Rep. Joey Hood

Maddy summaryHB 31 appropriates $174,135 from state funds for the Mississippi Athletic Commission's 2025-2026 budget, specifically designating $57,690 for employee salaries and benefits for one permanent position. The bill restricts these funds to "Personal Services" (salaries, wages, and fringe benefits) and requires strict adherence to the state's Variable Compensation Plan, preventing salary reductions below board-established minimums. It prohibits using these funds for promotions, title changes, or replacing federal funds, and mandates that any new hiring must be approved with additional funding. The commission must maintain detailed records and submit budget requests in the same format used for the prior fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 1193 prohibits Mississippi public K-12 schools and public postsecondary institutions from maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, requiring diversity statements from staff or students, or teaching "divisive concepts" related to race, sex, color, or national origin. The law bans programs favoring individuals based on protected characteristics and mandates annual reports to school boards and the legislature on incidents related to prohibited practices. It directly affects all public schools, colleges, and universities under Mississippi’s State Board of Education, Community College Board, and higher education governing bodies. Signed into law by the governor in April 2025, the bill requires institutions to base decisions solely on merit and qualifications.

Maddy summaryHB 1380 protects Mississippi state/local governments and commercial entities (like businesses handling personal data) from lawsuits related to cybersecurity incidents if they follow specific, nationally recognized security standards. The bill requires these entities to adopt cybersecurity programs aligned with frameworks such as NIST, HIPAA, or ISO 27000, creating a strong legal defense against liability claims. It establishes that compliance with these standards is presumed valid unless a plaintiff proves otherwise with clear evidence. This law directly affects organizations managing sensitive data by reducing legal risks tied to data breaches while mandating adherence to established security practices. The protection applies to covered entities starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1450 amends Mississippi's Small Loan Regulatory Law to allow licensed small loan providers to charge a fee for "nonrecording insurance" instead of the actual cost of recording a loan document. This fee must not exceed the standard fee charged by the Secretary of State for filing a UCC-1 financing statement. The bill applies to loans of $100 or more and ensures borrowers aren't forced to purchase this insurance as a loan condition. It maintains that all insurance-related fees must be optional, with borrowers able to pay using non-loan funds or receive refunds within 30 days. The law does not change existing limits on insurance costs for loans under the original statute.

Maddy summaryHB 1366 revises Mississippi judges' office expense allowances and court fees. It increases the base annual office allowance for circuit and chancery judges to $15,000, adds a $7,000 supplemental allowance for judges without county-provided office space, and creates a $130,000 annual fund for support staff (e.g., law clerks, court administrators) managed by the Administrative Office of Courts. Judges must use the support staff fund before drawing on county funds, and staff hires require Administrative Office approval. The bill also updates court filing fees (e.g., $25 for first five pages of document recording) but does not change core judicial functions.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 appropriates $21,052,911 for the administrative expenses and building maintenance of Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorizes 167 permanent positions and allocates $3.5 million specifically for computer system maintenance, while requiring strict adherence to 2025 budget levels for personnel costs and prohibiting salary increases for current employees. It mandates that PERS webcast and archive all public meetings within 48 hours and maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting PERS operations and its 167 authorized staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1765 appropriates $84,692,446 from state funds for Mississippi's Veterans' Home Purchase Board to cover its expenses and make new home loans for veterans during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects veterans seeking home loans through this program, as well as the Board's operations. Key provisions include authorizing 19 permanent positions and requiring strict adherence to budget limits, ensuring funds are used solely for approved personnel costs and home loans without exceeding appropriations. The bill mandates compliance with state budget laws and specifies that no general funds may replace federal or special funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 appropriates $166,093 from state funds to cover the Mississippi Athletic Commission’s operating expenses for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes one permanent staff position and strictly limits spending to prevent salary increases for current employees, requiring new funds for any additional positions or programs. The bill mandates that personnel costs must not exceed the FY2026 appropriation, with strict reporting requirements for all expenditures. Additionally, it directs the Commission to prioritize purchasing from Mississippi Industries for the Blind when bids are equal and specifies a $43,060 annual salary for the Commission Chairman.

Maddy summaryHB 1766 reappropriates existing state funds for construction and renovation projects at Mississippi state agencies, institutions, and higher education facilities for fiscal year 2026. It allocates $65.5 million (Fund 3393100000) for general state agency projects, $70 million (Fund 3390300000) specifically for universities and community colleges, and additional sums totaling $38.7 million for other facility improvements. The bill allows state agencies to spend unexpended balances from prior years’ budgets, but cannot exceed those balances or change the original purpose of the funds. This reappropriation extends existing project authorizations from prior legislative sessions (including HB 1816 and HB 1643) without creating new spending authority.

Maddy summaryHB 1764 is a funding bill that allocates $70.2 million for Mississippi's court system operations during fiscal year 2026. It provides specific funding for the Supreme Court ($8.66 million), trial judges ($41.2 million), the Administrative Office of Courts ($45.5 million), the Court of Appeals ($7.19 million), and continuing legal education programs ($172,366). The bill authorizes permanent staffing levels for these entities (e.g., 70 positions for the Supreme Court, 109 for judges) but does not create new laws or policies. This is a routine appropriations measure to cover existing court expenses, not a substantive legislative change.