Rep. Jeffrey Hulum

Maddy summaryHB 1050 revises Mississippi law to criminalize the *intentional transmission* of certain infectious diseases (non-airborne, with serious health consequences) rather than mere exposure. It specifically targets transmission to corrections employees, visitors, or other inmates in jails/prisons, with penalties including up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine. Key defenses include if the victim knew of the disease status beforehand, transmission didn’t occur, or the defendant used scientifically proven prevention methods (like condoms or treatment). The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

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 850 creates a new crime for possessing unserialized "ghost guns" (unserialized unfinished firearm frames/receivers or completed firearms) in Mississippi. It requires all firearms manufactured using 3D printing technology to be serialized with a unique number by August 1, 2025, and mandates that unserialized firearms be serialized by a federally licensed dealer. Starting January 1, 2026, it bans possession of unserialized unfinished frames/receivers or firearms by non-licensed individuals, except for federal firearms dealers or manufacturers. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1225 revises Mississippi's Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program to support EMTs pursuing paramedic certification. The bill provides full funding for tuition, fees, books, uniforms, and National Registry exam costs at accredited paramedic programs. To qualify, applicants must be certified EMTs, commit to working in Mississippi for three years after graduation, and meet additional criteria set by the Office of Workforce Development. The program would be funded through legislative appropriations, with no more than 5% of funds used for administrative costs. This change aims to address paramedic shortages by reducing financial barriers to training.

Maddy summaryHB 1322 revises Mississippi's public purchasing laws to expand eligibility for set-aside contracts. It requires state agencies to reserve at least 5% of annual procurement spending for minority-owned businesses, now including businesses owned by veterans and people with disabilities. Agencies may set aside up to 20% of their annual purchases for these eligible businesses. The bill directly affects state agencies purchasing goods and services, aiming to increase opportunities for veteran- and disability-owned businesses in state contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 1265 creates a 13-member Sales Tax Diversion Study Committee to examine how Mississippi allocates sales tax revenue between the state Department of Revenue and local municipalities. The committee will review current practices, assess financial impacts on municipalities, and recommend reforms for the 2026 legislative session. It must report findings by December 1, 2025, and includes representatives from state agencies, large and small municipalities, and economic organizations. The bill itself does not change tax law but establishes a process to study revenue distribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Mississippi's constitution to adjust the signature requirements for citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. It directly affects individuals or groups gathering signatures to place constitutional initiatives on the ballot. The key change updates Section 273 to require that signatures from any single congressional district cannot exceed the total required signatures divided by the *current* number of congressional districts at the time the petition is filed. This ensures the signature quota per district automatically aligns with the actual number of districts, avoiding outdated calculations from past redistricting.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 would require each Mississippi school district to employ at least one school resource officer (SRO) who is designated as a peace officer on all school properties. It also mandates that any person in an SRO or similar role with peace officer powers must complete a minimum level of law enforcement training within two years of starting the job, or they cannot exercise those powers. The bill includes additional provisions about radio broadcasting and interlocal agreements with law enforcement, but the core requirements focus on SRO staffing and training standards.

Maddy summaryHB 590 would include school resource officers (SROs) in Mississippi's law enforcement death benefits program. The bill amends the legal definition of "law enforcement officer" to explicitly cover SROs who die while performing their duties. This change would make SROs eligible for the $100,000 death benefit payment to survivors, which currently applies to other sworn law enforcement officers. The policy change extends existing benefits to SROs without altering the benefit amount or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 1320, the "One Fair Wage Act," establishes a new minimum wage schedule for most Mississippi workers, starting at $10.00 per hour on January 1, 2026, increasing to $12.00 per hour by 2029, and then adjusting annually based on the consumer price index. It directly affects most employees in Mississippi, including tipped workers, who must receive total compensation (wages plus tips) meeting the minimum wage. For tipped employees, the bill allows a lower base wage (starting at $3.00/hour in 2025) that must be supplemented by tips to reach the full minimum wage, with the base wage gradually increasing toward the full minimum over time. The law explicitly states it will not override federal minimum wage requirements and applies prospectively from its effective dates.