Maddy summaryHB 1771 appropriates $1.43 billion from state funds to cover the Mississippi Department of Transportation's (MDT) administrative expenses and core operations for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The funds are allocated to specific MDT programs, including $986 million for construction, $265 million for maintenance, and $63 million for administration, with additional transfers of $650,000 to the Department of Agriculture for beaver control and $5 million to the Department of Public Safety for commercial transportation enforcement. The bill restricts personnel spending to filling vacancies (not salary increases or promotions) and requires MDT to track expenses against projected costs, with strict reporting to the legislature. It also mandates detailed accounting records matching fiscal year 2025 standards for all fund usage.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1768 appropriates over $5.2 billion in state funds for Mississippi's K-12 education system and related programs for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It allocates $2.95 billion from the State General Fund and $2.28 billion from special funds to cover operations of the State Department of Education, vocational and technical education, and the Mississippi Student Funding Formula. Key provisions include $16 million for school district capital facilities and buses, $25 million for instructional materials, and specific funding for literacy initiatives, special needs programs, and the Mississippi Eye Screening Program. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools, students, and the State Department of Education, including payments to Chickasaw Cession counties for lost land compensation.
Maddy summaryHB 1767 appropriates $1,562,907 from the State General Fund and $2,690,000 from a special fund (including $1.49 million from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the Mississippi Arts Commission’s expenses for fiscal year 2026. The funds support the Commission’s operations, staff positions (10 permanent, 2 time-limited), and specific programs like educator training, public school arts grants, and the "Whole Schools Initiative." Strict rules govern spending, including limits on salary increases, requirements to maintain detailed records, and prohibitions on using state funds to replace federal or special funds. The bill ensures all spending complies with state appropriation laws and specifies that $1.49 million must be used for designated education and program activities.
Maddy summaryHB 1472 clarifies how Mississippi's Department of Child Protection Services (DCPS) may spend federal funds and which court-ordered expenses it can cover for children in custody. The bill requires DCPS to use federal funds only as permitted by the original federal funding source, and prohibits paying certain court-ordered expenses - like medical care, attorney fees, counseling, or child care costs - unless specifically authorized by federal funds or a dedicated state budget line. It directly affects DCPS, youth courts, and families involved in child custody cases by restricting payment options for these services. The bill was introduced in 2025 but died in committee on March 4, 2025, and would have expired June 30, 2025.
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 1850 creates a property tax exemption for Mississippi homeowners and property owners whose assessed value increases by more than 5% in a single year starting in 2026. Specifically, the portion of a property's value exceeding a 5% annual increase is exempt from ad valorem (property) taxes, but this exemption does not apply to value increases from construction, renovations, or improvements - except those enhancing energy efficiency, safety, or access. It also excludes the first year when a property's use or classification changes (e.g., from residential to commercial). The bill applies to all property types and adds this exemption to existing tax breaks without altering how property value is calculated.
Maddy summaryHB 1185 authorizes local municipal water authorities and water associations to bottle and sell water sourced from their municipal supplies directly to consumers. The bill requires these entities to comply with all state and federal health, safety, and labeling regulations for bottled water. Revenue from bottled water sales must be reinvested into water infrastructure maintenance and community development projects within the same municipality. This policy change directly affects municipal water providers in Mississippi, enabling them to generate new revenue streams while mandating reinvestment into local water systems.
Maddy summaryHB 921, the MS ROSS Act, would have created a state-funded program to help Mississippi public and accredited private elementary and secondary schools hire School Resource Officers (SROs). The Mississippi Department of Public Safety would have covered increasing percentages of SRO costs (starting at 30% in 2025-2026 and rising to 70% by 2029-2030), with local law enforcement and school boards responsible for the remaining portion, up to a $55,000 annual cap per SRO. Schools and local agencies would have needed to jointly apply for funding and establish agreements to participate. The bill, which died in committee in February 2025, was never enacted into law.
Maddy summaryHB 1443 would amend Mississippi law to authorize courts to pay guardians ad litem a reasonable fee for their services in child welfare cases, such as abuse, neglect, or termination of parental rights proceedings. Currently, the law does not explicitly permit payment for these appointed representatives, so this bill would create a funding mechanism for their work. It also clarifies that a guardian ad litem may serve in a dual role (with an attorney) only if no conflict of interest exists, and if a conflict arises, the court must appoint a separate attorney to represent the child’s preferences. This change directly affects children in juvenile court cases, the guardians ad litem appointed to represent them, and the courts managing these proceedings. The bill died in committee during the 2025 legislative session.
Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses the Mississippi House of Representatives' support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to address border security. The text frames the situation as an invasion and calls for the transport of undocumented individuals back across the border to Mexico. It does not create any new laws or alter federal policy but serves as a symbolic statement of solidarity with Texas. The bill was referred to a committee and did not advance further.