Rep. Cheikh Taylor

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 17) formally commends The Tammie Nichols TV Show for its 15 years of television ministry and community impact in Mississippi. It recognizes the show's founder, host, and executive producer, Tammie Nichols, for using faith-based programming to uplift viewers, share testimonies, and model perseverance through adversity. The resolution specifically highlights the show's historical significance as Mississippi's first African-American woman serving as both Executive Producer and Host of her own television program. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of the show's community and cultural contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 4011 is a procedural bill that restores voting rights to a specific individual, Mary Wayne Prater of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. It addresses her disqualification following a 2002 conviction for false pretense, multiple probation violations, and subsequent sentences including house arrest and incarceration (ending in 2008). The bill states she has since "conducted herself as a law-abiding and honorable citizen" and formally restores her suffrage rights. This is a one-time restoration for Prater, not a change to general voting laws. The bill died in committee in April 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 105), not a substantive bill. It formally mourns the passing of Mrs. Arella Rena Ellis, a Starkville, Mississippi resident, and commemorates her life, service, and legacy. The resolution expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' deepest sympathy to her family and friends. It has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or communities beyond this ceremonial recognition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 6, 2025, as "Omega Psi Phi Day" in Mississippi to commend the fraternity's community service and legacy. It recognizes the organization's 100+ years of activism, including over 5,000 hours of community service and initiatives like scholarship programs and voter registration in Mississippi. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no new laws or funding, and serves to honor the fraternity's historical contributions to Mississippi and national civil rights efforts. It was adopted by the Mississippi House of Representatives on March 5, 2025, and will be formally recognized at the state capitol.

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1920 appropriates $100 million (split equally as $50 million each) to Coahoma Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College for campus facility repairs and improvements through June 2026. The funds cover specific projects like restoring historic buildings, upgrading electrical/plumbing systems, modernizing academic spaces, improving student housing, enhancing safety systems, and implementing energy efficiency initiatives. Each college must submit a detailed plan with timelines and provide annual progress reports to the Legislature. The bill, referred to Appropriations committees in February 2025, died in committee and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1921 appropriates $300 million ($100 million to each) to Mississippi's three HBCUs - Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Mississippi Valley State - for repairing and upgrading campus buildings and infrastructure. The funds cover specific projects like restoring historic structures, modernizing electrical/plumbing systems, improving student housing, creating new academic spaces, enhancing safety systems, and supporting energy efficiency. Each university must submit a detailed plan for approval and provide annual progress reports to the legislature on how the money is spent.

Maddy summaryHB 1810 appropriates $1,000,000 from the state general fund to Bolivar County's Board of Supervisors for construction, upgrades, and maintenance at Richard M. Coleman, Sr. Recreational Park. The funding covers buildings, facilities, roads, and infrastructure improvements within the park for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). It directly affects Bolivar County residents by supporting recreational infrastructure at a named public park. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1811 provided $540,000 in state funding to the Town of Benoit, Mississippi, to cover costs for its planned 2025 road improvement project during the 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 2025-June 2026). The bill authorized the State Treasurer to disburse the funds from the State General Fund upon proper requisitions. It directly affected Benoit town officials and residents by supporting infrastructure upgrades on local roads. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

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.