Rep. Beth Waldo

Maddy summaryHB 574 would increase the paid military training leave allowance for Mississippi state and local government employees who are reserve military members, raising the current 30-day limit. The bill requires employers to grant additional leave without loss of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating, and mandates reinstatement to the employee's original position or an equivalent after training. It also establishes a process for enforcement through county or district attorneys if reinstatement is denied. This change would directly affect reserve members working for state agencies, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions.

Maddy summaryHB 961 requires Mississippi healthcare providers and facilities to automatically refund patients any overpayments within 60 days of determining the overpayment. An overpayment is defined as any amount paid by a patient that exceeds their final obligation after all insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid payments are finalized. Providers must issue refunds using the same payment method used by the patient (or by check/electronic transfer) and provide a written notice explaining the refund amount, reason, and determination date. Failure to comply may be enforced by the Mississippi Attorney General under consumer protection laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 raises the threshold for public purchases that can be made without competitive bidding from $5,000 to $10,000 for both general goods/services and certain public works projects. This affects state agencies, local governments, and community colleges when purchasing items under $10,000, allowing them to skip competitive bidding for these smaller transactions. For purchases between $10,000 and $75,000, the bill requires at least two competitive written bids but does not mandate public advertising. The bill does not change existing rules for larger purchases over $75,000, which still require competitive bidding and advertising.

Maddy summaryHB 1370 would have authorized nurse practitioners (NPs) to certify diabetes care plans and prescribe therapeutic shoes, modifications, or inserts for Medicare/Medicaid patients with diabetes, but only when working under a collaborative relationship with a physician. It required NPs to practice "incident to" a physician’s services, aligning with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidelines. The bill aimed to expand access to diabetes-related footwear care by allowing NPs - already managing diabetes under physician supervision - to issue these prescriptions. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1269 would have prohibited overnight visitation between a child and a noncustodial parent when a court has determined not to grant that parent custody and has no plan for re-unification. The bill amended Mississippi’s custody law (Section 93-5-24) to add this specific restriction, directly affecting children in custody disputes where a parent is deemed unfit or unsuitable for reunification. Key provisions would require courts to block overnight visits in these scenarios, prioritizing child safety over visitation access. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1369 reduces the penalty for real estate brokers who miss their license renewal deadline from 100% to 50% of the renewal fee. This directly affects licensed real estate brokers in Mississippi who fail to pay their annual renewal fee on time. The bill amends Section 73-35-17 to change the late fee calculation, while keeping the base renewal fee capped at $75 per year. The policy change provides a more lenient financial penalty for late renewals without altering the required renewal amount itself.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 requires utility companies in Mississippi to send bills to customers within 45 days of reading the meter, directly affecting residential and commercial utility customers. The bill's key provision mandates this 45-day timeline for all utility services, replacing any longer billing cycles unless specifically authorized by the utility commission. It aims to provide customers with more timely billing information and reduce uncertainty about payment deadlines. This change would apply to all regulated utilities, including water, gas, and electricity providers, without altering existing rate structures or billing methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1307 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing Mississippi law (sections 77-3-801, 77-3-803, 77-3-805, 77-3-807, and 77-3-809) forming the Anti-Spoofing Act for clarity and future amendment. It does not change the law's substance but moves these sections to a more logical position in the code. The Anti-Spoofing Act prohibits knowingly transmitting misleading caller identification information (e.g., fake phone numbers) with intent to defraud, with penalties including fines up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. The bill was referred to the Public Utilities Committee in 2026 but died in committee without further action.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill (HB 1375) would require medical verification from birth to change the sex designation on a birth certificate. It prohibits corrections unless proven to be an error via birth medical records or a physician's confirmation that the sex recorded at birth was incorrect. The law directly affects residents seeking to update their birth certificate sex marker. It would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1590 creates Mississippi's "Controlled Substance Analog Act," treating substances designed to mimic the effects of Schedule I or II controlled drugs (like synthetic opioids or stimulants) as Schedule I drugs themselves. It makes it illegal to manufacture, distribute, sell, possess with intent to distribute, or advertise such substances as producing effects similar to banned drugs. The bill provides specific evidence for proving "intent for human consumption" (e.g., marketing claims, chemical structure) and aligns penalties with existing Schedule I violations. This directly affects manufacturers, sellers, and marketers of these mimic substances, who now face the same legal consequences as those dealing with traditional Schedule I drugs.