Rep. Doc Harris

Maddy summaryHB 183 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to provide funds for the City of Olive Branch to repair, renovate, and upgrade the historic Maples Methodist Church building. The funds are specifically intended to support the city's use of the building as a community events center and theater. The bonds would be issued by the State Bond Commission, with repayment backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi, using proceeds from bond sales to cover the renovation costs.

Maddy summaryHB 551 appropriates $20 million from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). This funding supports existing outdoor stewardship programs under Mississippi Code Section 49-39-7, though the bill does not specify new program details or direct beneficiaries. The legislation died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law. As a budgetary measure, it only allocates existing funds without creating new policies or regulations.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 211 amends the state income tax law to exclude compensation received for property taken through eminent domain or condemnation from taxable "gross income." This applies specifically to property owners who purchased the property at least five years before it was taken by the government. The change means eligible property owners will not pay state income tax on the compensation received for their seized property. The bill directly affects Mississippi residents who sell property to the government after holding it for a minimum of five years.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commends Captain Jimmy Wiseman of the Southaven Fire Department for his 43 years and seven months of service - the longest tenure in Southaven's history - and congratulates him upon his retirement. It recognizes his career progression from volunteer firefighter (1980) to Captain (1996), his specialized rescue expertise, and his decade-long service with Mississippi Task Force One. The resolution formally acknowledges his contributions to the city and its residents through the Mississippi House of Representatives. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact or direct effect on legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 would revise the specific dates when retail fireworks sales are permitted in Mississippi. Currently, sales are restricted to periods after June 15 through July 12 and after December 5 through January 2. The bill would change these dates to new periods but does not specify the exact new dates in the provided text. It would maintain existing restrictions, such as prohibiting sales to anyone under 12 and requiring fireworks to be ignited at least 600 feet from churches, schools, or hospitals. The bill died on the calendar in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 197 increases the minimum state grant amount for Mississippi's MCOPS program from $10,000 to $40,000 per school resource officer (SRO) position hired by school districts or law enforcement agencies. It also raises the reimbursement for required training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy from an unspecified amount to $2,400 per officer. The bill requires local matching funds (50/50) and mandates that SROs spend at least 75% of their time working in schools. This bill, which died in committee on February 4, 2025, would have directly affected school districts and law enforcement agencies seeking to hire or retain SROs.

Maddy summaryHB 550 removes a Medicaid participation ban for a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) in Desoto County that was established by a local hospital under a Certificate of Need. The bill amends Mississippi law to delete the specific prohibition preventing this facility from participating in Medicaid. This change directly affects the Desoto County PRTF and its patients who rely on Medicaid for psychiatric care services. The key mechanism is eliminating the barrier in Medicaid eligibility rules that previously blocked this facility from serving Medicaid enrollees.

Maddy summaryHB 819 proposed requiring Mississippi public school districts to adopt a policy granting cost-free admission to school and Mississippi High School Activities Association events for district employees. This would apply to all instructional and noninstructional staff, with the benefit treated as part of their compensation in employment contracts. The policy explicitly prohibits extending this benefit to family members or third parties. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 709 would have required Mississippi public and charter school boards to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom by January 2026, using a specific text and format (11x14 inch framed poster with a context statement about historical educational use). The bill mandated that displays include a historical explanation noting the Ten Commandments' role in early American textbooks and education. It also allowed school boards to choose additional historical documents for display and directed the state to provide free resources for compliance. This bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 821 authorizes local law enforcement agencies to partner with independent nonpublic schools in Mississippi to place sworn school resource officers (SROs) on campus through formal agreements. It requires these schools to ensure SROs complete basic law enforcement training within two years of hire, with loss of peace officer authority for noncompliance. The bill specifically targets accredited independent nonpublic schools (e.g., MAIS members not under State Board of Education oversight) and defines SROs as sworn officers focused on safety. The legislation amends existing laws to formalize these agreements and training standards, though it died in committee on February 4, 2025.