Rep. Bryant Clark

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commends Dr. Jennifer K. Young Wallace for her historic election as the fifth African American National President of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) for 2025-2026. It recognizes her as the first ATE president elected who is a graduate and employee of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The resolution has no policy impact beyond this ceremonial recognition and was adopted by the Mississippi House of Representatives. It serves solely to honor Dr. Wallace’s achievement and does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryHB 857 expands Mississippi's literacy program to support students in grades 4 through 8 by requiring evidence-based reading instruction and interventions. It mandates annual universal reading screenings for all students in these grades, professional development for teachers focused on the "science of reading" (including phonics and decoding), and prohibits the use of "three-cueing systems" for teaching word reading. The bill also creates a system to identify "Middle Literacy Support Schools" based on reading data and requires the state education department to develop a structured literacy course for grades 6-8. Schools must provide targeted interventions for struggling readers, and the department must submit annual implementation reports to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 establishes a permanent grant program administered by Mississippi's State Department of Education to fund school facility improvements. It creates a dedicated fund (initially funded by $30 million annually) for public school districts to use on new construction, renovations, career-technical education facilities, or infrastructure upgrades - not athletic facilities - with a $10 million per district cap over five years. Grants prioritize emergency safety needs, health compliance, and energy efficiency, requiring districts to submit applications demonstrating project necessity and local funding capacity. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 522 requires Mississippi state agencies and legislative drafting offices to replace outdated, disrespectful terms like "handicapped," "crippled," or "mentally retarded" with person-centered language such as "persons with disabilities" or "persons with intellectual disabilities" in all new laws, rules, and official documents. It directly affects how state government communicates about disability, mandating that all legislation and agency materials use terminology that "puts the person before the disability." The bill amends over 40 sections of Mississippi law to enforce this language shift, emphasizing that respectful terminology shapes societal attitudes toward people with disabilities. The change applies to all state agencies, legislative drafting, and official rules, without invalidating existing laws that don't yet comply.

Maddy summaryHB 546 requires Mississippi's Governor and Division of Medicaid to negotiate a federal waiver to expand Medicaid coverage. If approved, it would extend coverage to low-income adults aged 19-64 with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL), including parents earning 22-138% FPL. Key provisions include offering at least two private insurance options, capping cost-sharing at 2-5% of income, and creating "Mississippi Healthy Living Accounts" for enrollees earning 50-138% FPL to cover copays. The bill mandates that the state update its Medicaid plan to implement the waiver-approved expansion after CMS approval.

Maddy summaryHB 505 creates the Mississippi Special Needs Housing Steering Council to develop and oversee a new state housing program. The council, composed of state agency leaders and community advocates (including a resident representative), will assist the Mississippi Home Corporation in designing housing solutions for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and other special needs populations - such as formerly incarcerated persons, people with HIV/AIDS, or homeless families - as defined by the council. Key provisions require the program to provide bridge funding and community-integrated housing, with funding sourced from the Mississippi Affordable Housing Development Fund or a dedicated sustainable source. The bill establishes a formal structure for coordination but does not directly change existing housing laws or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 433 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a uniform policy for residency requirements for students in public schools. This policy must be adopted and followed by all local school boards across the state. The bill clarifies that this uniform policy does not change existing parental rights to legally transfer children between school districts under current law (as outlined in sections 37-15-29 and 37-15-31). It specifically preserves parents' ability to transfer children based on circumstances like military service, sibling transfers, or transportation distance. The bill does not alter transfer procedures but standardizes the residency rules school boards must apply.

Maddy summaryHB 402 creates a framework allowing two or more cities within a single Mississippi county to form a joint police department. It requires city leaders to pass a resolution determining the joint department serves the best interests of residents, considering factors like cost efficiency and service quality. The joint department would be governed by a board composed of each participating city's mayor and the county sheriff, which handles hiring, budgets, equipment, and operations. This law directly affects municipalities seeking to consolidate police services and the county sheriff's office, providing a structured process for collaboration while specifying funding and governance mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1237 (Community and junior colleges; expand workforce development partnerships) would have created a 21st Century Employment Grant Program requiring Mississippi community/junior colleges to partner with workforce organizations, manufacturers, healthcare providers, and technology businesses to develop job-training programs. It mandated that grant recipients create plans outlining specific graduate goals, teach 12 key professional skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving), offer at least six industry-recognized certificates, and secure private-sector funding up to 40% of program costs. The bill directly affected community colleges, students seeking job-ready skills, and local employers needing trained workers. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 430 removes end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment facilities from Mississippi's Certificate of Need (CON) law requirements. This bill amends Section 41-7-173 of the Mississippi Code to exclude ESRD facilities from needing state approval for new services, expansions, or major equipment purchases under the health care CON process. The change directly affects dialysis centers and specialized kidney treatment facilities by eliminating their requirement to obtain a certificate of need before making capital investments or expanding services. This simplifies regulatory requirements for these facilities without altering other CON law provisions.