Rep. Hank Zuber

Maddy summaryHB 264 reauthorizes a program allowing Mississippi vehicle owners to pay a $50 annual fee for special license tags displaying the emblem of a chosen public community or junior college. The bill specifies that $32.50 of each fee goes directly to the selected college for its use, $1 funds the Mississippi Burn Care Fund, and the remainder supports highway maintenance and repairs. This program directly affects vehicle owners who opt for these tags, the participating colleges, and state transportation and health funds. The reauthorization extends the existing structure through 2028, requiring colleges to meet eligibility criteria by July 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 21 revises Mississippi's public purchasing laws to change how "lowest and best" bids are evaluated. It requires state agencies and local governing authorities (like school districts, hospitals, and municipalities) to consider life cycle costs, warranties, and other factors - not just the lowest price - when selecting vendors for public purchases. The bill amends Section 31-7-1 to define "lowest and best" and mandates that total long-term costs, not just initial price, be part of bid calculations. This applies to all purchases of goods, equipment, and services funded by public money, aiming to prevent short-term savings that lead to higher future expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 206 clarifies that Mississippi chancery courts can directly handle child abuse or neglect allegations arising during ongoing custody disputes between parents, without needing to transfer the case to youth court. This applies when the abuse allegations surface mid-custody case and were not previously disclosed. The bill also specifies that such proceedings must remain confidential, following the same standards as youth court cases. It directly affects parents in custody battles and children involved in abuse claims, streamlining how courts address these issues within existing custody hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 386 requires candidates for county, county district, and municipal offices in Mississippi, along with their political committees, to file all campaign finance reports (tracking contributions and spending) directly with the Secretary of State’s office instead of local county or municipal authorities. This replaces existing filing processes for these local offices, mandating submissions via email, fax, mail, or in-person delivery. The Secretary of State must make these reports publicly available within 48 hours of receipt and retain them for five years. The bill centralizes oversight of local campaign finances under the state’s top election official, aligning with existing requirements for state-level candidates.

Maddy summaryHB 390 allows existing alcohol package retailers in Mississippi to sell lottery tickets. The bill amends two laws: it makes holders of "package retailer's permits" (stores selling sealed alcoholic beverages for takeout) eligible to apply as lottery retailers under the state lottery law, and it explicitly permits them to sell lottery tickets if they hold both licenses. This directly affects alcohol retailers who currently cannot sell lottery tickets due to licensing restrictions. The change removes a barrier preventing these stores from offering lottery sales alongside their existing alcohol business, without altering lottery sales rules or requirements for other retailers.

Maddy summaryHB 1124 requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to fully disclose all rebates and payments they receive from drug manufacturers or rebate aggregators to health plan sponsors and employers, including annual reports on rebate amounts and recipients. It specifically applies to Mississippi's State and School Employees Health Insurance Plan. PBMs must publicly share certain contracts (without redaction) involving the state or local governments, such as third-party aggregator contracts or pharmacy management service agreements. The bill removes a prior exemption that excluded the state health plan from these disclosure requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 257 requires Mississippi vehicle registration applications to include a voluntary option for applicants to indicate a health condition or disability that may affect communication with law enforcement (e.g., speech, hearing issues, or autism spectrum disorder). Applicants may need to provide verification from specific healthcare providers (like doctors or speech therapists), but the Department of Revenue shares only basic categories (not specific conditions) with the Department of Public Safety. This information is added to the Mississippi Criminal Information Center to alert officers during traffic stops, but the bill prohibits disclosing the specific condition to the public or sharing it beyond law enforcement access. The bill also bans visible license plate markings indicating communication needs and ensures all health-related data remains confidential.

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 387 would amend Mississippi's simple assault law by removing the $500 maximum fine, allowing judges to set fines based on individual case circumstances rather than a fixed limit. This change applies specifically to standard simple assault cases (not domestic violence or aggravated assault) and affects individuals convicted of such offenses. The bill does not alter existing jail terms or penalties for other assault types, like the $1,000 fine cap for domestic violence simple assault. Currently, simple assault convictions carry a capped $500 fine, but this bill would give judges discretion to determine appropriate fines within legal boundaries.

Maddy summaryHB 265 allows Mississippi counties to authorize golf carts and low-speed vehicles on certain public roads within their boundaries, subject to county approval. It requires operators to have a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration with the county or municipality. Registered vehicles must display a decal on the left rear fender and operators must carry proof of insurance and a license while driving. The bill prohibits operation on state/federal highways (except for crossing) and mandates use of the outside lane on multi-lane roads. Registration fees are retained by local governments and must cover administrative costs.