Rep. Dana McLean

Maddy summaryHB 1063 creates Mississippi's first state-level paid parental leave policy for eligible state employees. It provides six weeks (240 hours) of paid leave at 100% salary for primary caregivers after a child's birth or adoption, requiring at least 12 months of full-time state employment. The leave must be taken within 12 weeks of the event, used only once per year, and runs concurrently with federal FMLA without counting against other leave types. Public school and community college districts may adopt similar policies for their employees. The law became effective after Governor approval on March 25, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1414 transfers administration of Mississippi's Workforce Enhancement Training Fund from the Department of Employment Security to the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development. The bill specifies that 93.75% of contributions collected from employers (for workforce training) will fund training programs, while the remaining funds support the Office of Workforce Development's operations. It clarifies technical processes for collecting, distributing, and managing these funds, including transfer timelines and interest handling. The bill directly affects employers paying unemployment insurance contributions and state agencies managing workforce development resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1066 corrects a reference in Mississippi's existing "Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children" to properly cite the relevant U.S. Code provisions regarding active duty orders. The bill does not change the compact's policy or create new requirements; it only updates a statutory citation to ensure legal accuracy. The compact itself helps military children transition between schools by addressing barriers like record transfers and enrollment delays during family relocations. This correction affects the legal implementation of the compact but does not alter the support provided to military-connected students or schools.

Maddy summaryHB 927 establishes a state licensing system for professional midwives in Mississippi, requiring them to obtain a license from the newly created State Board of Licensed Midwifery. The bill mandates that health insurance plans covering maternity must also cover and reimburse services provided by licensed midwives, while prohibiting discriminatory language against midwifery in insurance policies. It exempts certified nurse midwives and physicians from licensing requirements and clarifies that midwifery is not considered the practice of medicine. The law sets standards for midwifery practice, including scope of care and confidentiality rules, and creates a regulatory framework for oversight and enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 1556 establishes the MissCATEE Program, providing tuition-free community college education in career and technical education (CTE) for eligible Mississippi residents. It directly affects recent high school graduates and adults seeking industry certifications or associate degrees in high-wage, high-demand fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology, as identified by Accelerate MS. Key provisions require recipients to work in their field for a set period after graduation (with funds recouped if they don’t comply) and mandate enrollment in approved CTE programs aligned with state workforce needs. The Office of Workforce Development (Accelerate MS) administers the program, sets eligibility rules (including residency, high school diploma, and FAFSA completion), and tracks outcomes to measure effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 863 expands rights for sexual assault victims in Mississippi by requiring law enforcement to proactively inform them about DNA evidence from their cases. Specifically, it mandates that agencies notify victims within 7 days if DNA profiles were obtained, entered into the state DNA database (CODIS), or matched to known profiles - without compromising ongoing investigations. The bill also requires 60 days' written notice before destroying evidence in unsolved cases, with evidence preserved for 20 years (or until the victim turns 40 if they were minors at the time of the assault). Victims can designate advocates to receive this information, and defendants cannot use non-compliance as grounds to overturn convictions; the sole remedy for violations is a writ of mandamus.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Mississippi's state constitution to explicitly require U.S. citizenship for voting eligibility. It would change Section 241 to state that only U.S. citizens can vote in state elections, directly affecting non-citizen residents who currently have voting rights in Mississippi. The key provision removes any ambiguity by making citizenship a mandatory requirement, replacing the current language that already specified citizenship but lacked explicit emphasis. The ballot explanation for voters would state: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that only citizens of the United States are allowed the opportunity to vote." The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not advance to a statewide vote.

Maddy summaryHB 928 requires all Mississippi hospitals with emergency departments to have at least one qualified healthcare provider (physician, advanced nurse, or nurse practitioner) on duty during every shift who can conduct forensic exams and prepare evidence kits for sexual assault victims. The bill prohibits hospitals from refusing treatment to sexual assault victims and mandates they maintain sufficient evidence kits. It also specifies storage requirements for evidence kits in separate refrigeration units and allows hospitals to contract with forensic nurses for these services. This bill directly affects hospitals operating ERs and ensures timely, specialized medical care for sexual assault survivors in emergency settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1412 creates a pilot grant program to fund dual enrollment courses at Mississippi community colleges for high school students. The Office of Workforce Development will distribute funds to four specific workforce areas (Delta, Twin Districts, Mississippi Partnership, and Southcentral Mississippi) to cover $150 per credit hour for career-focused courses that align with state priority sectors. Community colleges use these grants to offset costs for students enrolled in these dual enrollment programs. The bill requires annual reports tracking student participation, course usage, and program outcomes to state leadership by October 1 each year. This program is designed to expand access to career technical education for students while connecting high school and college pathways.

Maddy summaryHB 1551 creates a Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board within Mississippi's Department of Health to analyze deaths from domestic violence incidents and develop prevention strategies. The board, composed of survivors, advocates, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and other experts, reviews case records (including medical, court, and social services data) from relevant agencies and requires healthcare providers to share medical records with immunity. It must submit biennial reports to legislators detailing fatality statistics, trends, and policy recommendations, while maintaining strict confidentiality for all collected data. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.