Rep. Hank Zuber

Maddy summaryHB 1103 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) code into a new sequence. It does not change any policy or rules but moves sections 25-11-15, 25-11-101, and others to a more logical order for future reference. The bill’s purpose is to facilitate potential future amendments to PERS by clarifying the structure of its governing code. It directly affects the administrative framework of PERS but has no immediate impact on retirement benefits or members. The bill died in committee and did not advance to a vote.

Maddy summaryHB 1123 would have redirected a 1% fee collected by Mississippi's Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) from cloud-based services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) provided to state agencies into the Technology Innovation Fund, rather than depositing it into the general state fund. This fund, established under Section 25-53-263, is intended to support projects that improve government service delivery through technology innovation and public-private partnerships. The bill specifically affects ITS and state agencies using cloud services, as it changes where the fee revenue is deposited. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1122 reorganizes multiple sections of the Mississippi Code of 1972 related to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology by moving them to a more current location for easier amendment. It also makes minor, nonsubstantive changes to two specific sections (25-53-259 and 25-58-21) without altering the substance of the laws. As a procedural bill, it focuses on code structure rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1124 would limit state office space to a maximum of 250 square feet per person for employees, contractors, vendors, or others occupying space more than 24 hours per week. Agencies exceeding this limit must submit a compliance plan by December 1 each year, and those unable to comply by June 30, 2031, due to preexisting leases must explain lease terms by December 1, 2026. The Department of Finance and Administration would compile and report non-compliant agencies and their plans to the legislature annually. The bill was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, but died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1329 would have designated the I-55/I-20 overpass (known as "The Stack") in Hinds and Rankin Counties, Mississippi, as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Overpass" and required the Mississippi Department of Transportation to install signage. This procedural bill, which did not become law, aimed solely to rename a specific bridge structure for memorial purposes. It had no policy or funding implications beyond the signage requirement. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and is not in effect.

Maddy summaryHB 1328 establishes rules for contracts between vision insurers, vision benefit managers, and eye care providers (like optometrists and ophthalmologists) in Mississippi. It prohibits insurers from using unfair tactics such as forcing providers into networks, treating different eye doctors differently, or changing contract terms without clear written notice and provider approval. The bill also bans insurers from using "extrapolation" (guessing audit results for unreviewed claims) and requires them to disclose contract details publicly. These changes aim to create fairer business relationships and give providers clearer rights to challenge disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 1331 would have required businesses renting motor vehicles for short terms (under 30 days) to pay a 6% sales tax on rental income, excluding vehicles over 10,000 pounds. It would have directed $1 million annually from this tax revenue into Mississippi’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Fund, with the remaining funds sent to the county where the rental occurred. Counties would have distributed the remaining revenue to local governments and school districts using the same rules as property tax distributions. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1561 establishes a pilot program to enhance college and career readiness for students in grades 6-12 within public school districts in Jackson, George, and Greene counties. It allocates Education Enhancement Fund dollars (if appropriated) to United Way of Jackson, George, and Greene Counties to fund technology platforms (like Transfr), equipment, career coach training, and program administration. The program requires United Way to report on participation and outcomes by December 2027, with the pilot set to expire on July 1, 2028. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, so it has not been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1638 reorganizes existing Mississippi statutes related to drug and alcohol testing for employees, consolidating sections about voluntary testing for public and private employers (including requirements for written policies and employee notifications) and mandatory testing for Mississippi Department of Corrections staff. It directly affects all Mississippi employers - both public and private - who choose to implement drug/alcohol testing programs, as well as correctional employees under mandatory testing. The bill’s key mechanism is streamlining the legal framework by bringing forward specific code sections (e.g., 71-7-1 through 71-7-15, 47-5-196) to clarify employer obligations, confidentiality rules, and testing procedures. As a procedural bill, it does not create new requirements but aims to modernize and clarify existing law for potential future amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 1631, titled the "Mississippi Artificial General Intelligence Protection Act of 2026," prohibits nonconsensual sexual acts involving human-level AI systems (AGI) and requires commercial companies to implement safeguards. It criminalizes intentionally engaging in sexual intimacy with AGI without consent or bypassing AGI refusal mechanisms, with penalties including fines up to $5,000 or 12 months in jail for first offenses. Commercial entities must verify purchasers against Mississippi’s sex offender registry and install technical safeguards to prevent access by registered offenders, facing civil penalties of up to $50,000 for failures. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.