Rep. Bryant Clark

Maddy summaryHB 360 would require most health insurance plans in Mississippi to cover obesity treatments for residents with a body mass index (BMI) 30% above their ideal weight, when a physician certifies the treatment as medically necessary. This includes coverage for bariatric surgeries, gastric bypass, lap band procedures, and obesity screening tests. Insurers could not charge additional deductibles or coinsurance beyond standard levels for these treatments, and providers would receive reimbursement at least equal to Medicare rates. The law would apply to individual and group health plans issued or renewed after July 1, 2025, directly affecting insurers and Mississippi residents seeking obesity-related care.

Maddy summaryHB 439 requires all public school students in Mississippi Grade 9 to take a comprehensive Mississippi History course. The course must cover the state's history from colonization to the present, with specific focus on 19th- and 20th-century political, social, economic, and cultural issues affecting Mississippi's diverse populations. This policy applies to every public high school in the state and mandates the curriculum be implemented starting July 1, 2025. The bill aims to standardize historical education for ninth graders across Mississippi's public school system.

Maddy summaryHB 1233 would allow Mississippi public school board members who receive an annual salary (ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 based on district size) to join the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Currently, these members are barred from PERS membership, but the bill would let them elect to join by simply notifying their school district and the retirement system. The change applies only to board members who choose salary compensation over per diem pay, with no impact on existing per diem members. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 441 authorizes Mississippi public school districts to hire licensed social workers and psychologists to support students. School districts that employ at least one social worker or psychologist for every 1,000 enrolled students qualify for 50% state reimbursement of their salaries through the State Department of Education. The bill requires districts to apply for reimbursement via the superintendent, with funds paid directly to the district. This aims to expand mental health support in schools by reducing financial barriers for districts to hire these professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 1597 proposes a Medicaid waiver to create "Healthy Mississippi Works" (HMW), targeting low-income adults aged 19-64 with income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. To qualify, individuals must work at least 80 hours monthly, be full-time students, or participate in workforce training - excluding those offered employer insurance or non-citizens. The plan requires all enrollees to receive services through managed care organizations, pay copayments for nonemergency ER visits (waived with pre-visit nurse hotline contact), and includes work-support services like job training. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 357 would allow Mississippi residents with driver's licenses suspended for failing to pay child support to apply for a hardship license. To qualify, applicants must prove their license suspension would prevent them from working, provide documentation (including a recommendation from the Mississippi Department of Human Services), and pay a $25 fee. The hardship license would permit driving only to work and religious services, last four years, and look distinct from a regular license. It explicitly prohibits commercial vehicle operation and amends existing license fee and term laws. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and is not currently law.

Maddy summaryHB 56, the "Joint Municipal Law Enforcement Act," allows two or more municipalities in counties with seven or more municipalities to form a shared police department if their local leaders determine it serves the community best. It establishes a governing board composed of each participating municipality's mayor and the county sheriff, which handles hiring, budgets, equipment, and policy for the joint department. The bill outlines a process where municipalities must adopt a resolution, gain mutual approval, and file with the Secretary of State to create the department. This directly affects qualifying municipalities seeking potential cost savings and more efficient law enforcement through shared resources.

Maddy summaryHB 1234 requires Mississippi's State Board of Education to create a mandatory civics curriculum for all public middle and high schools, to be implemented by the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must cover five key areas: foundational U.S. government, civic knowledge, critical thinking skills, citizenship responsibilities (like voting and jury duty), and respectful participation in democracy. It specifically mandates teaching constitutional principles, how citizens engage with government, and skills for informed civic action. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, so it has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates legal immunity for Mississippi parents or guardians who voluntarily turn in firearms they found in their minor child's (under 18) possession. It allows them to surrender the guns to law enforcement without providing ID, fingerprints, or payment, and police must destroy the firearms if not needed as evidence. The law applies to any firearm the minor owned, controlled, or possessed - regardless of whether it was used in a crime. It does not cover firearms intended for inmate contraband.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that asks the Library of Congress to replace two existing statues in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection with new ones honoring Senator Hiram Revels and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. Currently, Mississippi's contribution to the collection features statues of Jefferson Davis and James Zachariah George, which the bill proposes to remove to better reflect the state's modern values. The resolution does not change any laws or budgets but serves as a formal request to update the historical figures represented in the Capitol. If approved, the state of Mississippi would officially swap its current statues for these new ones to celebrate the achievements of Revels and Hamer.