Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HR 132) from the Mississippi House of Representatives. It formally commends Nicholas Anderson, a Vicksburg, Mississippi native, for being named the 2024 Most Outstanding Rookie in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The resolution recognizes his athletic achievements, academic record, and community work through his "F.A.1.T.H." initiative. As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply expresses the House's praise for his accomplishments.

Maddy summaryHB 1770 funds the Mississippi Library Commission for fiscal year 2026 with $10,946,838 from the State General Fund and $4,863,028 from special funds. It authorizes 48 permanent and 1 temporary position, requires strict budget adherence (no salary increases without new funds), and mandates $493,847 from the Education Enhancement Fund specifically for the Magnolia Database program. The bill ensures funds are used for library operations, staff support, and performance targets like resolving 1,150 help desk tickets and hosting 40 continuing education workshops. It directly affects public libraries statewide through the Library Commission's operations and the Magnolia Database initiative.

Maddy summaryHB 1769 appropriates $4,547,938 from the State General Fund and $6,353,694 from a special fund (including $2.1 million from the Education Enhancement Fund) to cover the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television's (MAET) expenses for fiscal year 2026. The funding directly supports MAET's operations, including salaries for 78 permanent and 7 temporary staff positions, with strict requirements to maintain current educational broadcast schedules as a priority. Key provisions prohibit using state funds to replace federal funds, restrict personnel spending to new hires (not promotions or salary increases), and mandate detailed accounting comparable to previous years. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, ensuring MAET can continue providing educational TV programming and public service content.

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.

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 summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (not a policy bill) that formally commends Major General John Trent Kelly for his 40-year military career and congratulates him upon his retirement in May 2025. It specifically recognizes his service in the Mississippi Army National Guard, including deployments to Desert Storm and Iraq, his leadership roles, and his awards. The resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any laws, regulations, or people beyond expressing the Mississippi House of Representatives' gratitude for his service. It was adopted and signed by the legislature in March 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1708 authorizes Kemper County's Board of Supervisors to optionally contribute up to $5,000 annually from the county's general fund to Philadelphia Transit, a nonprofit providing public, elderly, and disabled transportation services in Kemper County and surrounding areas. The authorization expires on July 1, 2029, and does not require the county to make such contributions. This bill directly affects Kemper County's budget decisions and Philadelphia Transit's funding sources. It creates no new obligations but permits the county to support existing transit services through discretionary annual funding.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 81), not a policy bill. It formally honors the late Robert George Clark, Jr., former Mississippi House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore and the first African American elected to the Mississippi Legislature in the 20th century (1967). The resolution commemorates his 36-year legislative career, his role as a civil rights pioneer, and his leadership as the first Black Speaker Pro Tempore (1992-2000), while expressing sympathy to his family. It was passed by the Mississippi House on March 7, 2025, following his death on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HR 63), not a substantive bill. The Mississippi House of Representatives passed a formal resolution mourning the death of Betty Lynn Webber Cameron and commemorating her life and community service. It honors her legacy as a dedicated volunteer, leader in organizations like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and advocate for education and the Delta region. The resolution expresses the House's deepest sympathy to her family and community. (Note: The resolution was adopted on March 5, 2025.)