Rep. Karl Gibbs

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds specifically for preplanning costs related to repairs, renovations, and upgrades of the Walter Washington Administration and Classroom Building at Alcorn State University. The bonds, backed by the state's full faith and credit, would fund only the preplanning phase (not construction), with proceeds restricted to this building project. The bill details bond issuance procedures, repayment terms, and ensures funds cannot be diverted to other uses. The bill was referred to the Ways and Means committee but died there in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1797 proposed appropriating $64,055,883 from Mississippi's general fund to increase salaries for faculty at public universities, aiming to bring their pay closer to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) average. The bill directly affected Mississippi's public university faculty by providing funding for salary adjustments during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). Key provisions included the specific appropriation amount and a requirement that the funds be used solely to adjust faculty compensation toward the SREB benchmark. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1673 would authorize Mississippi to issue state bonds to fund renovations and upgrades to the K.L. Simmons Technology Building at Alcorn State University. The bond proceeds would be restricted solely to this specific building project, with the state pledging its full faith and credit for repayment. As a financial authorization bill, it does not create new policy but provides funding mechanisms for a single university facility improvement.

Maddy summaryHB 1780 proposed appropriating $9,387,582 from Mississippi's State General Fund to support Alcorn State University's agricultural land-grant research and extension programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill would have directly funded Alcorn State's agricultural research initiatives and community outreach programs, which serve Mississippi farmers and rural communities. It was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law. This was a procedural funding bill with no policy changes, solely allocating existing state funds for a specific university program.

Maddy summaryHB 1798 appropriates $257,807,216 from Mississippi's State General Fund to Alcorn State University for fiscal year 2026. The bill directly addresses a documented 30-year funding disparity between Alcorn State University and Mississippi State University, the state's two land-grant universities. The funds would cover historical financial gaps, not ongoing operational costs. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1672 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds specifically to fund repairs and renovations at Alcorn State University for ADA compliance (making buildings accessible for people with disabilities). The bill directs all bond proceeds to cover costs for upgrading university facilities to meet accessibility standards. It establishes the State Bond Commission as the issuing body, with funds restricted solely to these accessibility projects at Alcorn State University. The bonds would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 1675 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund repairs, renovations, and infrastructure upgrades at Alcorn State University's agricultural facilities. The bill directly affects Alcorn State University by providing dedicated funding for its agricultural infrastructure, with proceeds restricted solely to these projects. Key mechanisms include the state pledging its full credit for bond repayment and requiring the bonds to be sold through standard state procedures. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 34) acknowledges the critical weather coverage provided by WTVA-Channel 9's meteorology team in Northeast Mississippi, particularly their life-saving reporting during the March 2023 Amory tornado. It encourages continued community support for the station and urges Allen Media Broadcasting to maintain its locally staffed weather operations. The resolution recognizes the team's national awards, community reliance on their region-specific forecasts, and the 35,000-signature petition that prompted the station to reverse plans to eliminate local meteorologists. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 857 expands Mississippi's literacy program to support students in grades 4 through 8 by requiring evidence-based reading instruction and interventions. It mandates annual universal reading screenings for all students in these grades, professional development for teachers focused on the "science of reading" (including phonics and decoding), and prohibits the use of "three-cueing systems" for teaching word reading. The bill also creates a system to identify "Middle Literacy Support Schools" based on reading data and requires the state education department to develop a structured literacy course for grades 6-8. Schools must provide targeted interventions for struggling readers, and the department must submit annual implementation reports to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1224 would have changed the property classification of Alcorn State University's president's residence from commercial to residential. This would have allowed licensed residential builders (not restricted by typical height or size limits for residential projects) to perform construction or capital improvements on the property. The bill amended Mississippi Code Sections 73-59-1 and 73-59-19 to enable this change. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.