Rep. Tracy Arnold

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 summaryThis bill prohibits sleeping, sitting, or storing personal items on public streets or sidewalks within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, hospitals, or critical infrastructure (like bridges or power lines). It classifies such encampments as public nuisances on public property and requires local authorities to provide 48 hours' written notice before enforcement, including information about shelter services. For private property, the bill adds homeless encampments to the public nuisance law, allowing property owners to request removal (with humane enforcement) and imposing cleanup costs as a lien on the property. Violations on public property may be charged as misdemeanors punishable by fines up to $5,000 or six months in jail.

Maddy summaryHB 620, if enacted, would allow Mississippi-licensed nurse practitioners and registered nurses (RNs) to administer intravenous (IV) fluids containing vitamins specifically to improve a person's immune health in clinical settings. The bill would remove limits on the number of vitamins given at once and eliminate the requirement that these vitamins must be prepared by a compound pharmacy. This change would directly affect nurses practicing in clinical environments, expanding their scope of practice for immune-supportive IV therapy. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 619 would require Mississippi public school districts to adopt policies granting free admission to veterans and active/reserve military members at school-sponsored and Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) athletic events. It specifies that eligible individuals (verified via documents like DD-214 discharge papers, Veteran ID cards, or military-issued IDs) must present proof at the ticket window. The policy would apply starting the 2024-2025 school year, with schools required to implement it by July 1, 2025. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit signatures from any single congressional district on initiative petitions. It specifies that signatures from one district cannot exceed 1 divided by the total number of congressional districts in Mississippi (e.g., 1/4 for 4 districts). This would prevent any one district from contributing more than a proportional share of the required signatures to qualify a constitutional initiative for the ballot. The bill is currently inactive after dying in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 615 requires Mississippi courts to pay victims of crime the full amount of court-ordered restitution before paying any court costs or fines to the court. This applies to criminal cases where restitution is ordered by justice, county, or municipal courts, directly affecting victims who receive payments and defendants who must pay restitution. The bill changes the payment order so victims are prioritized, ensuring restitution is paid in full to them before the court collects its own costs or fines. It does not alter restitution amounts or eligibility but mandates the sequence of payments. The bill died in committee and has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes designating September 11 as "Patriot's Day" in Mississippi to honor the 2,977 people killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It would make September 11 a day of remembrance and observation, not a legal holiday (similar to other designated days like Elvis Day in the code). The bill does not change existing legal holidays or create new paid time off for state employees or businesses. The legislation died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 612 would redirect 18.5% of Mississippi's state sales tax revenue generated from business activities outside incorporated cities and towns to counties. These funds would be required to be used exclusively for repairing, maintaining, and reconstructing county roads, streets, and bridges. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee in February 2025. It does not affect municipal tax distributions or other specific local projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill seeks to restore the right to vote to Michael Gray, a man from Prentiss County who had lost his voting rights due to a past burglary conviction and subsequent probation violation. The legislation states that Gray has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen and is eligible to have his voting status reinstated. If passed, the law would officially return his suffrage rights effective immediately upon enactment. The bill was referred to a committee but did not advance further in the legislative process.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending the rules of the Mississippi Legislature to allow lawmakers to participate in committee meetings and floor sessions remotely using technology starting in the 2025 regular session. Under the new rule, legislators would be able to debate and vote without being physically present, while also enabling the public to view these proceedings online. The measure ensures that remote participation counts as official attendance for quorum purposes and gives the Speaker and Lieutenant Governor the authority to mandate remote sessions if they determine an in-person meeting poses a health risk. Although the bill passed initial referral, it did not advance further and died in committee in May 2024.