Rep. Dana McLean

Maddy summaryHB 632 requires Mississippi's Office of Healthy Schools to create a standardized salary schedule for school nurses based on their education and experience. All public school districts must use this schedule as the minimum pay rate when hiring school nurses. The bill directly affects school districts (which must implement the schedule) and school nurses (who will receive standardized pay based on qualifications). This provision, added to Section 6(g) of the existing law, aims to establish consistent compensation without specifying exact salary amounts. The bill died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 634 requires Mississippi school districts and the State Department of Education to provide an annual $6,000 salary supplement to National Board Certified occupational therapists and school psychologists working in public schools. This applies to certified professionals employed by school districts or the state education department, in addition to their regular salary and fringe benefits. To qualify for the full supplement, they must submit certification documentation by October 15; a prorated amount is available if documentation is submitted by February 15. The bill directly affects these certified professionals by adding a specific financial incentive tied to their national certification.

Maddy summaryHB 1211 renames Mississippi's "Dropout Prevention" offices to "Student Success and Graduation" offices and changes the title of school attendance officers to "Student Success and Graduation Coaches." It revises salary structures based on education and experience, updates job qualifications, and shifts responsibilities toward proactive graduation support and attendance tracking. The bill requires school districts to create annual strategic plans focused on reducing dropouts, chronic absenteeism, and improving graduation rates, with a target of 90% statewide graduation by 2029-2030. It also establishes new oversight for attendance enforcement under the "Office of Educational Participation" within the state education department.

Maddy summaryHB 1562 directs Mississippi's Medicaid Division to apply for a federal waiver (EDCD Waiver) to cover home-based personal care services for elderly or disabled residents who need help with daily activities (like bathing or medication reminders). It would allow individuals or their families to hire and manage their own caregivers, requiring a state-appointed facilitator to assist with hiring, provide training, conduct initial home assessments, and monitor care quality through regular visits. Eligibility requires demonstrating medical need, and both employers (individuals or families) and caregivers must submit documentation and follow specific guidelines. The bill aimed to expand Medicaid-funded home care options but died in committee in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1210 establishes legal protections for Mississippi's specialized public schools (including the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, the Mississippi School of the Arts, and the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind) by guaranteeing their autonomy from public universities. The bill authorizes schools to partner with universities for academic enrichment, shared facilities, or noninstructional services (like IT or maintenance) through agreements requiring state board approval, while strictly prohibiting universities from gaining administrative control or decision-making authority over the schools. It mandates that future partnerships must preserve the schools' independent budgeting, governance under the State Board of Education, and direct funding via the state's student funding formula without local district involvement. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, after being referred to education and appropriations committees.

Maddy summaryHB 1555 expands the reasons Mississippi state employees can use major medical leave. It adds new authorized purposes, including care for family members affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as well as continuing treatment for chronic illnesses (with prior medical certification). The bill also clarifies that leave can cover preventive care for employees or family members. This change affects all eligible Mississippi state employees (excluding certain public university staff), allowing them to use leave for these specific health and safety-related needs without prior use of personal leave in some cases. The bill does not change accrual rates or eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1614 updates and consolidates Mississippi's existing human trafficking laws (specifically sections 97-3-54.1 through 97-3-54.7) to strengthen penalties and clarify provisions. It increases penalties for traffickers, including 20+ years in prison for offenses involving minors and fines up to $500,000, while requiring mandatory reporting of suspected child trafficking to child protection services. The bill also clarifies enterprise liability, allowing businesses to be fined up to $1 million for failing to prevent trafficking. The legislation died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1681 creates the Maternal and Family Transportation Program to provide free transportation for pregnant women, new mothers (up to 18 months postpartum), and families with children under six. The program covers trips to medical appointments, WIC services, pharmacies, grocery stores for WIC redemptions, and childcare centers. The State Department of Health will administer the program, requiring transportation providers to meet safety standards (like child car seats and driver training) and use a mobile app for ride tracking and appointment reminders. This aims to reduce transportation barriers contributing to Mississippi’s high maternal and infant health disparities.

Maddy summaryHB 1708, the Domestic Violence Registry Act, would require Mississippi's Department of Public Safety to create a public online registry listing individuals convicted of domestic violence two or more times. The registry would include names, aliases, birthdates, and photos but exclude sensitive details like Social Security numbers or addresses. Registrants must pay a $150 fee and could be removed after 5-20 years, depending on prior convictions, once fines and restitution are paid. This applies only to domestic violence convictions occurring on or after July 1, 2026, with court clerks required to forward conviction records to the Department.

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.