Rep. Jeff Hale

Maddy summaryHB 876, the Mississippi Emergency Drinking Water Network Act, creates a grant program administered by MEMA to help counties and rural water systems maintain drinking water access during emergencies. It provides funding for equipment like water transport trucks, transfer systems, and training for water operators and first responders to quickly establish emergency water distribution points. The program, funded by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, requires projects to be completed by December 2026 and mandates annual reports to the governor and legislature. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 596 would have redirected a portion of Mississippi's sales tax revenue from businesses with specific North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes into the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. This fund supports conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, directly affecting businesses in qualifying industries that pay state sales tax. The bill amended existing tax distribution laws to require this deposit, though it did not specify the exact percentage of revenue to be redirected. The legislation died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 196 increases Mississippi's threshold for requiring performance bonds and general liability insurance on public works contracts. It raises the contract value from $25,000 to $75,000 for local government projects (cities/counties) before a performance bond is required, allowing lump-sum payments instead for smaller contracts. For contracts exceeding $75,000 with local governments or $5,000 with the state, contractors must provide $1 million in general liability insurance, and general contractors become liable if subcontractors lack adequate coverage. This bill directly affects contractors bidding on public construction, alteration, or repair work, and public entities like cities, counties, and the state. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have prevented Mississippi Medicaid from seeking repayment for benefits from ABLE savings accounts established under state law. It specifically protects funds in these accounts - designed for people with disabilities to save without losing eligibility for benefits - from being used to cover Medicaid costs after the account holder's death. The bill amended state laws to ensure ABLE accounts are exempt from estate recovery rules that typically allow Medicaid to reclaim funds from a beneficiary's estate. This change would directly affect Mississippi residents with disabilities who use ABLE accounts to save for future needs while maintaining eligibility for public assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 1462 would have removed the requirement for hunters to pay landowners restitution (between $100-$250 per animal) for unlawfully taking whitetail deer on private property without permission. It would have kept all other penalties intact, including fines, loss of hunting privileges, and seizure of unlawfully taken animals. Landowners would still retain the right to pursue civil lawsuits for property damage caused by trespassing hunters. The bill, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1092 proposed to amend Mississippi's Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program by removing a restriction that previously limited counties to receiving funding for no more than eight rounds of fire trucks. The bill would have allowed counties and municipalities to apply for additional matching funds beyond the eight-round cap, enabling them to secure more fire trucks under the program. Specifically, it aimed to eliminate the requirement that a county must have received funding for only eight or fewer rounds to qualify for further assistance. This change would directly affect rural Mississippi counties and municipalities seeking to replace aging fire equipment, with funds covering up to $90,000 per fire truck for eligible purchases meeting NFPA standards. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

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 1597 proposes a Medicaid waiver to create "Healthy Mississippi Works" (HMW), targeting low-income adults aged 19-64 with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. To qualify, individuals must work at least 80 hours monthly, be full-time students, or participate in workforce training - excluding those offered employer insurance or non-citizens. The plan requires all enrollees to receive services through managed care organizations, pay copayments for nonemergency ER visits (waived with pre-visit nurse hotline contact), and includes work-support services like job training. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to address border security. The text frames the situation as an invasion and calls for the transport of undocumented individuals back across the border to Mexico. It does not create any new laws or alter federal policy but serves as a symbolic statement of solidarity with Texas. The bill was referred to a committee and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1783 appropriates state funds to support the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources for the fiscal year 2025, totaling approximately $257 million from special funds and $3.6 million from the general fund. The bill authorizes the department to hire 108 permanent and 65 temporary staff members while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for current employees and requiring detailed accounting of all expenditures. Additionally, the legislation allocates $11.7 million specifically for tidelands projects, including public access improvements like boat launches and piers in various coastal counties, as well as management initiatives and bond repayments.