Rep. Jeff Hale

Maddy summaryHB 1133 requires all Mississippi public schools to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans (CERPs) by the 2024-2025 school year, with athletic venues covered starting in 2025-2026. It mandates that AEDs be placed within three minutes of all athletic venues and accessible during school events, while requiring schools to train staff in CPR/AED use. The bill allocates $2.499 million specifically for CERP implementation, prioritizing high-needs schools (those with 50%+ students eligible for free/reduced meals or Title I status) for funding to cover AEDs, training, and related equipment. Schools may also accept donations for AED purchases and maintenance meeting FDA standards.

Maddy summaryHB 816 proposes requiring Mississippi hunters to report white-tailed deer harvests through an electronic system (like a mobile app or website) developed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. This mandatory reporting would affect all deer hunters in the state, with penalties including fines starting at $100 for first violations (up to $500 for subsequent offenses). The bill also mandates an annual report to legislative committees and specifies that funds for the program cannot come from the department’s existing budget. However, the bill "died in committee" on March 4, 2025, meaning it has not become law and is not currently in effect.

Maddy summaryHB 968 extends the expiration date of existing rules allowing Mississippi public entities (like schools, hospitals, and government agencies) to enter energy efficiency service contracts. It does not change the contract requirements or definitions but delays when those specific provisions will automatically expire. The bill ensures current energy efficiency contracting rules remain in effect longer, maintaining the process for entities to select qualified energy service providers and use performance-based contracts. This change applies to all public entities currently using or planning such contracts under the existing framework.

Maddy summaryHB 888 updates Mississippi's Burn Care Fund by expanding eligible recipients to include Baptist Medical Center and burn centers affiliated with Level I trauma centers, while removing the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a designated recipient. It increases the fee for distinctive license tags from $1.00 to $2.50 per tag or plate, and adds a $0.50 fee for commercial vehicle decals, with all new proceeds deposited into the Burn Care Fund. These changes direct funding toward specific burn care facilities within Mississippi's trauma system, shifting support from the University of Mississippi Medical Center to Baptist Medical Center and Level I-affiliated centers. The bill does not create new facilities but alters how existing funds are distributed. The fee increases take effect for vehicle registrations starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 553 would have required all hunters aged 16+ to purchase a Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp (or its digital equivalent) to legally hunt wild turkeys in the state. The bill set fees at $10 for residents and $100 for non-residents, with all revenue dedicated to turkey conservation projects like habitat restoration (not administrative costs). Violations would have carried fines of $25-$100, though penalties could be waived if hunters proved prior stamp purchase. This bill "died in committee" on March 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1149 would expand authorized fireworks sales in Mississippi to include an additional week in June and January, while making unauthorized sales a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $500 or 30 days in jail. The bill amends existing law to clarify that selling fireworks outside these dates violates state code, and adds civil liability for injuries or property damage caused by illegal fireworks sales. This directly affects retailers (who gain extended sales periods) and the public (with stricter penalties for unsafe sales), but does not change age restrictions or safety zones around buildings. The bill was passed by the House in February 2025 but died in committee on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 403, the "No Patient Left Alone Act," gives minors and adults in Mississippi healthcare facilities the right to designate a parent, guardian, spouse, family member, or caregiver to be physically present during their care. Healthcare facilities may limit visitation only for medical reasons, safety concerns, disruptive behavior, or policy violations, but cannot require patients to waive this right or terminate it. The Mississippi Department of Health must create informational materials for facilities and can impose fines (up to $10,000 per day) for violations. The law does not override medical emergencies or federal safety protocols and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1175 would allow licensed wine producers (including out-of-state manufacturers) to sell and ship wine directly to Mississippi residents, subject to specific rules. To qualify, producers must obtain a "direct shipper's permit" from the Mississippi Department of Revenue, pay applicable taxes, and follow restrictions like selling only wine (not beer or spirits), limiting sales to 12 bottles per person annually, and requiring recipients to be 21+ for delivery. The bill mandates detailed recordkeeping for shipments, prohibits resale of shipped wine, and directs a portion of the tax revenue to mental health programs. It directly affects wine producers seeking to sell in Mississippi and residents purchasing wine directly from out-of-state sources.

Maddy summaryHB 1258 updates Mississippi's boat numbering and registration requirements to align with federal regulations. It specifies how vessel numbers must be displayed (e.g., 3-inch block characters, contrasting color, on the bow), amends application forms to require detailed owner and vessel information (like hull material, propulsion type, and tax documentation), and standardizes the certificate of number content. This bill directly affects Mississippi boat owners who must register their vessels under the state's boating law. The changes ensure compliance with federal standards for vessel identification and documentation.

Maddy summaryHB 1190 creates the Mississippi First Responder PTSD and Suicide Prevention Task Force to address mental health needs among first responders, including law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers. The 21-member task force - comprising legislative representatives, state agency staff, and first responder organizations - will assess mental health gaps, develop prevention strategies, and recommend legislation by December 1, 2025. It requires the task force to identify accessible treatment options, reduce stigma, and propose sustainable funding solutions for mental health support. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.