Rep. Joey Hood

Maddy summaryHB 1760 appropriates $31,391,612 for district attorneys' salaries, travel, and office expenses, plus $489,367 for assistant district attorneys, for Mississippi's 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifically allocates $371,679 to fund two assistant district attorneys and one criminal investigator per prior law. The bill prohibits using funds for taxable meals within a district and requires district attorneys to maintain detailed financial records matching 2025 standards. It also mandates submission of five-year strategic plans as required by state law. This funding directly supports Mississippi's 46 district attorney offices and their staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1761 is a funding bill that allocates state money to cover the operational costs of Mississippi's legislature for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It provides funds for legislators' salaries, daily expense allowances, and contingency budgets for both the House ($9.3 million) and Senate ($6.7 million), as well as for key committees like the Joint Legislative Budget Committee ($5.3 million) and the Reapportionment Committee ($324,000). The bill also specifies that $15,000 from the House and $10,000 from the Senate must cover expenses for the Mississippi Commission on Interstate Cooperation, prohibits unapproved out-of-state travel by legislators, and requires preference for Mississippi Industries for the Blind in purchasing decisions. This bill affects only legislative staff, members, and committees, with no direct impact on citizens or policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1763 allocates $4,373,202 for Mississippi's Office of State Public Defender for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 25 permanent staff positions and specifies funding for three assistant public defenders ($446,521), indigent parental representation in custody cases ($422,500), and a youth defender program ($235,926). The bill requires the agency to meet performance targets (e.g., 75% of capital defense cases opened within one year) and report on outcomes to the legislature. It also reappropriates $60,000 for Hinds County Public Defender’s capital expenses and mandates detailed financial reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,996,069 from the State General Fund for the Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel to cover its expenses during Mississippi’s fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It directly funds the office’s operations, which provide legal representation to individuals facing death penalty convictions who are seeking post-conviction relief. The bill authorizes nine permanent staff positions and requires the office to maintain detailed financial and personnel records comparable to its 2025 reporting. It also mandates compliance with existing budget laws prohibiting overspending and ensures funds are paid through standard state fiscal procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1757 appropriates $30.39 million from Mississippi’s general fund and $9.65 million from special funds to cover the operating costs of the Attorney General’s Office for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It authorizes 91 permanent and 205 time-limited full-time staff positions while restricting fund use to prevent replacing federal funds or increasing salaries for current employees without new funding. The bill requires the office to maintain detailed financial records, adhere to performance targets (like 93% affirmation of criminal convictions), and report budget usage to the Legislature. These provisions ensure funds are used efficiently for core operations, as defined by the Mississippi Performance Budget Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1442 revises Mississippi's conservatorship process for individuals housed in state hospitals. It requires medical professionals employed by Mississippi State Hospitals (including North and East Mississippi State Hospitals or their contracted facilities) to sign the required medical certificates for conservatorship petitions when the respondent is in a state hospital at the time of filing. This replaces the previous requirement for outside licensed physicians to conduct examinations, streamlining the certification process for these specific cases. The bill also updates related provisions to grant access to medical records from these hospitals during conservatorship proceedings. The changes apply only to conservatorship cases involving respondents currently residing in state hospitals.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 exempts individuals already receiving treatment in a licensed acute psychiatric hospital with two prior professional evaluations from needing a pre-affidavit screening before a relative or interested person can file a legal commitment request. This directly affects families seeking to commit a loved one, hospitals treating patients, and community mental health centers that must be notified 24 hours in advance. The key mechanism requires hospitals to notify the community mental health center 24 hours before filing the commitment affidavit, streamlining the process for these specific cases. The bill also updates related reporting requirements for mental health centers and defines terms in Mississippi's mental health laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1758 appropriates $117,462 from the state treasury to cover the operational expenses of the Mississippi Auctioneers Commission for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill requires the commission to maintain detailed accounting records matching its 2025 standards and submit future budget requests with comparable detail. It also mandates that the commission give preference to Mississippi Industries for the Blind when purchasing goods or equipment, both with and without competitive bidding. The funds must be spent in compliance with existing state budget laws governing appropriations and expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 84), not a policy bill. It formally mourns the passing of Priscilla Ann Reves, a longtime Eupora, Mississippi educator, historian, and community member, and commemorates her life, legacy, and service. The resolution expresses sympathy to her family and friends, highlights her career teaching math at Eupora High School, her work as a state auditor, her historical research, and her posthumous scholarship endowment for Eupora High School students pursuing STEM fields. It has no binding policy effect and serves solely to honor her contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 1451 removes a ban preventing county clerks from receiving standard fees for attending youth court proceedings. The bill specifically allows circuit and chancery clerks to be paid for their work in youth court cases, aligning their compensation with other court services. Fees will be paid by the county from the general fund, following existing payment procedures for similar court duties. This change directly affects county clerks handling youth court matters in Mississippi. The bill passed and took effect on July 1, 2025.