Rep. Cheikh Taylor

Maddy summarySB 2305 would have required Mississippi public school boards to allow a Christian Bible provided by an external entity (not the school district) to be visible in all classrooms and libraries. It also mandated daily recitation of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance - including the phrase "under God" - and required teaching a new state pledge referencing "Almighty God." The bill aimed to enforce these provisions through school board compliance measures and reporting requirements. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summarySB 2394, a proposed Mississippi bill, would allow home-based food sellers to increase their annual sales limit from an unspecified lower amount to $120,000 without needing a full food establishment permit. It requires all cottage food sellers to complete certified food safety training (with existing sellers having until October 2026 to comply) and lists specific approved foods like baked goods, jams, dried spices, and wine. The bill also mandates detailed product labeling, prohibits direct online sales (though advertising online is allowed), and exempts homemade wine sold through cottage food operations from certain local restrictions. This bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have directly affected small home-based food businesses operating within Mississippi.

Maddy summarySB 2391 would have extended Mississippi's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act to cover firetrucks purchased by public fire departments. It defined "public vehicle" as firetrucks and "public consumer" as paid or volunteer fire departments operating under government contracts. The bill amended the law to include these entities within existing warranty protections, ensuring fire departments could seek replacements or refunds for defective firetrucks under the same terms as private vehicle buyers. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1518 would expand Mississippi's compensation program for wrongfully imprisoned individuals to include people sentenced beyond the legal maximum term for their felony conviction. It requires claimants to prove they served time exceeding the statute's maximum sentence for their crime, with compensation set at $50,000 per year of excessive incarceration (capped at $500,000 total). The bill aligns the process for these claims with existing wrongful conviction procedures, requiring documentary evidence of an overturned conviction or pardon based on innocence. This policy change directly affects individuals imprisoned for longer than legally permitted, offering them financial redress similar to those wrongfully convicted.

Maddy summaryHB 1514 requires sellers to provide homebuyers with specific written notice before closing on real estate. The notice must state whether property taxes (ad valorem taxes) are due on the property (unless exempt), if taxes are unpaid (in arrears), and if the property was previously sold for unpaid taxes. This applies to all real estate purchasers in Mississippi and aims to increase transparency about tax obligations during transactions. The bill, which would have taken effect July 1, 2026, died in committee and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryHB 1515 would allow Mississippi municipalities with 3,000 or fewer residents to use a state-funded "compilation report" (prepared by an accountant approved by the State Auditor) instead of a full annual audit when the audit would cause financial hardship. The state would cover the cost of this report, which must follow the State Auditor’s format, and require publication in a local newspaper. Municipalities failing to comply would risk having 150% of the report cost withheld from state payments. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1516 requires Mississippi's Department of Human Services (DHS) to notify child care providers about renewal deadlines for the Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) at the same time it notifies families receiving assistance. This ensures providers and families receive renewal information simultaneously, preventing potential disruptions in care when assistance periods end. The bill directly affects child care providers who serve families using CCPP and the families receiving the assistance. It changes DHS's administrative process to improve coordination, without altering program eligibility or funding levels. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 1584 would require Mississippi to hold its first primary election on Super Tuesday - the nationally recognized date for early presidential primaries - instead of the current August date. If multiple dates are recognized as Super Tuesday, Mississippi would use the earliest one. The Secretary of State must certify the Super Tuesday date each year, with the second primary held four weeks later. This change affects all Mississippi voters participating in primary elections for state and federal offices.

Maddy summaryHB 1668 aims to modernize Mississippi's existing Youth Court system by updating key legal definitions, procedures, and data-sharing requirements. The bill specifically updates sections defining "youth," "delinquent act," and "child in need of supervision" to clarify jurisdiction, mandates data sharing between the Administrative Office of Courts, Department of Public Safety, and Department of Human Services regarding youth court records, and increases funding for the Youth Court Support Fund. It directly affects youth under 18 involved in the justice system, Youth Court judges, and state agencies managing juvenile cases. The bill does not create new programs but seeks to standardize and improve coordination within Mississippi's current juvenile court framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1517, the "Mississippi Second Chance Act," changes parole eligibility rules for certain incarcerated individuals in Mississippi. It reduces the required prison time for parole consideration: violent offenders (including robbery, drive-by shootings, and carjacking) become eligible after serving 50% of their sentence or 15 years, whichever is less, while murder convictions require 25 years for first-degree and 20 years for second-degree murder. Habitual offenders gain parole eligibility after 10 years of incarceration, and these changes apply retroactively to all affected individuals since July 1, 1995. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and does not alter sentencing but adjusts when parole eligibility is assessed.