Rep. Beth Waldo

Maddy summaryHB 1624 would transfer administration of Mississippi National Guard SEAP scholarships from the National Guard to the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. The bill requires the National Guard to certify scholarship recipients and their institutions to the financial aid office, which would then pay institutions directly. Starting in 2027, the legislature would appropriate funds to cover the office’s costs for managing these scholarships instead of the National Guard. The bill affects Mississippi National Guard members receiving SEAP scholarships and the state’s public universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1675 requires all publicly accessible pharmacies in Mississippi to maintain a maximum ratio of five pharmacy technicians per licensed pharmacist on duty, while non-public pharmacies (like those in hospitals or nursing homes) must maintain a ratio of no more than twelve technicians per pharmacist. Pharmacies may exceed these ratios if technicians hold nationally recognized certifications, and supportive staff (such as cashiers or inventory managers) are excluded from the count. The State Board of Pharmacy must enforce these rules but cannot impose stricter ratios than specified in the bill. This legislation updates existing pharmacy regulations to standardize technician-to-pharmacist staffing requirements statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 1674 reorganizes existing Mississippi law related to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurance licensing for potential amendment. It consolidates Sections 73-21-151-163 (the "Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act"), 83-18-1-29 (insurance administrators), and 83-18-101-111 (managing general agents) into a single, updated format. Key provisions require PBMs to provide pharmacies with accessible, timely updated maximum allowable cost lists for drugs, along with a 30-day appeal process for disputes over reimbursement rates. This affects pharmacies, PBMs, and plan sponsors (like employers or insurers) by setting transparency and appeal standards for drug payment rates. The bill does not create new requirements but reorganizes current law for clarity.

Maddy summaryHB 1639 would have created a state program requiring Mississippi’s Department of Health to screen and approve the over-the-counter retail sale of products containing substances with potential for recreational use or abuse (like bath salts, kratom, or tianeptine). It would directly affect retailers and manufacturers of such products, requiring state health officials to approve or deny sales based on available evidence, with a 30-day appeal process to the State Board of Health. The bill also allowed local governments to maintain existing restrictions on these products enacted before 2026. This bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 would amend Mississippi law to explicitly authorize county courts and youth courts to handle adoption cases alongside chancery courts. This change would allow families to file adoption petitions in county or youth courts instead of requiring all cases to go to chancery court. The bill does not alter existing adoption requirements, such as home studies or the need for the child to be in Mississippi. It would affect adoption proceedings by expanding court venues available for filing, potentially making the process more accessible for local families.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 would allow Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) to formally contract with licensed private child placement agencies to help with adoption services. This amendment explicitly adds the power to work with such agencies for adoption-related tasks, building on DCPS's existing authority to contract for other services. The bill directly affects DCPS and licensed private adoption agencies by clarifying their ability to collaborate on adoption programs. It does not change existing adoption processes but provides a specific legal basis for DCPS to partner with private agencies to support families seeking adoptions. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1753 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing definitions within Mississippi's Medical Cannabis Act (specifically sections 41-137-3 through 41-137-67 of the Mississippi Code). It does not create new policies or change eligibility, but rather brings forward current definitions (such as "cannabis," "cannabis cultivation facility," "cardholder," and "debilitating medical condition") for potential future amendment. The bill directly affects the administrative structure of the medical cannabis program but does not alter who qualifies for medical cannabis use or the program's operational rules. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1371, the Domestic Violence Transparency Act, would require Mississippi to create a public online registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence two or more times. The registry would include names, aliases, dates of birth, and photographs (but not Social Security numbers or addresses) and would be maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Court clerks would automatically send conviction details to the registry after a conviction or release, and registrants would pay a $150 fee within 30 days. Information would be removed after 5 to 20 years (depending on prior convictions) once all fines and restitution are paid, with disclaimers noting the registry only includes Mississippi state court convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add kratom to Mississippi's Schedule III controlled substances under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. It directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom products in Mississippi, as possession or distribution would become regulated under state law. The key mechanism is reclassifying kratom as a Schedule III substance, placing it alongside drugs like ketamine and certain barbiturates with recognized medical use but potential for abuse. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) that formally commends Major General John Trent Kelly for his 40-year military career and congratulates him upon his retirement in May 2025. It specifically recognizes his service in the Mississippi Army National Guard, including deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, his leadership roles, and his awards. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws, regulations, or people beyond expressing the Mississippi House of Representatives' gratitude for his service. It was adopted and signed by the legislature in March 2025.