Maddy summaryHB 678, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, prohibits intentionally sharing restricted personal information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email) of specific protected individuals with the intent to harass or threaten them. It directly affects law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and informants (defined as "covered persons") by creating criminal penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 6 months jail or $2,000 fine), while repeat offenses or cases involving violence become felonies (up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine). The bill also amends Mississippi’s public records law to exempt the restricted personal information of these covered persons from public disclosure. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1269 removes restrictions that previously prevented constables from being paid for certain arrests. It directly affects county constables (local law enforcement officers) by allowing them to receive payment for specific arrest-related services they were previously ineligible for. The key mechanism is amending Mississippi Code Section 19-19-5 to authorize these payments, while maintaining existing training requirements that tie payment eligibility to completing mandatory law enforcement training. This change takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 1229 makes it a misdemeanor to harass first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) after being verbally warned to stay away. It prohibits approaching within 25 feet with intent to impede their duties, threaten them, or cause serious emotional distress. Violators face fines up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. The bill directly affects individuals who engage in such behavior toward emergency personnel while performing their duties. It aims to provide legal recourse for responders facing intentional, repeated harassment.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Mississippi's rental-purchase agreement law for real property (homes), requiring landlords to file agreements in county land records. It gives renters who miss payments a 15-day window to reinstate their agreement by paying overdue amounts, but limits this option to three times per agreement. After a fourth missed payment, landlords may pursue all available remedies under the law. The bill directly affects renters and landlords involved in home rental-purchase agreements, clarifying filing requirements and reinstatement rules.
Maddy summaryHB 1275 establishes a grant program to help Mississippi municipalities and counties fund repairs, renovations, and upgrades to veterans parks they operate or maintain. The bill creates a special "Municipalities and Counties Veterans Parks Fund" in the state treasury, which will provide grants administered by the Department of Finance and Administration. Local governments must apply with project details and prove they've secured matching funds (at least the requested grant amount) from local, private, or other sources before receiving assistance. The program takes effect July 1, 2025, with unspent funds rolling over annually.
Maddy summaryHB 1265 creates a 13-member Sales Tax Diversion Study Committee to examine how Mississippi allocates sales tax revenue between the state Department of Revenue and local municipalities. The committee will review current practices, assess financial impacts on municipalities, and recommend reforms for the 2026 legislative session. It must report findings by December 1, 2025, and includes representatives from state agencies, large and small municipalities, and economic organizations. The bill itself does not change tax law but establishes a process to study revenue distribution.
Maddy summaryHB 1278 establishes the Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program to help eligible firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers secure conventional home loans for their primary residence. To qualify, applicants must have at least four years of continuous full-time employment in their profession and certify they will apply for homestead exemption. The program creates a dedicated "Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Fund" in the state treasury, administered by the Department of Finance and Administration, which will provide loan guarantees using state appropriations without lapsing unspent funds at year-end. This fund will cover loan guaranties for qualified individuals seeking conventional financing for home purchases.
Maddy summaryHB 889 creates the "Mississippi Indigent Burn Care Support Fund" to reimburse hospitals for burn care provided to uninsured or underinsured Mississippi residents. It adds a $2 fee to distinctive vehicle license tags starting July 2025, with all proceeds deposited into this fund. The fund will cover costs for Mississippians treated at in-state burn centers and out-of-state burn centers affiliated with Level I trauma centers in Mississippi. This policy directly affects all vehicle owners purchasing specialty license tags and ensures hospitals receive reimbursement for uncompensated burn care.
Maddy summaryHB 1321 creates a new program to provide loan assistance to small and medium-sized Mississippi businesses with high growth potential that conduct research and development (R&D) in partnership with the Mississippi Military Department, Mississippi National Guard, or Mississippi colleges/universities. It establishes a dedicated "Defense Research and Development Program Fund" in the state treasury, separate from general funds, to finance these loans for seed and early-stage capital. The Mississippi Military Department will administer the program, including reviewing applications and disbursing funds, with unspent balances carrying forward annually. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects eligible Mississippi businesses collaborating on defense-related R&D projects.
Maddy summaryHB 22 expands eligibility for Mississippi's special disability license plates to include residents with vision 20/200 or worse in one eye (with correction), adding this condition to the existing definition of disabilities that limit walking ability. This change directly affects Mississippi residents with qualifying vision impairments who previously did not meet the walking-based criteria for these plates. To qualify, applicants must provide physician certification confirming the vision disability will last at least five years, similar to current requirements for other qualifying disabilities. The bill amends existing law to include this visual impairment under the same renewal and documentation processes for special plates and decals.