Rep. John Faulkner

Maddy summaryHB 565 requires Mississippi law enforcement agencies to report officer resignations and terminations to the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training. Agencies must provide timely notification within a specified timeframe and include an explanation if the resignation or termination resulted from disciplinary action. Failure to report carries penalties, though agencies may appeal the board's decision. This bill directly affects all law enforcement agencies in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency in officer employment history.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 66), not a bill with policy changes. It formally congratulates the Holly Springs Rotary Club on its 100th anniversary of founding and chartering as a Rotary International member. The resolution acknowledges the club's century of community service, including scholarships, disaster relief, and international humanitarian efforts like the "Polio Plus" campaign. It has no legal effect or direct impact on constituents or policy.

Maddy summaryHB 642 authorizes Alcorn State University to build prefabricated (factory-built) structures on its campus, directly affecting the university and its campus development. The bill requires all such buildings to meet Mississippi’s building codes, safety standards, and campus aesthetic guidelines, and mandates approval from the Board of Trustees and the Department of Finance and Administration before construction. Funding can come from state appropriations, federal grants, or private donations, with the university required to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing construction costs and benefits. This bill does not change existing laws broadly but adds specific oversight and reporting requirements for Alcorn’s prefab building projects.

Maddy summaryHB 871 allows voters who are eligible to vote in a jurisdiction but are not registered there to cast an affidavit ballot on election day, which will then become their official voter registration in the statewide system. This means election officials must add them to the active voter list, eliminating the need for separate registration before voting. The bill also specifies that casting an affidavit ballot serves as a written request to transfer voting locations and automatically reactivates voters placed on inactive status after receiving a confirmation notice. These changes directly affect voters encountering registration issues at the polls on election day.

Maddy summaryHB 553 would have required all hunters aged 16+ to purchase a Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp (or its digital equivalent) to legally hunt wild turkeys in the state. The bill set fees at $10 for residents and $100 for non-residents, with all revenue dedicated to turkey conservation projects like habitat restoration (not administrative costs). Violations would have carried fines of $25-$100, though penalties could be waived if hunters proved prior stamp purchase. This bill "died in committee" on March 4, 2025, and never became law.

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 summaryHR 56 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Mississippi House of Representatives to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Hiram Rhodes Revels becoming the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate in 1870. It honors his legacy as a pioneering legislator, pastor, and educator who served Mississippi and the nation, including his historic 1870 Senate term and role as the first president of Alcorn University. The resolution formally acknowledges his contributions through a state legislative declaration, with copies sent to his descendants and the press. It has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely a commemorative gesture recognizing historical significance.

Maddy summaryHB 1915 appropriates $2,025,000 from Mississippi's State General Fund to Rust College for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The funds will directly support two new academic programs - a dual degree engineering program and a film studies program - and complete renovations to residential facility Gross Hall. The bill specifies $750,000 for the academic programs and $1,300,000 for Gross Hall renovations. This is a funding authorization bill (not a policy change), and it died in committee on February 26, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 686 authorizes Mississippi to issue state-backed bonds to fund improvements to Mississippi Highway 178 within Holly Springs. The bill would provide state funds to cover construction, reconstruction, and repair costs for the highway and related infrastructure in the city. Proceeds from the bonds would be transferred to a dedicated fund and used exclusively for these specific highway upgrades. The bill does not create new policy but establishes a funding mechanism for a local infrastructure project, with repayment backed by the full credit of the State of Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 689 appropriates $1,000,000 from the state general fund to Marshall County's Board of Supervisors to cover repair and renovation costs for the county courthouse during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directly affects Marshall County by providing state funding assistance for courthouse maintenance, which is a local government responsibility. Key provisions include specifying the exact funding amount, the purpose (courthouse repair/renovation), and the fiscal year (July 2025-June 2026). The state treasurer would disburse the funds upon proper requisitions, as outlined in standard state finance procedures. This is a procedural funding bill with no substantive policy changes beyond the allocation.