Rep. Carl Mickens

Maddy summaryHB 1656, the STRONG Act, would provide tax benefits and health care support for Mississippi National Guard members and their families. It increases income tax exemptions for Guard and Reserve members, creates a $250 annual credit against motor vehicle taxes for service members and their spouses, and establishes a program to reimburse National Guard members for Tricare Reserve Select health insurance premiums. The Adjutant General would administer the program and report its progress to the legislature. The bill passed the legislature in February 2025 but died on calendar before becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 1255 increases the homestead property tax exemption for Mississippi homeowners aged 65 or older. Starting January 1, 2026, qualifying seniors will receive an exemption covering up to $12,500 of their home's assessed value (up from the current $7,500 limit for this group). This applies to primary residences (homestead property) and reduces property taxes levied for both school districts and county general funds. The change affects Mississippi residents aged 65+ who own and occupy their primary home as of the tax year.

Maddy summaryHB 1867 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund specific road improvement projects in Noxubee County. The bill directs that bond proceeds must be used exclusively for completing these county road projects, with the state guaranteeing repayment from its treasury if needed. Noxubee County taxpayers and residents would directly benefit from the improved infrastructure. The bonds would be sold through the State Bond Commission and are exempt from state taxation. This is a funding mechanism, not a policy change affecting broader state programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1848 allocated $4 million from the state general fund to Noxubee County's Board of Supervisors to fund four specific road projects across the county (Gillespie Road, Macon-Lynn Creek Road East, Dorroh Hill Road, and Macon-Lynn Creek Road West), with $1 million designated per project for fiscal year 2025-2026. The funds were intended to cover costs associated with completing these road improvements, which directly affect residents and infrastructure in those specific districts. The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee on February 21, 2025, but died in committee on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1869 is a funding bill that allocates $200,000 to four specific fire departments in Winston County's District 4 (Betheden, East Winston, Highpoint, and Louisville Volunteer Fire Departments) for equipment purchases and facility improvements during fiscal year 2026. The bill provides $50,000 per department to cover costs for new fire trucks, upgraded training facilities, thermal imaging cameras, or replacing outdated equipment. It was referred to the Appropriations committee but died there on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law. This is a procedural funding measure targeting direct operational needs of local volunteer fire departments.

Maddy summaryHB 1847 appropriates $2,000,000 from the state general fund to Noxubee County’s Board of Supervisors for developing a 100-acre multi-industrial site. The funds cover specific costs like site preparation, utility installation, access road construction, and environmental compliance for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). This bill directly supports Noxubee County’s economic development efforts by reducing upfront costs for industrial infrastructure. The bill was referred to the Appropriations committee but died there on February 26, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1868 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund specific development costs for a 100-acre multi-industrial site in Noxubee County. The bonds would cover site preparation, utility installation, access road construction, and environmental compliance, directly benefiting Noxubee County by reducing its upfront development costs. The bill specifies that bond proceeds must be used solely for these infrastructure expenses and that the state would guarantee repayment through its general funds. The bill died in the Ways and Means committee on February 26, 2025, and did not advance further.

Maddy summaryHB 1870 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds to provide funds to Winston County for specific fire department upgrades. The bill directs equal funding to four Winston County volunteer fire departments (Betheden, East Winston, Highpoint, and Louisville) to cover equipment purchases and facility improvements. It creates a process for bond issuance and repayment using state general obligation funds, with proceeds restricted solely to these fire department needs. The bill does not alter existing fire department operations but provides dedicated funding for capital improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 1778 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to fund road improvements at the intersection of Dale Drive and NE Industrial Park Drive in the Town of Marion. The bonds, backed by the state's full credit, would provide direct financial assistance to Marion for construction, reconstruction, or upgrades at that specific location. Proceeds from the bond sale must be used exclusively for these road projects, with the State Bond Commission handling issuance and sale. This is a procedural funding mechanism, not a substantive policy change, and the bill died in committee without becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 391 allocates $200,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for updating the basic jail officer training curriculum. This funding supports the Board on Jail Officer Standards and Training in revising its course materials for fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). The bill does not create new requirements but provides resources to modernize existing training standards for jail officers. It directly affects the state's jail officer training program and the Board on Jail Officer Standards and Training.