Rep. Steve Massengill

Maddy summaryHB 1716 redirected $300,000 from Mississippi's 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund to Marshall County's Board of Supervisors. The funds were intended to complete the Blackwater Road Bridge Project, which involves replacing two bridges and improving drainage to prevent road flooding. The bill, which died in committee on February 26, 2025, would have applied to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This is a procedural funding adjustment, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 530 imposes a 30-cent fee on each retail delivery transaction in Mississippi, collected from customers at checkout and listed separately on receipts. The fee applies to most delivered retail items but excludes baby products, medical equipment accessories, and certain clothing (like diapers or clothing accessories), as defined in the bill. Retailers must collect and remit the fee monthly to the state, with 60% of proceeds funding Mississippi's Highway Maintenance Fund and 40% going to the 2022 Capacity Project Fund. The fee is non-refundable if items are returned but must be refunded if delivery is canceled.

Maddy summaryHB 1715 appropriated $500,000 from the State General Fund to Marshall County for completing the Red Banks Road Improvement Project, an eight-mile stretch connecting I-22 to Mississippi Highway 302. The funding was intended for the fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) to finish road improvements. This bill was procedural, solely providing state funding without altering laws or regulations. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1714 would appropriate $800,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to Marshall County's Board of Supervisors for preliminary planning studies on three infrastructure projects: the Potts Camp Railroad Bridge and Bypass, Byhalia Railroad Bridge, and Red Banks Road Improvement. The funds would cover costs for engineering, environmental impact, and cultural resource assessments during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). This bill directly supports Marshall County's planning efforts for these specific road and bridge projects. It is a funding measure, not a policy change, and did not advance beyond committee in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 57 redirects Mississippi lottery and gaming revenue streams. It requires all lottery proceeds to fund the State Highway Fund (for road repairs) and the Education Enhancement Fund, with any lottery revenue exceeding $80 million in a fiscal year directed specifically to early childhood programs and classroom supplies. The bill also eliminates a prior provision that diverted sports betting fees to highways, instead mandating all such fees go directly to the Highway Fund for road maintenance. The bill was proposed but died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 529 regulates utility-type vehicles (UTVs) and side-by-side vehicles on Mississippi's public county and municipal roads with speed limits of 55 mph or lower. It requires owners to register these vehicles with the Mississippi Department of Revenue ($50 annual fee), obtain license plates, carry liability insurance, and comply with safety features. The bill sets age requirements (minimum 16 years old with a valid driver's license), prohibits operation by those with only a learner's permit, bans children under 8 as passengers, and exempts owners from county property taxes. Funds from registration fees must be used for road and bridge maintenance in the registering county.

Maddy summaryHB 526 amends Mississippi law to designate June 12 as "Women's Veterans' Day" as a legal holiday for state government operations. This means state offices and employees observe June 12 as a holiday, similar to other state-recognized days like Independence Day. The bill directly affects Mississippi state government functions and employees, requiring closures on that date. It does not create new benefits for veterans but formally adds the day to the state's list of legal holidays, aligning with existing holiday designations like Veterans' Day.

Maddy summaryHB 639 would have required Mississippi to allocate special education funding as a separate line item in the state's K-12 education budget starting in fiscal year 2026, rather than bundling it with general education funds. It specified a formula for distributing funds based on the number of approved special education teachers (covering 100% of their salary plus benefits) and the number of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), with districts required to keep these funds in a dedicated account managed by special education staff. The bill aimed to ensure transparency and proper use of funds for students with disabilities, aligning with federal IDEA requirements. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 527 requires Mississippi's public community colleges and universities to prioritize class registration for state residents. The bill mandates that all Mississippi residents must be given the opportunity to register for courses before nonresident students. This applies to all courses and programs at public higher education institutions in Mississippi. The legislation does not change tuition rates but alters the registration sequence to ensure in-state students have first access to available class seats.

Maddy summaryHB 58 redirects all lottery and gaming revenue (including sports betting fees) to Mississippi's State Highway Fund for highway construction, repair, and maintenance, instead of previous allocations. It specifically removes an existing exception that previously diverted $3 million annually from sports betting fees to a bond sinking fund. The bill ensures all net lottery proceeds and gaming revenue must now fund highways first, prioritizing federal matching programs for infrastructure. This bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so it has not become law.