Rep. Cheikh Taylor

Maddy summaryHB 627 requires Mississippi community colleges with workforce development councils to provide mobile training units (including welding) at regional correctional facilities for 90+ days annually. It directly affects nonviolent offenders housed in these facilities by offering job skills training through mobile units staffed by instructors. The bill amends existing law to mandate that workforce development centers coordinate this training, integrating it with existing workforce planning under Section 37-153-11. This policy change focuses on equipping incarcerated individuals with employable skills before release through established community college training programs.

Maddy summaryHB 621 would require Mississippi's Department of Corrections to fully utilize all regional correctional facilities for housing state offenders before contracting with private prisons. Specifically, the bill mandates that the department cannot enter new private incarceration contracts until regional facilities reach 80% capacity. This would directly affect the Department of Corrections and private prison operators by prioritizing state-run facilities. The bill was introduced in 2026 but died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 676 requires every vehicle owner in Mississippi to provide proof of minimum liability insurance coverage when registering or renewing a vehicle registration. It establishes an online verification system managed by the Department of Public Safety (replacing the Department of Revenue) to check insurance status instantly during registration. The system overrides physical insurance cards, denies registration for non-compliant vehicles, and mandates insurers to submit policy data every 30 days. This directly affects all vehicle owners and insurers operating in Mississippi, with the system required to be fully operational by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law), designating April 8-12, 2026, as "Week of the Young Child" in Mississippi. It highlights challenges in early childhood education, including low wages for childcare providers (averaging under $13/hour) and high costs for families. The resolution expresses support for investments to stabilize childcare systems but does not create new policies or funding. It died in committee on February 3, 2026, and has no direct impact on legislation or affected individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 679 would allow medical and dental professionals convicted of specific crimes - such as burglary, theft, or embezzlement - to resume practice after their licenses are reinstated by the State Board of Medical Licensure or State Board of Dental Examiners. Currently, these individuals must obtain a full pardon to practice, but the bill would replace that requirement with a board-led reinstatement process. The key change modifies Mississippi Code Section 99-19-35 to remove the automatic bar for these offenses once a license is restored. This directly affects licensed healthcare providers who previously faced permanent disqualification due to certain convictions. The bill died in committee in 2026 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 681 would remove the $50,000-per-year cap on damages for Mississippi residents wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, replacing it with unlimited compensation based on the court's finding of innocence. It requires proof of innocence through a pardon stating innocence or reversal of conviction (e.g., dismissal, new trial acquittal), excluding pre-indictment detention. The bill also maintains attorney fee provisions (up to 25% of the award) and specifies damages won't be subject to taxes or civil lawsuit caps. This bill died in committee in February 2026 and remains pending.

Maddy summaryHB 677 prevents Mississippi's governor or state agencies from returning federal funds to the federal government as long as there is a demonstrable need for those funds in the specified program, with the Attorney General determining that need. It allows transferring funds to nonprofits or other non-governmental entities if they can better administer the program, provided federal rules permit it. The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2026, but died in committee on February 3, 2026. It directly affects how Mississippi manages federal funds for state programs, requiring continued use rather than premature return.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Mississippi citizens to directly propose new laws or amend/repeal existing laws through a voter initiative process. It would require petitions signed by 12% of gubernatorial voters, with restrictions on topics like the Bill of Rights, retirement systems, and state funding appropriations. Approved initiatives would bypass the governor's veto, require a 40%+ turnout threshold to pass, and be protected from legislative changes for two years. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not advance to a vote.

Maddy summaryHB 680, the "Starkville High School AP Government Class of 2019 Motor Voter Act," would have allowed Mississippi residents to automatically register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or state ID card. The bill required the Department of Public Safety to collect basic personal information (like name, address, and date of birth) during these transactions and forward it to election officials for voter registration processing, unless the applicant opted out. It directly affected all Mississippi residents interacting with the driver’s license or ID office, streamlining voter registration by linking it to routine state ID procedures. The bill included provisions for updating existing registrations, maintaining confidentiality, and allowing future opt-in registration attempts after an initial opt-out. (Note: The bill died in committee on 2026-02-03.)

Maddy summaryHB 706 would require Mississippi's Department of Corrections to house nonviolent offenders within 100 miles of their release residence if they have a sentence of 10 years or less remaining. This applies to all qualifying nonviolent offenders, including those incarcerated before the law takes effect on July 1, 2026. The bill amends Section 47-5-103 to mandate this housing requirement as a standard practice. It directly affects nonviolent offenders serving shorter sentences who would otherwise be housed farther from their communities.