Rep. Doc Harris

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 summaryHB 1301 creates enhanced penalties for Mississippi felony or misdemeanor convictions where the perpetrator intentionally inflicted physical harm (such as burning or cutting) with the specific intent to derive sadistic pleasure from the victim's suffering. Prosecutors must provide separate written notice in charging documents that an enhanced penalty may be sought, and a separate sentencing hearing is required to determine if sadistic intent was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If proven, the penalty for the offense can be doubled for imprisonment or fines, or both. This bill directly affects defendants convicted of violent crimes meeting these specific intent criteria.

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 921, the MS ROSS Act, would have created a state-funded program to help Mississippi public and accredited private elementary and secondary schools hire School Resource Officers (SROs). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety would have covered increasing percentages of SRO costs (starting at 30% in 2025-2026 and rising to 70% by 2029-2030), with local law enforcement and school boards responsible for the remaining portion, up to a $55,000 annual cap per SRO. Schools and local agencies would have needed to jointly apply for funding and establish agreements to participate. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, was never enacted into law.

Maddy summaryHB 806 would make noncompete clauses unenforceable in contracts between Mississippi-licensed health care providers (like doctors, nurses, and clinics) and their employers. Specifically, it invalidates any restriction preventing a provider from practicing in a specific geographic area after ending their employment or partnership. Other parts of the contract would remain valid, but this provision would apply only to new contracts or renewals starting July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects health care providers and employers by removing geographic practice limitations upon contract termination.

Maddy summaryHB 625 would amend Mississippi law by removing a two-year window allowing landowners to claim excess funds from tax sales if their property isn't redeemed. Currently, landowners can request payment of amounts exceeding unpaid taxes within two years; this bill would eliminate that period. Counties would retain all excess funds from such sales without needing to refund landowners. This directly affects landowners with properties sold for unpaid ad valorem taxes who fail to redeem within the current two-year timeframe.

Maddy summaryHB 22 expands eligibility for Mississippi's special disability license plates to include residents with vision 20/200 or worse in one eye (with correction), adding this condition to the existing definition of disabilities that limit walking ability. This change directly affects Mississippi residents with qualifying vision impairments who previously did not meet the walking-based criteria for these plates. To qualify, applicants must provide physician certification confirming the vision disability will last at least five years, similar to current requirements for other qualifying disabilities. The bill amends existing law to include this visual impairment under the same renewal and documentation processes for special plates and decals.

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.