Rep. Jerry Turner

Maddy summaryHB 1932 would have allocated $3.3 million from Mississippi's state general fund to Lee County to help purchase six fire trucks at $550,000 each for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directly affected Lee County's fire department by providing state funding for equipment procurement. Key provisions included specifying the exact funding amount, truck cost limit, and fiscal year, with payments to be issued by the State Treasurer. The bill was referred to committee on February 26, 2025, but died in committee and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1931 appropriates $1.8 million from the Mississippi State General Fund to reimburse Lee County for debris cleanup costs following the April 1, 2023 tornado. The funds are specifically for expenses incurred during the state's fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill directs the State Treasurer to pay the reimbursement upon proper requisitions from Lee County's Board of Supervisors. This legislation directly affects Lee County government by covering public safety and infrastructure recovery costs from the tornado. The bill was referred to committee in February 2025 but did not advance further.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 34) acknowledges the critical weather coverage provided by WTVA-Channel 9's meteorology team in Northeast Mississippi, particularly their life-saving reporting during the March 2023 Amory tornado. It encourages continued community support for the station and urges Allen Media Broadcasting to maintain its locally staffed weather operations. The resolution recognizes the team's national awards, community reliance on their region-specific forecasts, and the 35,000-signature petition that prompted the station to reverse plans to eliminate local meteorologists. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1166 requires that construction plans for any building 75 feet or taller must be submitted to and approved by Mississippi's State Fire Marshal's Office before construction begins, effective July 1, 2025. This applies to all new tall buildings and ensures compliance with state fire safety codes during the planning phase. Building owners must pay for the review, and unpaid fees may result in daily fines of up to $1,000. The bill does not change existing fire safety requirements for other building types, such as public assembly spaces or correctional facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1180 would change Mississippi's Commissioner of Insurance from an elected office to an appointed position. Starting July 1, 2025, the Governor would appoint the commissioner with Senate confirmation, requiring a bachelor's degree, insurance industry experience, and six-year terms. This directly affects future commissioners and shifts selection power from voters to the Governor and Senate. The bill also removes the Governor's approval requirement for the commissioner's chief deputy appointment and updates election code sections to reflect the change. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1172 amends Mississippi's Holding Company Act to require insurance holding companies (especially those operating internationally) to conduct group capital calculations and liquidity stress tests. These provisions aim to ensure insurers maintain sufficient financial strength to withstand economic shocks, directly affecting large insurance groups with significant global operations. The bill adds specific definitions, authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to require deposits or bonds in certain situations, and mandates confidentiality for submitted financial data. The bill died in the Insurance Committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets a minimum payment floor for out-of-network ambulance providers when no contract exists with insurers. The reimbursement rate must be the lesser of 125% of Medicare's rate for that geographic area or the provider's billed charges. It directly affects ambulance service providers requiring a permit under Mississippi law (as defined in the bill). The provision expires June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryHouse Concurrent Resolution 5 (HC 5) proposes amending Mississippi's 1890 Constitution to explicitly state that only U.S. citizens may vote in state or local elections and referendums. The bill would replace existing language by removing the term "inhabitant" and specifying "citizens of the United States" as a requirement, while maintaining current residency, age, registration, and disqualification rules (e.g., for certain felony convictions). This change would directly affect non-citizen residents who currently have voting eligibility under Mississippi’s current constitution. The amendment would be submitted to voters in the November 2026 election, with the ballot explanation stating it "provides that only citizens of the United States are allowed the opportunity to vote."

Maddy summaryHB 1170 would have required businesses selling, installing, or maintaining commercial fire-extinguishing equipment and hood systems for cooking operations to obtain a license from Mississippi's State Fire Marshal by July 1, 2025. It mandated compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards and an administrative competency test, with a maximum $400 license fee. Violations could result in fines up to $1,000 per day, and the bill amended existing fire code penalties. The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 1328 renames Mississippi's hurricane damage program to "Strengthen Mississippi Homes" and increases financial grants for retrofitting homes to $15,000 per property. It directly affects homeowners and commercial property owners seeking to make buildings more resistant to wind and hurricane damage through voluntary retrofitting. Key provisions include removing cost-benefit study requirements, allowing the Insurance Commissioner to set grant criteria via regulation, and creating a dedicated fund funded by insurance fees (including a 3% nonadmitted policy fee and agent fee portions). The bill also requires insurers to notify clients about the program within 30 days of filing insurance discount schedules.