Rep. Kabir Karriem

Maddy summaryHB 412 would require Mississippi Medicaid to cover newborn circumcision procedures for eligible infants. This bill directly affects Medicaid-eligible newborns and their families by making this routine medical procedure fully covered, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for parents. The key mechanism is amending Section 43-13-117 of the Mississippi Code to explicitly add neonatal circumcision to the list of covered services under Medicaid. This change would apply to all newborns in Mississippi enrolled in Medicaid, ensuring consistent coverage without additional authorization.

Maddy summaryHB 413 would automatically restore voting rights to Mississippi residents convicted of certain non-violent felonies (excluding arson, armed robbery, carjacking, embezzlement over $5,000, murder, rape, or statutory rape) once they complete all sentencing requirements. It would also automatically expunge eligible felony records from state databases five years after completing all terms of conviction, without requiring additional applications. The bill mandates circuit clerks to notify the Mississippi Criminal Information Center of expungement orders, requiring the Department of Public Safety to remove related criminal history data within 45 days. This applies to individuals with specific felony convictions who have satisfied all court-imposed conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 404 would add a second victim assistance coordinator position specifically for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court District. This coordinator would help victims of crime understand and access their legal rights, working with prosecutors, law enforcement, and courts. The position would be funded jointly by counties in the district (paid pro rata), with salaries capped at the rate for criminal investigators. The bill aimed to expand victim support services in the 16th Circuit but died in committee before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 405 amends Mississippi's statutory rape law to create a rebuttable presumption that the crime was not committed if both parties were in a consensual relationship while enrolled as secondary school students (grades 7-12). This specifically affects cases involving dating teenagers in high school or middle school, shifting the burden to prove the relationship was non-consensual or that the students weren't enrolled together. The key provision adds Section (1)(c) to the statute, requiring proof of a consensual relationship and shared enrollment to rebut the presumption. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 410 would have required Mississippi's State Board of Education to create two new high school curricula: a civics course teaching U.S. citizenship responsibilities (to be implemented by 2027-2028) and a home economics course covering parenting, family skills, child development, nutrition, and health (to begin in 2026-2027). The bill directly affected all Mississippi public high schools and their students by mandating these specific subjects be added to existing curricula. It died in committee on February 3, 2026, meaning it did not become law and these requirements were never implemented. The proposed changes focused on concrete curriculum development, not broader policy shifts.

Maddy summaryHB 406 creates a hardship driver's license for Mississippi residents whose regular license was suspended due to unpaid child support. To qualify, applicants must prove hardship (like job loss) through court review and provide documentation, including a recommendation from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The license costs $25, is valid for four years, and restricts driving only to work or religious services - no commercial vehicles allowed. It also requires the license to look distinct from a standard license and updates fee structures for hardship licenses in state law.

Maddy summaryHB 407 would remove Robert E. Lee's birthday (previously observed as Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April) from Mississippi's list of legal state holidays. It would also ensure the third Monday of January is exclusively recognized as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, with no other holiday observed on that date. This change would eliminate the state holiday on the last Monday of April, affecting government offices, public schools, and businesses that observe state holidays. The bill does not alter the existing holiday for Jefferson Davis' birthday, which remains part of the last Monday of May.

Maddy summaryHB 409 would expand Mississippi's Medicaid program to cover low-income adults under age 65 who are not pregnant, not enrolled in Medicare, and have household income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (approximately $19,000 annually for an individual). This would directly affect working-age adults who currently do not qualify for Medicaid under Mississippi's existing eligibility rules. The bill amends Section 43-13-115 of Mississippi law to add this new coverage category, aligning with federal Affordable Care Act provisions. It would provide health insurance for approximately 100,000 additional Mississippi residents who previously fell into a coverage gap.

Maddy summaryHB 527 establishes Mississippi's minimum wage at $15.00 per hour for most workers, with tipped employees receiving a base wage of $3.62 per hour (plus tips to reach $15). It requires overtime pay at 1.5x the regular rate for employees earning $455 or less weekly, specifically exempting manual laborers, first responders, and certain other roles from overtime exemptions. The bill also references existing Mississippi Code sections for potential amendments related to wage laws. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 416 creates a state-funded Youth Employment Grant Program to help Mississippi municipalities pay for full-time or productive jobs for youth aged 16-24 who are enrolled in school (high school or college) or planning to enroll. Municipalities must submit a detailed employment plan - including at least 10% of work time focused on life skills like communication and leadership - and provide 20% of the grant amount as matching funds to qualify. The program will be administered by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security using a special state treasury fund financed by legislative appropriations, with unspent funds rolling over annually. This initiative directly supports local youth employment opportunities while requiring municipalities to document project details and employment outcomes.