Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 32) formally honors the student-led Hope Squad programs in 14 middle and high schools across Jackson County, Mississippi. It recognizes 203 student members and their advisors for implementing peer-to-peer suicide prevention initiatives using the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) method, fostering mental wellness through activities like "Hope Chains" and "Cultivating Calmness" events. The resolution specifically commends the program's community partnerships (including Singing River Health Foundation and local businesses) and its evidence-based approach to addressing teen mental health challenges. As a symbolic gesture - not a law - it does not create new programs or funding but publicly acknowledges existing efforts to build inclusive school environments.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 940 automatically expunges certain felony convictions from public records five years after completing all sentence terms (including fines and probation), restoring voting rights for eligible individuals. It directly affects Mississippi residents convicted of specific non-excluded felonies who have fully satisfied their sentences. Key provisions require circuit clerks to notify the Mississippi Department of Public Safety of expungement orders, which must remove the person's criminal history from state databases within 45 days. The bill excludes violent crimes, drug trafficking, firearm offenses, sex offender violations, and other serious offenses from automatic expungement.
Maddy summaryHB 1188 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally making false reports of child abuse in Mississippi. It imposes fines up to $5,000, jail time up to one year, or both for anyone who submits a false report knowing it lacks credible evidence. The bill also requires offenders to pay restitution to law enforcement or the Department of Child Protection Services for investigation costs. This applies to all individuals, including non-professionals, who knowingly file unsubstantiated child abuse reports.
Maddy summaryHB 50 would have required professional music therapists in Mississippi to obtain state licensure through the Department of Health starting January 1, 2026, prohibiting unlicensed practice or use of titles implying licensure. It directly affects music therapists seeking to practice and patients relying on these services, aiming to ensure practitioners meet defined qualifications. Key mechanisms include creating a Music Therapy Advisory Committee (with licensed therapists, healthcare providers, and consumers), setting licensure requirements, disciplinary procedures, and establishing a special fund for related fees. The bill defined "music therapy" as clinical, evidence-based use of music interventions within therapeutic relationships, excluding medical diagnosis. Note: This bill died on the legislative calendar in February 2025 and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 568 would increase the maximum monthly benefit amounts for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients in Mississippi. Currently, the law sets specific maximums: $260 for the first family member, $36 for the second, and $24 for each additional member; this bill would raise these figures. It directly affects low-income families with children who qualify for TANF assistance by potentially increasing their monthly financial support. The bill amends Section 43-17-5 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to reflect these higher benefit levels.
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 1231 would amend Mississippi law to classify a mother as committing felonious child abuse if a newborn tests positive for non-prescribed controlled substances at birth. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals who use controlled substances without a physician's prescription, making this a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for a first offense. Key mechanisms include updating the definition of felonious child abuse to include unexplained drug-positive birth tests (Section 97-5-39(2)(d)) and strengthening mandatory reporting requirements for such cases (Section 43-21-353). The law would not apply if the substance was medically prescribed.
Maddy summaryHB 591 requires all Mississippi public school teachers, staff, and school resource officers to complete science-backed mental health first aid training approved by the state Department of Mental Health before the 2025-2026 school year. School boards must create policies for how often this training is repeated and issue certificates of completion that satisfy future district requirements. The bill directly affects over 100,000 school personnel statewide by mandating this training as part of their professional development. It does not alter existing school discipline policies but adds a new requirement for staff to recognize and respond to mental health crises.
Maddy summaryHB 1229 makes it a misdemeanor to harass first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) after being verbally warned to stay away. It prohibits approaching within 25 feet with intent to impede their duties, threaten them, or cause serious emotional distress. Violators face fines up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in such behavior toward emergency personnel while performing their duties. It aims to provide legal recourse for responders facing intentional, repeated harassment.
Maddy summaryHB 566, the "Mental Awareness Program for School Act," would require Mississippi public schools to provide mental health support by mandating at least one school counselor or mental health provider per 250 students and implementing trauma-informed training for educators. Key provisions include requiring schools to form trauma-informed teams, report counselor staffing to the Department of Education, and create a state toolkit for implementing trauma-informed practices. The bill also allows underfunded schools to deploy one counselor across multiple schools and authorizes partnerships with universities for supervised internships. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected all public K-12 schools and students in Mississippi.