Rep. Randy Boyd

Maddy summaryHB 1707 clarifies and corrects the names and purposes of various local improvement projects funded by the 2023 Local Improvements Projects Fund and the 2022 IHL Capital Improvements Fund. The bill directs monies from specific county infrastructure funds to the Mississippi Department of Transportation rather than the Department of Finance and Administration. It also mandates that contracts for projects exceeding certain amounts must be awarded through competitive written bids. Additionally, the legislation makes technical adjustments to rules governing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 directs the Mississippi State Treasurer to transfer millions of dollars from the Capital Expense Fund into various existing special funds, including those for animal disease response, oil and gas emergency plugging, and disaster assistance. The bill also establishes several new special funds in the state treasury to manage money for opioid litigation settlements, forest improvement, volunteer fire department equipment conversion, arts commission initiatives, and public employee retirement system repairs. Additionally, the legislation sets a $10,000 cap on individual grants for hurricane damage mitigation and creates a dedicated fund to administer that program through a third-party contractor. Finally, it adjusts fiscal year 2024 appropriations to transfer funds to successor boards for barber and cosmetology licensing.

Maddy summaryHB 1825 allocates state funding to support the Mississippi Library Commission for the 2025 fiscal year, providing approximately $16 million from general and special funds. The bill authorizes a staff headcount of 48 permanent positions and one time-limited role while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for existing employees and ensuring funds are used only for approved vacancies. Specific portions of the budget are designated for the Magnolia database, health insurance for library staff, and grants to public libraries, alongside setting performance targets for services like workshops and interlibrary loans. Additionally, the legislation requires the commission to maintain detailed financial records and submit future budget requests in a specific format to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $7.7 million in state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Arts Commission for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding comes from the State General Fund, special source funds, and specific allocations for arts education and building projects. The legislation authorizes the commission to maintain 12 staff positions and includes strict rules ensuring that general funds cannot be used to replace federal money or increase salaries for current employees. Additionally, the bill mandates that the commission give purchasing preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when buying goods or services. It also directs a portion of the funds toward arts training in public schools and the construction or repair of arts facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1824 appropriates nearly $11.2 million from state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2025. The bill authorizes the agency to maintain a workforce of up to 87 employees, including 80 permanent and 7 time-limited positions, while strictly prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases or promotions of current staff. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the majority of funding be prioritized for maintaining an existing broadcast schedule of educational and public service programs, with new content production as a secondary goal. The act also establishes specific performance targets for the agency, such as producing a set number of local TV and radio programs and serving a defined number of students through digital education networks. Finally, the bill includes provisions ensuring that funds are not used for public relations activities for other state agencies and that all financial records are kept in a detailed, auditable format.