Maddy summaryHB 703 requires Mississippi state agencies to reserve at least 5% of annual commodity purchases for businesses owned by veterans and people with disabilities, expanding an existing requirement that previously applied only to minority-owned businesses. This law amends public purchasing regulations to explicitly include veteran- and disability-owned businesses as eligible for set-aside contracts, while maintaining existing bidding rules (e.g., lowest bid must be accepted unless 2% higher than a qualified minority bid). The policy affects all state agencies purchasing goods, ensuring these businesses can compete for a portion of procurement contracts. The bill does not change the 20% maximum set-aside cap for minority businesses or alter the process for awarding contracts.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 793 automatically restores voting rights for individuals convicted of vote fraud or specific crimes listed in the state constitution (Section 241) or interpreted as disenfranchising by past Attorney General opinions, once they complete all sentencing requirements like fines or probation. The bill amends multiple election laws to ensure voting rights are restored without requiring additional steps or applications after sentence completion. This directly affects people with prior convictions for these offenses who otherwise meet voter eligibility criteria (e.g., citizenship, residency). The change applies to all convictions, including those from prior court rulings, and updates systems that track voter eligibility. The bill does not alter the initial suspension of voting rights upon conviction.
Maddy summaryHB 808 increases the minimum salary for Mississippi public school teachers and assistant teachers by $7,500 annually, effective for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond. It also mandates a $7,500 salary increase for full-time professors and instructors at state colleges and universities. School districts must maintain local pay supplements and cannot pay assistant teachers below the new state minimum, with funding penalties for non-compliance. The bill directly affects public school teachers, assistant teachers, and higher education faculty in Mississippi.
Maddy summaryHB 869, the "One Fair Wage Act," establishes a phased increase in Mississippi's minimum wage for most workers, starting at $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2027, rising to $17.50 by 2030, and then adjusting annually based on the Consumer Price Index. It specifically addresses tipped employees by allowing employers to pay a lower base wage (as low as $12.00/hour in 2028) if total wages plus tips meet the minimum wage requirement, with the tip credit phasing out entirely by 2029. The law applies to most employers and employees in Mississippi, excluding state government, the U.S. government, tribal entities, and certain domestic workers. It explicitly states that federal law takes precedence and ensures the wage schedule is prospective, not retroactive.
Maddy summaryHB 1437 requires Mississippi's State Department of Health to annually identify food deserts and associated health issues through a report to the legislature by December 31 each year. A "food desert" is defined as an area with at least 20% poverty where over one-third of residents live more than a mile from a supermarket or healthy food provider, limiting access to fresh produce. The department may use existing federal data to meet this reporting requirement, avoiding redundant data collection. This bill aims to provide transparency on food access gaps and their health impacts, directly affecting communities in underserved areas and informing future policy decisions.
Maddy summaryHB 1504 establishes that every individual in Mississippi has a property right to their name, likeness, and voice, including for 10 years after death. It defines "commercial use" broadly to cover advertising and marketing, and specifically addresses digital technology like AI-generated voice replicas and digital depictions. The bill requires written consent with legal representation for commercial use of digital replicas (or court approval for minors) and sets liability: $50,000 per violation for unauthorized distribution of cloning services, and $5,000 per violation for unauthorized digital voice or likeness use. It directly affects all Mississippi residents (living and deceased) and businesses using personal identifiers commercially, particularly in digital or AI contexts.
Maddy summaryHB 1524 redraws Mississippi's four congressional districts based on 2022 county boundaries and 2020 Census data. It directly affects all Mississippi voters by defining which district they reside in for federal elections, determining their representative in Congress. The bill specifies exact county and precinct boundaries for each district, using the 2020 Census redistricting data as the geographic foundation. This is a procedural redistricting bill focused solely on defining district lines, not on policy changes affecting residents' rights or services.
Maddy summaryHB 1503 prohibits Mississippi's State Board of Health from mandating fluoridation for specific water systems. It amends state law to explicitly block the Board from requiring community public water systems, nontransient noncommunity systems, public water systems, or semi-public water systems to fluoridate water or install fluoridation equipment. The bill would have changed existing regulations that previously allowed such requirements under certain conditions. However, the bill "died in committee" on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.
Maddy summaryHB 1446, the "Robert G. Clark, Jr., Voting Rights Act of Mississippi," would create a Mississippi Voting Rights Commission to prevent voter suppression and protect voting rights. It prohibits political subdivisions (like counties and cities) and state agencies from implementing election policies that disproportionately affect racial, ethnic, or language minority voters, requiring such policies to be reviewed by the Commission before implementation. The bill also mandates protections for limited English proficient voters and voters with disabilities, requires advance notice of election policy changes, and establishes a statewide voting database with universities. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.
Maddy summaryHB 11 authorizes $23.3 million in state funds for the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District to cover its operating expenses during fiscal year 2025-2026. The bill specifies funding for 102 permanent staff positions, dredging operations in Ross Barnett Reservoir, a study on spillway gates, and construction of a new office building. It also includes conditions requiring the district to waive traffic control fees for "REZ" tag vehicles and exempt certain fishing tournaments (like the ESPN Bass Masters Classic) from launch fees and lottery systems. The funds must be spent per state accounting rules and cannot replace federal or other special funds. This is a funding bill directly affecting the district's budget and operational planning.