Rep. Jeffrey Hulum

Maddy summaryHB 1302 legalizes mobile sports betting and online horse racing wagering (called "online sports pools" and "online race books") in Mississippi. It directly affects licensed casinos, betting platforms, and Mississippi residents who can place bets via mobile devices. Key provisions require platforms to hold a specific license, verify users' locations (geofencing) and age (minimum 21), and limit casinos to partnering with only one platform. The bill explicitly prohibits all other forms of online gambling (like casino games) and amends existing laws to align with these new rules.

Maddy summaryHB 888 updates Mississippi's Burn Care Fund by expanding eligible recipients to include Baptist Medical Center and burn centers affiliated with Level I trauma centers, while removing the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a designated recipient. It increases the fee for distinctive license tags from $1.00 to $2.50 per tag or plate, and adds a $0.50 fee for commercial vehicle decals, with all new proceeds deposited into the Burn Care Fund. These changes direct funding toward specific burn care facilities within Mississippi's trauma system, shifting support from the University of Mississippi Medical Center to Baptist Medical Center and Level I-affiliated centers. The bill does not create new facilities but alters how existing funds are distributed. The fee increases take effect for vehicle registrations starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1393 allows Mississippi counties and incorporated cities, towns, or villages to formally partner with U.S. military branches under federal law (10 USC Section 2679). The bill authorizes local governments to enter agreements providing support services to military installations located within Mississippi. This would enable communities to coordinate directly with bases on matters like infrastructure, housing, or community engagement. The bill passed the House in early 2025 but died in the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee in March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1154 allows Mississippi notaries to perform remote online notarizations (RON) starting July 1, 2025. It directly affects notaries public and residents needing notarized documents, enabling remote transactions via video technology. Key provisions require audio-visual recording of all remote notarizations, define terms like "remote online notarization," mandate clear identification of remote individuals, and authorize notaries to certify electronic copies. The bill also clarifies fee structures and ensures existing notarial acts remain valid, with the Secretary of State establishing implementation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1175 would allow licensed wine producers (including out-of-state manufacturers) to sell and ship wine directly to Mississippi residents, subject to specific rules. To qualify, producers must obtain a "direct shipper's permit" from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, pay applicable taxes, and follow restrictions like selling only wine (not beer or spirits), limiting sales to 12 bottles per person annually, and requiring recipients to be 21+ for delivery. The bill mandates detailed recordkeeping for shipments, prohibits resale of shipped wine, and directs a portion of the tax revenue to mental health programs. It directly affects wine producers seeking to sell in Mississippi and residents purchasing wine directly from out-of-state sources.

Maddy summaryHB 660 exempts seafood license application records and related information held by Mississippi's Department of Marine Resources from public disclosure under the state's Public Records Act. This directly affects seafood businesses and license holders, as their application details and operational records would no longer be publicly accessible by default. The bill allows disclosure only if approved by the Department's Executive Director for fisheries/environmental purposes or ordered by a court, while still requiring access for law enforcement upon request. It modifies existing public records law to add this specific exemption, which would take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 558 would amend Mississippi law to allow a person to own up to two package retailer's permits (for stores selling sealed alcoholic beverages) instead of the current limit of one permit. This change applies to existing permit holders who wish to expand their business operations, subject to department approval under specified conditions. The bill directly affects business owners operating alcohol package stores in Mississippi. However, the bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 92 would allow counties, municipalities, tribes, or state agencies in Mississippi that permit alcohol sales ("wet" jurisdictions) to authorize package liquor stores to sell alcohol on Sundays between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. through local resolutions or ordinances. Retailers would not be required to open on Sundays and could continue operating Monday through Saturday as usual. The bill amends existing law to remove the current prohibition on Sunday package sales in wet areas, while maintaining the existing 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. weekday sales window. It does not change current restrictions on sales to intoxicated individuals or other existing alcohol regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1874 authorized Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund winterization (insulating homes against cold weather) for low-income homeowners in Gulfport's central city neighborhood known as "The Quarter." The bill would have provided state funds to cover the costs of these energy efficiency improvements. The bonds would have been repaid using state general funds, with the proceeds directed solely to this winterization project. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.