Maddy summaryHB 1427, the "Mississippi Anti-Lynching Act," would have created a standalone felony for lynching - defined as a discriminatory killing by two or more people under the pretext of administering justice - and established life imprisonment without parole for this offense. Key provisions include mandatory independent prosecutors for suspected cases, statewide tracking of suspicious deaths (including those initially classified as suicide or accident), psychological autopsies, family rights to independent pathologists, and civil lawsuits for survivors. The bill directly affects victims of discriminatory violence, families seeking justice, law enforcement, and prosecutors through new reporting requirements and accountability measures. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1421 requires all coroners elected in Mississippi on or after July 1, 2026, to complete 50 hours of approved training from the CDC's Collaborating Office for Medical Examiners and Coroners before taking office. The training can be completed online or in person, and coroners must submit proof of completion to the county clerk and board of supervisors. Failure to meet this requirement would disqualify a coroner from taking the oath of office. This bill directly affects future elected coroners in Mississippi by establishing new professional training standards for their roles.
Maddy summaryHB 1431 would have amended Mississippi's marijuana possession penalties by changing the punishment for possessing less than 3.5 ounces. Under the proposed change, individuals convicted of possessing under this amount would be immediately released after serving any time already spent in custody ("time served"), eliminating additional jail terms. The bill specifically targets simple possession cases (not sales or distribution) and applies only to amounts under 3.5 ounces. This bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1425 would have allowed each Mississippi state legislator to hire a part-time legislative assistant to work either at the State Capitol or in their home district for the duration of their term. The bill required the Legislature to appropriate funds for these positions and would have taken effect on July 1, 2026. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not advance to become law. This procedural bill directly affected elected legislators by authorizing a new staff resource, but no funding or implementation occurred.
Maddy summaryHB 1429, "The Law Enforcement Integrity Act," would require state, county, and municipal governments to be financially liable when their peace officers (including police, sheriffs, and state troopers) violate constitutional rights under color of law. It overrides governmental immunity doctrines, caps damages at $2 million per case, and mandates that employers cover legal costs for officers unless the officer acted without a good-faith belief the action was lawful (in which case the officer pays up to $25,000). The bill also sets a 3-year statute of limitations, prohibits punitive damages and class actions, and allows prevailing plaintiffs to recover attorney fees. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 1422 would require future Mississippi county coroners (elected or appointed after July 1, 2027) to hold a bachelor's degree or higher in specific fields like forensic science, criminal justice, or medicine. Current coroners serving on July 1, 2027, who lack such a degree could continue in their roles without meeting the new requirement. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, would have amended Mississippi law to set this education standard for the office. It directly affects individuals seeking the coroner position after the 2027 effective date, not current officeholders.
Maddy summaryHB 1424 would require Mississippi’s Department of Corrections (MDOC) to create a neutral, nonpartisan voter education course covering registration, voting procedures, and civic responsibilities. It mandates this course as a release condition for offenders convicted of vote fraud or specific disenfranchising crimes (listed in Mississippi Constitution Section 241 or defined by Attorney General opinions). The bill also automatically restores voting rights for these individuals upon release from MDOC custody, removing prior barriers that required separate legal action. This directly affects incarcerated people convicted of the specified offenses, ensuring their voting rights are reinstated without additional steps after completing their sentences.
Maddy summaryHC 39 is a proposed constitutional amendment (referred to the Constitution committee but died there in February 2026) that would remove all voting restrictions based on past criminal convictions from Mississippi's Constitution. If passed, it would amend Section 241 to eliminate the current disqualification for individuals convicted of "disenfranchising crimes," allowing all eligible residents (meeting age, citizenship, residency, and registration requirements) to vote regardless of past criminal history. The bill directly affects Mississippi residents with prior felony convictions who otherwise qualify to vote under existing state law. The amendment would require voter approval in the November 2026 election, as specified in the resolution.
Maddy summaryHB 1428 would amend Mississippi's statutory rape law to create a rebuttable presumption that consensual sexual activity between two secondary school students (grades 7-12) in a dating relationship does not constitute statutory rape. Prosecutors would need to prove the relationship was not consensual to pursue charges in such cases. This change specifically applies only when both individuals were enrolled as secondary school students at the time of the alleged offense. The bill, which died in committee in 2026, would have taken effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 1446, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would create a Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to prevent voter suppression and protect voting rights. It prohibits political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and state agencies from implementing election policies that disproportionately affect racial, ethnic, or language minority voters, requiring such policies to be reviewed by the Commission before implementation. The bill also mandates protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities, requires advance notice of election policy changes, and establishes a statewide voting database with universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.