Rep. Clay Deweese

Maddy summaryHB 4009 exempts admissions charged for athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This directly affects colleges and universities that charge admission to intercollegiate sporting events. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code to explicitly include these admissions under the existing exemption listed in Section 27-65-22(3)(c), removing them from the standard sales tax calculation. The change applies only to admissions for games between educational institutions, not to professional sports or other event types covered under separate exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 4092 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund the City of Oxford's expansion of MTrade Park. The bill directs bond proceeds to cover the city's costs for the park expansion project, with the state guaranteeing repayment through its full faith and credit if needed. Key provisions include the State Bond Commission managing bond issuance, sale, and disbursement of funds to a special account, and requiring the bonds to be repaid from state treasury funds if city appropriations fall short. This legislation directly affects Oxford's infrastructure development by providing state-backed financing for the park expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $13.6 million from the state general fund to Lafayette County's Board of Supervisors for repairs, renovations, and upgrades to the Lafayette County jail. The funds are specifically for the 2026-2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and directly affect Lafayette County residents by improving jail infrastructure. The bill does not create new policy but provides state funding to support existing county jail maintenance needs.

Maddy summaryHB 4093 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to provide funds for Lafayette County to repair, renovate, and upgrade its county jail. The bill directly affects Lafayette County by enabling it to cover costs for physical improvements to its jail facility. Key provisions include the state guaranteeing repayment of the bonds (using full faith and credit) and requiring bond proceeds to be transferred to a dedicated county fund. The funds are specifically for jail infrastructure upgrades, not general county operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1643 creates the Mississippi Department of Emergency Management within the state's executive branch to centralize all emergency management functions under one agency. The Governor appoints an Executive Director to lead the department, coordinate state emergency efforts, and oversee existing units like the Emergency Management Agency and Emergency Communications Authority. The bill reorganizes these units into the new department structure and establishes an Office of Administrative Services for internal operations. This change aims to streamline emergency response coordination across state agencies without altering existing emergency management programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1644 clarifies definitions for phone surveillance tools used in drug investigations under Mississippi law. It updates terms like "pen register" (a device recording outgoing calls) and "trap and trace device" (tracking incoming calls) to align with current technology. The bill requires law enforcement (specifically the Bureau of Narcotics) to obtain court approval with evidence of a drug crime before using these tools, sets 30-day limits for their use, and mandates annual reports to the courts on their deployment. It does not change investigative practices but ensures definitions and procedures are current for felony drug investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 19 appropriates $597 million from state funds for Mississippi's Department of Health operations during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates specific sums to critical programs, including $34 million for the Trauma Care System (covering hospitals in Mississippi and select out-of-state partners), $20 million from the Tobacco Control Fund for cancer programs and school nurse initiatives, and $7 million for targeted health disparity and maternal care programs. The bill also sets strict limits on "Personal Services" funding (salaries and benefits) for 2,083 authorized positions. The legislation passed the legislature but was partially vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 22 allocates $13.55 million from general funds and $28.63 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance’s expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It specifically restricts $11.21 million of these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits for 131 authorized positions), prohibiting their use for promotions or salary increases for current staff. The bill mandates that "Vacancy Funding" ($619,005) can only fill unfilled positions from fiscal year 2025, not raise existing salaries, and requires the department to maintain detailed spending records. This is a routine funding measure affecting the department’s budget execution, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 23 appropriates approximately $8.4 billion in state funds for Mississippi's Medicaid program during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $906 million from the General Fund, $842 million from the Medical Care Fund, and $6.6 billion from special funds to provide medical assistance to eligible residents and cover administrative costs under Mississippi's Medicaid Law. The bill also sets a strict $61.8 million cap on "Personal Services" funding (salaries, wages, and benefits) for Medicaid staff, requiring the agency to stay within this limit without exceeding previous year's appropriations. This funding directly supports Medicaid recipients and ensures the Division of Medicaid can operate within defined budgetary constraints.

Maddy summaryHB 17 appropriates $136.49 million from general funds and $177.90 million from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill specifically allocates $124.89 million for "Personal Services" (covering salaries, benefits, and vacancy funding) to support 1,507 permanent and 412 time-limited staff positions. It strictly prohibits using these funds for salary increases beyond budgeted amounts, requires using vacancy funds only to fill open positions (not for raises), and mandates detailed accounting of all expenditures. This funding directly affects the department’s ability to operate child protection services, including staffing and operational costs, without exceeding the approved budget limits.