Rep. Andy Boyd

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution HR 99 formally commends Nora Roberts Miller, CPA, for her distinguished service as President of Mississippi University for Women and her contributions to higher education in Mississippi. The resolution recognizes her 17 years of leadership at the university, including her role in launching a successful capital campaign and strengthening academic programs that serve the state's workforce needs. It highlights the university's achievements under her direction, such as high graduate earnings and low student loan debt, while acknowledging her background in public service and finance. The resolution is a ceremonial acknowledgment rather than a policy change, intended to honor her contributions and wish her continued success.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau officers to retain their issued sidearm upon retirement, instead of returning it to the agency. It amends Section 45-9-133 of Mississippi law to explicitly permit these officers to keep one firearm as personal property when retiring under the Public Employees' Retirement System. The policy change directly affects current and future retirement of officers employed by the Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 914 requires Mississippi's State Department of Education to assign a qualified licensed dyslexia therapy teacher supervisor to every county. These supervisors must develop evidence-based reading interventions for students diagnosed with dyslexia, using strategies like the 3-Tier Instructional Model and accommodations under IDEA/504 Plans. The bill also mandates a program using "dyslexia data coaches" (experts in phonemic awareness and data analysis) to support teachers in improving literacy, with staff required to live in their assigned counties and be state employees. Implementation depends on legislative funding and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 915, the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," prevents Mississippi cities, counties, and other local governments from enacting or enforcing any ordinances related to firearms, ammunition, or firearm components. It preempts all local laws on these topics, voiding existing or future regulations unless they exactly match specific state provisions (Sections 45-9-51, 45-9-53, 45-9-101, 97-37-7, and 97-37-9 of the Mississippi Code). The bill also limits lawsuits against gun manufacturers for lawful sales, though it preserves individual claims for negligence or defects. This directly affects municipalities that previously regulated gun ownership or sales and alters liability for firearms businesses.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill (HB 1375) would require medical verification from birth to change the sex designation on a birth certificate. It prohibits corrections unless proven to be an error via birth medical records or a physician's confirmation that the sex recorded at birth was incorrect. The law directly affects residents seeking to update their birth certificate sex marker. It would take effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1371, the Domestic Violence Transparency Act, would require Mississippi to create a public online registry for individuals convicted of domestic violence two or more times. The registry would include names, aliases, dates of birth, and photographs (but not Social Security numbers or addresses) and would be maintained by the Department of Public Safety. Court clerks would automatically send conviction details to the registry after a conviction or release, and registrants would pay a $150 fee within 30 days. Information would be removed after 5 to 20 years (depending on prior convictions) once all fines and restitution are paid, with disclaimers noting the registry only includes Mississippi state court convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would add kratom to Mississippi's Schedule III controlled substances under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. It directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom products in Mississippi, as possession or distribution would become regulated under state law. The key mechanism is reclassifying kratom as a Schedule III substance, placing it alongside drugs like ketamine and certain barbiturates with recognized medical use but potential for abuse. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryHB 1770 funds the Mississippi Library Commission for fiscal year 2026 with $10,946,838 from the State General Fund and $4,863,028 from special funds. It authorizes 48 permanent and 1 temporary position, requires strict budget adherence (no salary increases without new funds), and mandates $493,847 from the Education Enhancement Fund specifically for the Magnolia Database program. The bill ensures funds are used for library operations, staff support, and performance targets like resolving 1,150 help desk tickets and hosting 40 continuing education workshops. It directly affects public libraries statewide through the Library Commission's operations and the Magnolia Database initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 appropriates over $5.2 billion in state funds for Mississippi's K-12 education system and related programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $2.95 billion from the State General Fund and $2.28 billion from special funds to cover operations of the State Department of Education, vocational and technical education, and the Mississippi Student Funding Formula. Key provisions include $16 million for school district capital facilities and buses, $25 million for instructional materials, and specific funding for literacy initiatives, special needs programs, and the Mississippi Eye Screening Program. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools, students, and the State Department of Education, including payments to Chickasaw Cession counties for lost land compensation.