Rep. Otis Anthony

Maddy summaryHB 1930 appropriates $300,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to the Delta Advantage Center for purchasing a C-Model mobile market truck, related equipment, and food staging supplies. The bill aims to improve access to fresh food in rural Mississippi communities during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directs the State Treasurer to disburse funds upon proper requisitions and specifies the money must be used solely for the stated equipment and purposes. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee on February 26, 2025, but died there without further action.

Maddy summaryHB 676 requires Mississippi's Department of Mental Health and Medicaid to apply to join a federal Medicaid demonstration program for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). It directs the state to implement this as a pilot in Community Mental Health Regions 6 and 9, with clinics in those regions eligible to apply for certification by July 1, 2026. The bill mandates that the Mental Health Department certifies clinics and monitors compliance, while Medicaid establishes a funding system to support the CCBHC model. This would expand access to comprehensive behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries in those regions through a federally aligned program.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 1 honors the legacies of Mississippi blues musician B.B. King and civil rights leader Medgar Evers on the 100th anniversary of their births in 2025, recognizing their cultural and social impact. The resolution formally commemorates their contributions - King's influence on music and Evers' work advancing civil rights - and directs that it be presented to their surviving descendants and to Mississippi museums including the B.B. King Museum and Medgar Evers Home National Monument. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial tribute.

Maddy summaryHB 566, the "Mental Awareness Program for School Act," would require Mississippi public schools to provide mental health support by mandating at least one school counselor or mental health provider per 250 students and implementing trauma-informed training for educators. Key provisions include requiring schools to form trauma-informed teams, report counselor staffing to the Department of Education, and create a state toolkit for implementing trauma-informed practices. The bill also allows underfunded schools to deploy one counselor across multiple schools and authorizes partnerships with universities for supervised internships. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected all public K-12 schools and students in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 1225 revises Mississippi's Paramedics Recruitment and Retention Scholarship Program to support EMTs pursuing paramedic certification. The bill provides full funding for tuition, fees, books, uniforms, and National Registry exam costs at accredited paramedic programs. To qualify, applicants must be certified EMTs, commit to working in Mississippi for three years after graduation, and meet additional criteria set by the Office of Workforce Development. The program would be funded through legislative appropriations, with no more than 5% of funds used for administrative costs. This change aims to address paramedic shortages by reducing financial barriers to training.

Maddy summaryHB 1082 would have increased the daily payment for Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board commissioners from $67 to $200 per day for work related to their duties, with a limit of 36 days per fiscal year. This change would directly affect the board members (excluding the president) who serve on the levee board responsible for managing flood protection in the Delta region. The bill also maintained existing provisions for mileage and expenses under Section 25-3-41. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1219, the "McElroy-Brown Hygiene and Menstrual Care Access Act," would require all public middle and high schools in Mississippi to provide free menstrual products (including pads, tampons, and menstrual cups) to students at no cost, starting immediately for Grades 6-8 and expanding to all middle/high schools by the 2026-2027 school year. Schools must make products accessible in confidential locations like restrooms and nurse’s offices, offer a variety of products, and ensure privacy during distribution. The state would fund the program with an initial $2 million and $2.5 million annually based on student enrollment, while schools could seek additional community funding. The State Department of Education would oversee implementation, require annual reports on usage and challenges, and mandate staff training and educational components about menstrual health. Note: The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the right to vote to Joseph Armstrong, a resident of Sunflower County, Mississippi, who had lost his voting privileges due to a past conviction for grand larceny. The legislation states that Armstrong has completed his sentence and served his probation, noting that he has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen. By passing this act, the state removes the legal barrier that prevented him from participating in elections, effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi to donate up to $50,000 annually to the Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation. The funds would come from the county's available budget and are intended to support the foundation's work in cancer prevention and education. The authorization for these contributions is set to expire on July 1, 2026. Although the bill was referred to a committee in May 2024, it did not advance further and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 4096 aims to restore voting rights to Kunta Gates, a resident of Humphreys County, Mississippi, who was previously disenfranchised due to a conviction for statutory rape. The bill specifies that Gates completed his full sentence, including time served in prison and post-release supervision, and was discharged in February 2020. It also notes that Gates has since lived as a law-abiding citizen. Although the legislation was referred to a committee, it did not advance further and ultimately failed to pass.