental care versus administrative costs. Dental carriers must file these reports by June 30 each year, detailing how much was spent on clinical services, unpaid claims, and recovered payments, while excluding overhead like staff salaries or network development. The Commissioner of Insurance will make these reports publicly accessible on the department's website by December 1 each year and submit aggregated data to the Insurance Committees. This applies to all dental health plans sold in Mississippi but excludes Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and other state-sponsored plans.

Maddy summaryHB 547 allows Mississippi check cashing businesses and credit availability licensees to pass third-party processing fees for debit/credit card transactions directly to customers. The bill amends existing laws to permit these businesses to charge customers the exact fee they pay to payment processors, provided they give clear pre-transaction notice of the fee amount, its purpose (for card use), and applicable payment methods. This change affects customers using cards at these businesses, as they may now face additional fees for card transactions that were previously absorbed by the businesses. The law does not alter existing fee limits for check cashing services themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 1332 requires Mississippi's Insurance Commissioner to contract only with testing services that follow National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) standards when administering insurance producer license exams. This directly affects insurance producers seeking licenses in Mississippi and the testing companies contracted to administer exams. The bill mandates that any contracted testing service must develop, administer, and score exams according to NAIC's established standards and best practices. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April 2026 as Parliamentary Law Month in Mississippi to promote awareness of structured meeting procedures. It aims to encourage organizations, including legislative bodies and community groups, to recognize the value of parliamentary rules for fair and orderly decision-making. The resolution serves primarily as a symbolic designation rather than imposing new legal requirements. Copies of the resolution are to be distributed to the Capitol Press Corps for public awareness.