Rep. Rob Roberson

Maddy summaryHB 1495 authorizes the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and Mississippi State University (MSU) to jointly build, maintain, or operate primary and secondary schools on MSU’s campus or within the school district. The bill allows both entities to transfer funds to each other for these shared facilities under mutually agreed terms. It directly affects students attending these jointly operated schools and the districts/university managing them. The key mechanism enables collaborative use of physical facilities and shared funding, aiming to streamline educational infrastructure without specifying new programs or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally commends JoHelen "Joey" Walker for her historic election as the first woman and African American to serve as Tax Assessor and Collector of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The resolution recognizes her achievements in breaking gender and racial barriers in county government and highlights her background in public service, including her experience as a deputy clerk. It does not create new laws or policy changes but serves as an official acknowledgment of her contributions to the community and her role in modernizing tax office operations. The resolution directs that copies be sent to Ms. Walker and the Capitol Press Corps.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi House resolution formally recognizes and congratulates 25 high school and middle school coaches selected for the 2025-2026 class of the Tomorrow's 25 Coaching Fellowship. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of these individuals chosen by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and Mississippi High School Activities Association. Copies of the resolution will be distributed to the selected coaches, the organizations that selected them, and local media outlets. The measure highlights the program's goal of developing leadership skills in athletic coaches to benefit student-athletes and communities across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1049 consolidates and reorganizes existing Mississippi laws related to wastewater systems into a single, coherent chapter of the state code. It affects rural communities using individual on-site wastewater disposal systems (like septic tanks), certified installers, manufacturers, and the Mississippi State Department of Health. The bill brings together scattered provisions covering definitions (such as "individual on-site wastewater disposal system"), certification requirements for installers and pumpers, system types (conventional, advanced, cluster), and regulatory processes. It does not create new rules but reorganizes current laws for clarity and easier reference, ensuring rural water systems remain regulated under a unified framework. This streamlining helps local authorities and system operators navigate existing requirements more efficiently.

Maddy summaryHB 1736 requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to study how common dyslexia is among inmates under its care. The MDOC must screen inmates using approved methods, collect anonymized demographic and educational data, and analyze links between dyslexia and factors like disciplinary history or recidivism. The study must comply with privacy laws (HIPAA/FERPA), allow inmates to opt out without penalty, and result in a 2026 report to the legislature with findings and recommendations for supporting inmates with dyslexia. This affects all inmates in Mississippi state prisons during the study period.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 increases base teacher salaries by $5,000 annually starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with an additional $3,000 annual supplement for licensed special education teachers and $6,000 for certified occupational therapists and school psychologists. It also raises assistant teachers' pay by $5,000 and caps superintendent salaries at 250% of equivalent teacher pay, including district supplements. The bill includes related provisions for retirement benefits for first responders and revised roles for student success coaches, but its core focus is direct compensation increases for educators.

Maddy summaryHB 1528 revises Mississippi's teacher licensure requirements by removing minimum academic barriers for entering educator preparation programs. It eliminates the need for a 21 ACT score, SAT equivalent, Praxis passing score, or 3.0 GPA to begin training, making entry more accessible for prospective teachers. The bill also requires participants in the Teach Mississippi Institute to complete two 6-hour internships and allows up to 15 credit hours toward a provisional teaching license. These changes directly affect individuals pursuing teaching careers in Mississippi, particularly those in traditional and non-traditional educator preparation programs. The policy shifts aim to streamline entry into teaching while adding structured internship components.

Maddy summaryHB 1867 allocates $150,000 from the State General Fund to the existing Economic Development and Infrastructure Fund for fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). This is a straightforward funding increase for the fund established under Mississippi Code § 57-1-501, with no new policy changes or direct impacts on specific groups. The bill specifies that funds will be paid by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions and takes effect July 1, 2026. As a procedural appropriation, it does not alter the fund’s purpose or usage.

Maddy summaryHB 4009 exempts admissions charged for athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This directly affects colleges and universities that charge admission to intercollegiate sporting events. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code to explicitly include these admissions under the existing exemption listed in Section 27-65-22(3)(c), removing them from the standard sales tax calculation. The change applies only to admissions for games between educational institutions, not to professional sports or other event types covered under separate exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 606, the Retailer Tax Fairness Act, allows Mississippi retailers to reduce their state and local sales tax bills by 2.5% for transactions where they pay credit or debit card processing fees (interchange fees). It applies to all electronic payments (credit/debit cards) where merchants incur these fees to card networks. The credit covers taxes collected under specific state sales tax codes and local taxes on hotels, motels, and restaurants. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.