Rep. Carolyn Crawford

Maddy summaryHB 1288 allows Mississippi pharmacists to provide ivermectin to adults aged 18+ through collaborative agreements with healthcare providers. The bill requires pharmacists to use a screening tool, provide a standardized factsheet (including indications and contraindications), and either dispense the medication or refer patients to a pharmacy that can. Pharmacists may charge an administrative fee beyond medication costs, and the law grants legal immunity to providers acting in good faith without gross negligence. This directly affects pharmacists, adult patients seeking ivermectin, and the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, which must establish standardized procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 787 removes a requirement that teachers receiving Mississippi's employer-assisted housing loans must live in the county where they work. The bill affects licensed teachers in areas designated by the State Board of Education as having critical teacher shortages, who currently receive up to $6,000 in interest-free loans. It changes the existing rule by eliminating the residency restriction (though the program still requires teachers to serve three years in shortage areas to convert the loan to a grant). The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 788 prohibits the intentional release of chemicals into Mississippi's atmosphere for the purpose of altering weather, temperature, or sunlight intensity. It directly affects any individual, company, or entity operating within Mississippi that might conduct weather modification activities. The bill's key mechanism is a clear ban (Section 1) on injecting, releasing, or dispersing chemicals for weather-related purposes, referencing existing air pollution laws (Sections 49-17-5, 17-19, 17-25, and 17-29) without changing their current requirements. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 796 would have required Mississippi to deny teaching or administrative license applications or revoke existing licenses for individuals convicted of physically abusing a student. The bill amended licensing standards (Section 37-3-2) to explicitly include physical abuse as grounds for denial or revocation, directly affecting educators seeking or holding licenses in Mississippi public schools. Key provisions would have expanded the existing "Office of Educator Misconduct Evaluations" to handle such cases under the State Department of Education. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1291 (Indigenous Peoples' Day; declare second Monday in October as a day of observance) amends Mississippi's code to officially recognize the second Monday in October as "Indigenous Peoples' Day." This observance aims to acknowledge Native American heritage, culture, and contributions to the U.S., emphasizing that Indigenous peoples are the "first inhabitants" of the land. The bill explicitly states this designation is for "commemoration, recognition and observation" only and **not** a legal holiday, similar to existing designations like Elvis Day or Hernando de Soto Day. It affects state-level recognition practices, requiring official acknowledgment of this day in Mississippi's calendar of observances starting July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1570 prohibits Mississippi Medicaid from seeking repayment for benefits from Mississippi ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience accounts). The bill directly affects Medicaid recipients with ABLE accounts, ensuring these savings - used for disability-related expenses - cannot be claimed by the state to recover costs. It amends Medicaid estate recovery rules to explicitly exclude ABLE accounts and their proceeds from being treated as part of an estate. This change aligns Mississippi law with federal ABLE account protections under Section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also updates related sections to ensure consistency in how ABLE accounts interact with Medicaid benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1572 would require Mississippi's Governor to approve any orders issued by the State Health Officer related to disease control measures (such as quarantine or sanitation) before those orders are released to the public. This applies specifically to orders aimed at suppressing diseases and preventing their spread within the state. The bill adds a new step requiring Governor approval for public disclosure, without changing the State Health Officer's authority to issue such orders. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 795 requires Mississippi school attendance officers to complete annual 12-hour training on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The training, mandated within the first year of employment, covers legal rights of children with disabilities and proper procedures for identifying and reporting potential disability needs to school districts. Officers must obtain a certificate of completion to perform duties or receive pay; failure to do so prohibits their employment in that role. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1060 requires Mississippi public schools to notify parents or legal guardians in writing within three days if a student identifies at school with a gender, pronoun, or uses facilities that differs from their sex assigned at birth (as listed on their birth certificate or official records). It directly affects public school students in Mississippi, their parents/guardians, and school staff who would need to comply with the notification requirement. Key provisions include mandating written parental notification for gender/identity-related requests, prohibiting school discipline against staff who refuse to use preferred pronouns inconsistent with birth sex, and requiring parental written approval before using a student’s preferred pronoun. The bill, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, would have taken effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1098, a proposed Mississippi bill, would have established a fundamental right for parents to direct their children's upbringing, education, and care. It would have prohibited state agencies or local officials from interfering with these parental rights, except in very limited circumstances where a government interest is compelling and the restriction is the least restrictive option. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, aimed to directly affect parents and state education or child welfare agencies. It did not create new programs but sought to legally limit state authority over parental decisions. The bill would have taken effect on July 1, 2025, if passed.