Rep. Scott Bounds

Maddy summaryHB 1791 proposed reassigning $2.47 million from Mississippi's Education Enhancement Fund to expand nursing programs at Mississippi University for Women (MUW) for fiscal year 2026. The bill would have covered costs associated with MUW's nursing program expansion as specified in prior legislation. However, the bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law. This funding was intended to directly support MUW's nursing program, faculty, and students, but no actual appropriation occurred.

Maddy summaryHB 1919 allocated $2.5 million from the state's Capital Expense Fund to Neshoba County General Hospital for costs related to building an allied health facility partnered with Mississippi University for Women (MUW). This funding was intended for the fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026) to support the facility's construction or operational expenses. The bill directly affected Neshoba County General Hospital and MUW by providing state financial assistance for this specific project. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1065 clarifies how Mississippi's Public Utilities Staff is funded by removing it from the list of state agencies funded through the general state budget. The bill requires utilities to pay a small tax (0.164% of gross revenue) directly into a dedicated "Public Utilities Staff Regulation Fund" to cover the staff's operational costs, rather than relying on state appropriations. This allows utilities to pass these tax costs to consumers through rate adjustments. The bill explicitly states that the Public Utilities Staff is not funded from the state general fund under Mississippi's budget transparency law, changing its financial structure. (Note: The bill died on the calendar in February 2025 and did not become law.)

Maddy summaryHB 1099 removes the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) from requirements that its expenses be funded by state appropriations. Instead, it amends laws to require the PSC to cover its costs using fees it collects, depositing these into the existing "Public Service Commission Regulation Fund" rather than the state general fund. This change affects the PSC (which regulates utilities like gas, water, and electricity) and shifts its funding mechanism from annual state budget allocations to self-generated fees. The bill deletes all prior provisions mandating that the PSC’s expenses be paid from the state general fund, while preserving its dedicated fee-based funding structure.

Maddy summaryHB 1331 would restructure the nine-member board governing Mississippi's Department of Archives and History, effective July 1, 2025. It specifies that eight board members must be appointed from the state's four congressional districts (two from each district as they existed on that date), plus one at-large member appointed by the Governor with Senate approval. The bill establishes staggered initial terms for the reconstituted board and requires all future appointments to serve six-year terms, while current board members would serve one-year terms upon the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1103 would require Mississippi's Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to be reimbursed from the state General Fund for revenue lost due to statutory discounts on hunting/fishing licenses, park admissions, and related fees (like boat rentals or campgrounds). The department would need to track these lost revenues annually and submit an accounting by June 30 each year, prompting the Department of Finance to transfer funds to the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund within 30 days. This would apply only to discounts issued on or after July 1, 2025, and the bill expired in committee on February 4, 2025 without becoming law. The measure aimed to offset financial impacts on conservation programs from discounted fees.

Maddy summaryHB 258 increases Mississippi's public purchasing threshold for requiring competitive bidding from $10,000 to $15,000. This means state agencies, local governments, and schools can now make purchases under $15,000 without seeking competitive bids, streamlining smaller procurement. The bill amends Section 31-7-13 and related sections of Mississippi's procurement code to implement this change. It directly affects all public entities that make routine purchases below the new threshold.

Maddy summaryHB 1554 is a procedural bill that reorganizes existing sections of Mississippi's Nonprofit Corporation Act (currently codified as sections 79-11-101 through 79-11-159, 79-11-171 through 79-11-373, and 79-11-381 through 79-11-407) into a new sequence for clarity. It does not change any substantive rules or fees for nonprofits but updates the code structure to make the act easier to navigate. This reorganization affects all nonprofits and foreign corporations operating under Mississippi's nonprofit laws, as they will now reference the updated section numbering for filings and compliance. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and had no effect on current nonprofit operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 revises the funding allocation for Neshoba County General Hospital's allied health facility project, which was initially included in the 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund. The bill specifically adjusts the provision to ensure $1,000,000 in state funds is properly directed toward the hospital's allied health facility development in conjunction with Mississippi University for Women. This is a technical correction to the original appropriation language, not a new policy. The bill directly affects Neshoba County General Hospital and its partnership with Mississippi University for Women.

Maddy summaryHB 259 prohibits discarding dead wildlife, parts, or waste on streets, roads, waterways, or private property without permission. If convicted, hunters face automatic revocation of their hunting license for one year, along with mandatory cleanup, property restoration, or community service for first offenses. The law directly affects licensed hunters who violate this dumping rule, with second offenses triggering the same license suspension. It amends Mississippi Code § 97-15-32 to enforce these penalties through the Wildlife Commission.