Rep. Jeffrey Hulum

Maddy summaryHB 1009 appropriates $350,000 from the state general fund to Gulfport city officials for removing blighted properties (dilapidated or abandoned buildings) in western Gulfport during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027). The bill directly funds the city’s property removal costs, with funds paid by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. It does not create new laws or alter eligibility for residents; it solely provides state financial support for an existing city program. The appropriation takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1006 appropriates $300,000 from the state general fund to the City of Gulfport for winterization projects in "The Quarter," a low-income area in central Gulfport. The bill funds energy efficiency improvements and repairs to help homes better withstand winter weather, directly benefiting residents in that specific neighborhood. Key provisions include the state covering costs for winterization efforts during fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027), with funds disbursed through the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no additional policy mechanisms or voting record impact.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) commending the Gulfport High School Admirals football team and head coach Blake Pennock for winning the 2025 MHSAA Class 7A State Championship. It formally recognizes their championship victory, including their dramatic last-second win against Tupelo High School, and honors the team's achievements and community support. The resolution has no policy impact - it serves only as a symbolic gesture of recognition with no legal or financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a law) commending Jamal Roberts, a Meridian, Mississippi native, for winning the 23rd season of *American Idol*. It formally congratulates him as the second Mississippian and second African-American male to win the competition, highlighting his musical achievements and roots. The resolution has no policy impact; it simply expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' praise and will be sent to Roberts and the press. It does not affect any laws, regulations, or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 574 would increase the paid military training leave allowance for Mississippi state and local government employees who are reserve military members, raising the current 30-day limit. The bill requires employers to grant additional leave without loss of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating, and mandates reinstatement to the employee's original position or an equivalent after training. It also establishes a process for enforcement through county or district attorneys if reinstatement is denied. This change would directly affect reserve members working for state agencies, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions.

Maddy summaryHB 627 requires Mississippi community colleges with workforce development councils to provide mobile training units (including welding) at regional correctional facilities for 90+ days annually. It directly affects nonviolent offenders housed in these facilities by offering job skills training through mobile units staffed by instructors. The bill amends existing law to mandate that workforce development centers coordinate this training, integrating it with existing workforce planning under Section 37-153-11. This policy change focuses on equipping incarcerated individuals with employable skills before release through established community college training programs.

Maddy summaryHB 621 would require Mississippi's Department of Corrections to fully utilize all regional correctional facilities for housing state offenders before contracting with private prisons. Specifically, the bill mandates that the department cannot enter new private incarceration contracts until regional facilities reach 80% capacity. This would directly affect the Department of Corrections and private prison operators by prioritizing state-run facilities. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 665 would allow individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies to legally possess and use firearms or specified knives (like bowie knives or switchblades) solely for defending their residence. It directly affects people with nonviolent felony convictions who currently face firearm restrictions under Mississippi law. The bill requires applicants to prove they reside in the home where the weapon is kept, and it would override existing prohibitions for this specific home-defense use. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and would have taken effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 705, titled "Enhanced penalties for use of mask in commission of a crime; authorize," would have required Mississippi courts to add a mandatory 1-2 year prison sentence for anyone convicted of a crime while wearing a facial mask, hood, or other face-covering that concealed their identity. The bill directly affected individuals convicted of crimes committed with facial concealment during sentencing. Key provisions mandated the enhanced penalty be added to the standard sentence for such offenses, with no judicial discretion to reduce it. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 692 would allow county sheriffs and deputies to use radar speed detection equipment on county roads, which is currently prohibited under Mississippi law. It requires approval from the county board of supervisors via majority vote, with the approval recorded in official minutes. This directly affects all Mississippi county law enforcement officers who currently cannot deploy radar on county roads without this authorization. The bill would not change existing allowances for municipal police in large cities or campus police.