Rep. Rodney Hall

Maddy summaryHR 40 is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) from the Mississippi House of Representatives. It formally recognizes and commends Jordan Anthony, a track and field athlete from Tylertown, Mississippi, for winning the 2025 Bowerman Award - the top honor for collegiate track and field athletes. The resolution highlights his achievements as a high school champion, NCAA and SEC title winner at the University of Arkansas, and his record-breaking performances. It has no policy impact or legal effect; it simply serves as a formal expression of praise for his accomplishments.

Maddy summaryHB 574 would increase the paid military training leave allowance for Mississippi state and local government employees who are reserve military members, raising the current 30-day limit. The bill requires employers to grant additional leave without loss of pay, time, annual leave, or efficiency rating, and mandates reinstatement to the employee's original position or an equivalent after training. It also establishes a process for enforcement through county or district attorneys if reinstatement is denied. This change would directly affect reserve members working for state agencies, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions.

Maddy summaryHB 619 would authorize sheriffs and deputies in Mississippi counties with 150,000+ residents (per 2020 census) to use radar speed detection equipment on public county roads outside incorporated cities and excluding interstates. It requires county boards of supervisors to approve such use and mandates that funds from radar fines be dedicated solely to funding school resource officers. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety could intervene if abuse of the equipment is reported. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 899 amends Mississippi's Employment Protection Act to strengthen enforcement by adding administrative dissolution or revocation of an employer's business license as a penalty for violations. It requires all Mississippi employers (including third-party staffing agencies) to verify employee work authorization using E-Verify, with deadlines based on business size (from 2008-2011). The bill authorizes the Department of Employment Security, Department of Revenue, and Secretary of State to create enforcement rules, and allows the Attorney General to pursue civil penalties. This directly affects all employers in Mississippi, particularly contractors working with public entities, by expanding consequences for noncompliance beyond fines. The changes align with existing verification requirements but significantly increase potential penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program in Mississippi to help firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers purchase their primary residences. The program would allow these eligible individuals, who have worked in these roles for at least four years, to receive loan guarantees for conventional home financing if they certify they intend to apply for a homestead exemption. A special fund in the state treasury would be created to support the program, with money disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration only after legislative appropriation. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and requires the department to create rules for administering the program.

Maddy summaryHB 1127 would revise Mississippi's rental-purchase agreement law for real property (homes), affecting renters and property owners. It requires property owners to file agreements in county land records and allows renters to reinstate agreements by paying overdue amounts within 15 days (up to three times during the agreement). The bill prevents automatic conversion to month-to-month tenancy after missed payments and limits reinstatement attempts to three occasions. If a renter misses payments four times, the property owner can pursue all available remedies under the law. The bill was introduced but died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1128, the "Defend DeSoto County Act," proposes authorizing the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDT) to identify, fund, and improve strategic entry points into DeSoto County to enhance traffic safety and support local law enforcement. The bill would allow MDT to coordinate with municipal police and sheriff departments to collect data and implement safety improvements at these entry points. If enacted, it would directly affect DeSoto County residents, commuters, and local law enforcement agencies by addressing traffic safety concerns at key access areas. The bill, referred to the Transportation Committee in early 2026, did not advance beyond committee and died in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1129, the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act," requires Mississippi state agencies to replace the term "West Bank" with "Judea and Samaria" in all official government materials, including documents, communications, and press releases. The bill defines "state agency" broadly to cover all departments, boards, and commissions, and prohibits using state funds to create materials referring to the territory as the "West Bank." Agencies may request limited waivers from this rule with written justification submitted to the Legislature or Governor, but such waivers are not automatic. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1235, the "Mississippi Heroes Support Fund Act," would create a state fund to provide supplemental annual payments to qualified law enforcement officers. The fund would be financed by 50% of certain fines/assessments, donations, and interest, and distributed by December 31 each year to full-time certified officers with at least one year of service who are "in good standing" with their agency. A key requirement is that all law enforcement agencies must obtain accreditation from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission by December 31, 2029, to qualify for fund distribution. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1323 removes the exclusion of suicide as a covered cause of death for law enforcement officers and firefighters seeking death benefits. Currently, the Law Enforcement Death Benefits Fund does not cover deaths by suicide, but this bill amends the eligibility definition to include suicide as a covered cause. The policy change directly affects families of officers or firefighters who die by suicide while performing official duties, allowing them to receive the standard $150,000 base benefit plus up to $25,000 per child (capped at $250,000 total). The bill does not alter benefit amounts, fund structure, or other eligibility criteria - only expands the definition of covered causes of death. This change aligns Mississippi’s policy with federal standards under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act.