Rep. Jody Steverson

Maddy summaryThis bill is a symbolic resolution commending Jim Ellis for his 46-year career as the play-by-play announcer for Mississippi State University baseball. It formally recognizes his service, including calling 11 College World Series appearances and multiple SEC championships, and honors his retirement. The resolution has no policy impact - it solely expresses legislative appreciation through a formal commendation. It directly affects no individuals or entities beyond acknowledging Ellis's contributions to MSU athletics.

Maddy summaryHB 523 reallocates $6.97 million from the Mississippi Main Street Revitalization Grant Program Fund to the Mississippi Development Authority for grants to 15 designated communities. The funds will support specific downtown revitalization projects, including Amory’s downtown district improvements, Biloxi’s creative district initiative, and Hattiesburg’s welcome center. These grants are for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026) and directly benefit participating communities by funding infrastructure, historic building restoration, and public space enhancements. The bill is a procedural funding allocation with no new policy provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1719 exempts admissions charged at athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This change directly affects colleges, universities, and event organizers hosting intercollegiate sporting events, removing the standard tax on ticket sales for these games. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code (Section 27-65-22) to explicitly exclude such admissions from taxation, aligning with existing exemptions for similar events listed in the law. It does not create new taxes or funding mechanisms but clarifies that these specific admissions are not subject to the state sales tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1720 modifies Mississippi's income tax law to exclude forgiven or canceled federal student loan debt from taxable "gross income" for eligible residents. Specifically, it applies to individuals who received debt forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and served or currently serve in an underserved or rural community as defined by the Mississippi Department of Health or USDA. The bill amends Section 27-7-15 of the Mississippi Code to add this exclusion, ensuring such forgiven debt does not increase state tax liability. This change directly affects Mississippi residents working in qualifying public service roles who benefited from federal student loan forgiveness.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 8) passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives. It formally commends and congratulates the Ripley High School Boys Golf Team for winning the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship in 2024, marking their third consecutive title. The resolution recognizes the team's achievement, their coach (Nik Wilcher), and their sportsmanship, as documented in the House's official record. It does not create new policy or affect any laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1228 modifies Mississippi construction licensing and permitting rules. It allows certain counties to opt out of requiring permits for construction in unincorporated areas and permits some municipalities to do the same within city limits. The bill also increases the monetary threshold for when home remodeling work requires a contractor license (from $500 to $1,000), affecting homeowners and small remodelers. Additionally, it creates an alternative licensing process for the State Board of Contractors. These changes primarily impact local governments, residential builders, and remodelers by altering permit requirements and licensing thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 923 requires businesses licensed to sell alcohol (like bars and restaurants) to use a third-party age-verification app after a third violation of selling to minors within 12 months. The app must meet at least 85% national accuracy standards and be used on premises to confirm customers are 21 or older. This adds to existing penalties, including fines, permit suspensions, or revocation for repeat offenses. The bill directly affects licensed alcohol sellers with multiple underage sale violations, aiming to prevent underage access through mandatory technology verification. It does not change penalties for minors or other aspects of the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1599 revises Mississippi's legal definition of "beer" to mean malt beverages with 0.5% to 8% alcohol by weight, directly affecting breweries, distributors, and state regulators under alcohol laws. It clarifies related terms like "light wine" (≤5% alcohol) and "light spirit product" (≤6% alcohol), while updating limits for "small craft breweries" (60,000 barrels annually) and "microbreweries" (3,000 barrels). The bill also specifies requirements for "growlers" (sealed containers ≤128 ounces) and "contract-brewed beer." The legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never took effect.

Maddy summaryHB 938 transfers administration of Mississippi's Main Street Revitalization Grant Program from the Mississippi Development Authority to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. It increases the annual grant limit per community (currently capped at $750,000) and allows the Department of Archives and History to allocate up to 2% of program funds to the Mississippi Main Street Association for administrative costs. The bill directly affects Mississippi communities with Main Street programs (including designated, network, and associate communities) seeking downtown revitalization funding. Key provisions clarify grant eligibility, matching fund requirements based on community size, and establish a dedicated state fund for the program.

Maddy summaryHB 915 would create the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a state-administered retirement savings initiative for employers without existing retirement plans. It allows eligible employees at these employers to voluntarily contribute to Roth IRAs via payroll deductions, managed by a board under the State Treasurer. The program mandates Roth IRA accounts with target-date investments, requires employers to offer payroll deduction options, and provides liability protection for participating employers and the state. This directly affects Mississippi employers (excluding government entities and those with existing retirement plans) and their employees, particularly those without access to employer-sponsored retirement savings.