Rep. Jeffrey Hulum

Maddy summaryHB 1226 provides tuition, fee, and book cost waivers at Mississippi's public universities and community colleges for specific family members of veterans. It offers 100% tuition waivers for children of veterans who died in service or have a 100% VA disability rating, and 60% waivers for children, spouses, or unremarried widows/widowers of veterans with a 40-90% VA disability rating. To qualify, applicants must provide VA documentation, be Mississippi residents, and meet age limits (under 24, or continuing studies after 24). The program is administered by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, with funding secured by the Legislature. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025.

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 1119 (the "Representative Andy Stepp Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act") requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies at least the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) for drugs plus a standard dispensing fee, ensuring pharmacies are paid fairly for medications. It prohibits PBMs from charging patients more than the amount retained by the pharmacy and bans PBMs from penalizing patients for choosing specific pharmacies or favoring certain pharmacies in networks. The bill also mandates clear appeal processes for pharmacies disputing low reimbursements and prohibits PBMs from retaliating against pharmacies for exercising rights under the law. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and patients in Mississippi by setting fair reimbursement standards and protecting patient choice.

Maddy summaryHB 1323 requires purchasing agents at Mississippi state agencies and local governments to complete regular training on recognizing systemic barriers in procurement and promoting inclusiveness. The bill amends state procurement law to mandate this training, ensuring procurement policies better reflect Mississippi's diverse population. Key mechanisms include requiring training focused on understanding barriers to procurement opportunities and implementing inclusive practices. This policy change directly affects purchasing staff who manage public spending, without altering existing procurement rules or standards. The training requirement applies to all relevant state and local purchasing personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 1234 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a mandatory civics curriculum for all public middle and high schools, to be implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must cover five key areas: foundational U.S. government, civic knowledge, critical thinking skills, citizenship responsibilities (like voting and jury duty), and respectful participation in democracy. It specifically mandates teaching constitutional principles, how citizens engage with government, and skills for informed civic action. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so it has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates legal immunity for Mississippi parents or guardians who voluntarily turn in firearms they found in their minor child's (under 18) possession. It allows them to surrender the guns to law enforcement without providing ID, fingerprints, or payment, and police must destroy the firearms if not needed as evidence. The law applies to any firearm the minor owned, controlled, or possessed - regardless of whether it was used in a crime. It does not cover firearms intended for inmate contraband.

Maddy summaryHB 711 would require private property owners and lessees in Mississippi to allow reasonable access to cemeteries, graves, or burial sites on their land for family members, descendants, cemetery plot owners, and researchers who provide advance notice. Property owners could set reasonable limits on access times, frequency, and routes but must permit entry for visiting graves, maintaining sites, or conducting genealogical/historical research. Visitors would be liable for any damage they cause and must compensate the property owner, while owners would be protected from lawsuits unless they were extremely careless or intentionally harmed someone. The bill was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, but it did not pass the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill updates the rules for absentee voting to streamline the process for in-person voters and expand access for specific groups. It requires that application forms and witness certificates be printed directly on the ballot envelope for those who vote in person at the registrar's office, while also allowing on-call workers and people incarcerated for non-disenfranchising crimes to request absentee ballots. The legislation further clarifies that a signature mismatch will not lead to a ballot being rejected if it was cast in person, and it mandates that mail-in ballots must be returned only by mail or common carrier. Additionally, the bill updates the text of several existing state codes to ensure they align with these new procedures and requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the right to vote to Leon Coleman, a resident of Jackson County, Mississippi, who had previously lost his voting rights due to a conviction for possession of stolen property. The legislation specifically addresses Coleman's case by noting that he has completed his sentence and supervised release and has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen. Once enacted, the law immediately reinstates his eligibility to participate in elections without requiring any additional legal steps or waiting periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to restore the right to vote to Kynoa Trotter, a resident of Pike County, Mississippi. It specifically addresses his previous disqualification from voting due to convictions for burglary and firearm possession, noting that he has completed his sentence and served his time. The legislation states that Trotter has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen and aims to remove the legal barrier preventing him from casting ballots. The measure was referred to a committee but ultimately did not advance further in the legislative process.