Rep. Doc Harris

Maddy summaryHB 646 would allow U.S. Coast Guard Health Services Technicians to qualify for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license by taking the state exam, after completing their Coast Guard training and two years of direct patient care experience. This expands an existing provision that already covers other military medics (like Army Combat Medics and Navy Corpsmen) but specifically adds Coast Guard Health Services Technicians to the list of eligible applicants. The bill does not change exam requirements or create new pathways - it simply extends current military licensure eligibility to this specific Coast Guard role. The proposal died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 825 revises Mississippi's death penalty procedures by requiring the Commissioner of Corrections, Deputy Commissioners for Finance and Institutions, the Public Safety Commissioner, and the county district attorney to select the execution method (lethal injection, nitrogen hypoxia, electrocution, or firing squad) through majority vote, with cost efficiency as a key factor in the decision. It designates lethal injection as the preferred method but mandates that cost considerations influence the choice, while also requiring confidentiality for execution team members, suppliers of lethal chemicals, and certain witnesses. The bill also grants legal immunity to participants acting in good faith during executions and clarifies that execution-related activities do not constitute the practice of medicine. These changes directly affect state officials responsible for administering executions and condemned individuals facing capital punishment.

Maddy summaryHB 573 establishes a formal process for removing Mississippi school board members who commit misconduct, including intentional wrongdoing (malfeasance), improper conduct (misfeasance), failure to act (nonfeasance), neglect of duties, breach of public trust, or abuse of authority. It requires the school board to formally recommend removal to the local governing authority, which must hold a hearing with notice to the member, allow testimony, and vote by majority to approve removal. The bill specifically adds chronic absenteeism from board meetings as grounds for removal due to neglect of duties. An aggrieved party may appeal the governing authority’s decision to circuit court.

Maddy summaryHB 570 requires Mississippi public school boards to create and implement age-appropriate cell phone policies for students during the entire academic day (bell-to-bell), affecting all public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill mandates restrictions on phone use in classrooms during instruction, requires devices to be stored off-person (e.g., in lockers or backpacks), and prohibits suspensions or expulsions for violations. It also specifies minimum rules for different grade levels - like banning phones entirely in elementary buildings versus allowing stored phones in middle schools - and requires schools to use designated communication tools for emergencies. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1895 (DeSoto County; authorize sheriff to use radar on county roads) would have allowed DeSoto County's Board of Supervisors to purchase radar speed detection equipment for the sheriff's department. This equipment could be used to enforce speed limits on county roads and state highways outside incorporated city limits. Any fines collected from speeding violations detected by this radar would be required to fund school resource officers in DeSoto County public schools. The bill died in committee on April 3, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1689 would have extended the expiration date of a 1% hotel/motel tax in Olive Branch, Mississippi, from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2029. The tax, levied on room rentals, would fund tourism and parks/recreation projects, requiring voter approval (60% majority) before implementation. It also permitted the city to issue bonds up to the amount of tax revenue to finance related improvements. The bill died in committee on April 3, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1284 renames Mississippi's "Native Spirit Law" to the "Native and Craft Spirits Law" and defines "craft distillery" and "craft spirit" for the first time. The bill legalizes the production and sale of craft spirits under the same regulations as native spirits, while allowing both types of distilleries to operate one permanent satellite tasting room in any location that permits alcohol sales (previously limited to within 5 miles of the main facility). It also revises permit requirements, sales rules, and distance restrictions for distilleries, directly affecting Mississippi distilleries producing craft spirits and native spirits. These changes aim to modernize the regulatory framework for small-scale spirit producers in the state.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) that formally commends Major General John Trent Kelly for his 40-year military career and congratulates him upon his retirement in May 2025. It specifically recognizes his service in the Mississippi Army National Guard, including deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, his leadership roles, and his awards. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws, regulations, or people beyond expressing the Mississippi House of Representatives' gratitude for his service. It was adopted and signed by the legislature in March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 812 extends Mississippi's homestead property tax exemption to unremarried surviving spouses of honorably discharged veterans who were 90 years old or older when they died. This law, now signed into law by the governor, directly affects surviving spouses of eligible veterans who own their homes. The bill amends existing tax code to automatically include these surviving spouses in the exemption, which previously only applied to the veteran homeowners themselves. The exemption covers all ad valorem taxes on the home's assessed value, reducing property tax burdens for these households.

Maddy summaryHB 565 requires Mississippi law enforcement agencies to report officer resignations and terminations to the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Agencies must provide timely notification within a specified timeframe and include an explanation if the resignation or termination resulted from disciplinary action. Failure to report carries penalties, though agencies may appeal the board's decision. This bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency in officer employment history.