Rep. Jerry Turner

Maddy summaryHB 1986 authorizes Lee County, Mississippi's Board of Supervisors to enter 30-year lease agreements for public safety facilities, including infrastructure and access road improvements. The bill directly affects Lee County and state agencies that would lease or use the facilities, such as public safety operations. Key provisions allow the county to finance these facilities through 30-year certificates of participation and specify that all lease terms must comply with existing Mississippi law. The bill does not create new policy but enables a specific financial mechanism for acquiring and maintaining public safety infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHR 131 is a symbolic resolution commending the Tupelo High School girls cross country team for winning back-to-back MHSAA Class 7A state championships in 2023 and 2024, and honoring their coach, Teneeshia Boyd, as the 2024 Mississippi Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year. It directly recognizes the team's athletic achievement (including their 2024 race time of 1:44:32.74 and team score of 81) and Coach Boyd's coaching accolade. As a procedural resolution, it contains no policy changes or funding and serves solely to publicly recognize their accomplishments. The resolution was adopted by the Mississippi House of Representatives in April 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1740 appropriates $1,459,164 for the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering's fiscal year 2026 expenses. The bill authorizes 17 permanent positions and strictly limits fund use to new hires (not salary increases for current staff), requiring the agency to adhere to specific performance targets like conducting 6,000 annual inspections and processing 3,120 cosmetology examinations. It also mandates the board not issue new wigology licenses while allowing existing wig specialists to continue practicing under prior rules. This is a funding authorization bill, not a policy change, with no direct impact on the public beyond the board's operational budget.

Maddy summaryHB 1742 appropriates $78.1 million from the state general fund and $1.57 billion from special funds to the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It authorizes 1,202 permanent and 353 time-limited staff positions, strictly requiring that funds be used only for new hires - not raises, promotions, or salary increases - and mandating that DHS maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards. The bill also transfers $1 million to the Department of Health for child care licensing and prohibits using state funds for utilities (electricity, gas, cable, phone) in state-provided employee housing. All funding must align with constitutional duties, federal law, or approved programs, with strict limits on personnel spending exceeding prior-year appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 1749 appropriates $256,272 from state special funds to cover the operational expenses of Mississippi's State Board of Optometry for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes one permanent position for the board and strictly limits how funds can be used, prohibiting salary increases for current employees and requiring adherence to the agency’s 2026 budget without exceeding allocated amounts. It mandates compliance with state personnel rules, including no use of funds to replace withdrawn federal or special funds, and requires the board to maintain detailed financial records matching its 2025 reporting standards. This is a procedural funding measure with no direct policy impact on optometrists or the public.

Maddy summaryHB 1744 appropriates $13.29 million from the state general fund and $5.13 million from special funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Insurance's expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill authorizes 124 permanent positions and strictly limits personnel spending to filling vacancies (not salary increases or promotions), requiring the department to maintain detailed financial records and report on performance targets. Key targets include issuing 150,000 insurance licenses, conducting 8,000 fire marshal inspections, and addressing 24,500 customer assistance requests, with results reported in the 2027 budget request. This funding directly supports the department’s operations and accountability to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1750 appropriates $354,642 from state funds for the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy to cover its operational expenses during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill specifies that funds must cover authorized positions (3 permanent staff) and prohibits using the allocation for employee promotions, salary increases beyond budgeted levels, or replacing federal funds. It also requires the Board to maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards and comply with state budget laws regarding expenditure limits. This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change affecting the public or physical therapy practice.

Maddy summaryHB 1754 appropriates $32,555,404 from the State General Fund and $224,005,132 from special funds to cover the Department of Rehabilitation Services' expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 875 permanent and 201 temporary positions, with strict rules requiring that personal services funding not exceed the prior year’s level without new legislative approval and limiting fund use to new hires - not promotions or salary increases for current staff. The bill specifies $3,681,802 from the Health Care Expendable Fund for federal fund matching and the Independent Living Program, and allocates $100,000 for the National Federation for the Blind News Line service. It also mandates detailed financial reporting and prioritizes contracts with Mississippi Industries for the Blind.

Maddy summaryHB 1746 appropriates $4,383,252 from state funds to cover the State Board of Medical Licensure's expenses for fiscal year 2026. The bill authorizes 30 permanent positions and requires the board to use funds strictly for filling vacancies (not salary increases), maintain performance targets like 100% online license renewals and 90% complaint resolution within seven days, and submit detailed budget reports. It also allocates $600,000 for the Mississippi Physician Health Program and $130,000 for the Prescription Monitoring Program. The funding includes strict controls to prevent exceeding budgeted personnel costs and mandates compliance with state personnel rules. This is a funding bill, not a policy change to medical licensure standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1748 appropriates $5,307,890 from state funds to cover the Mississippi Board of Nursing’s expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 36 permanent staff positions and allocates $1.56 million specifically to the Office of Nursing Workforce for nursing education programs, $105,000 for the Prescription Monitoring Program, and funds for implementing the Medical Cannabis Act. The bill includes strict spending rules, requiring the Board to stay within budget limits, avoid salary increases without new funding, and maintain detailed financial records. This funding directly supports the Board’s regulatory oversight, nursing workforce development, and program compliance efforts.