Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 6, 2025, as "Omega Psi Phi Day" in Mississippi to commend the fraternity's community service and legacy. It recognizes the organization's 100+ years of activism, including over 5,000 hours of community service and initiatives like scholarship programs and voter registration in Mississippi. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no new laws or funding, and serves to honor the fraternity's historical contributions to Mississippi and national civil rights efforts. It was adopted by the Mississippi House of Representatives on March 5, 2025, and will be formally recognized at the state capitol.

Maddy summaryHB 1498 creates the Mississippi Comprehensive Cancer Care Coalition Task Force to develop a state-wide plan addressing cancer care gaps. The task force, composed of 20 members including legislators, health officials, cancer advocacy groups, survivors, and healthcare providers, must create a data-driven plan by December 1, 2025, focusing on equity, prevention, treatment, and survivorship across all cancer care stages. It will propose specific legislation to the legislature based on its findings, using principles aligned with CDC and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This bill directly affects Mississippi's cancer care system by mandating a coordinated strategy to reduce disparities and improve outcomes for all residents.

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 summaryHB 509 creates a program allowing each Mississippi legislator to award $25,000 annually for public projects in their district. The Mississippi Development Authority’s Community Services Division administers the program, sets application criteria, and reviews requests. Approved funds are distributed to the county where the project is located, with the county board of supervisors handling disbursement. The program expires on July 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHB 410 increases sales taxes on firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, and alcoholic beverages, and raises excise taxes on tobacco products. The revenue from these tax increases will be deposited into a new "Mississippi Hospitals Uncompensated Care Assistance Fund" managed by the Department of Health. This fund will directly provide financial assistance to hospitals covering costs for uncompensated medical care services - treatment provided to patients who cannot pay. The bill specifically targets revenue from these tax changes to support hospitals, without diverting funds for other purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 512 appropriates $2 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the State Department of Health for establishing and supporting a graduate medical residency program at Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill directly affects the Delta Regional Medical Center by providing funding for physician training, which aims to address healthcare workforce needs in the region. Key provisions include specifying the funds be used exclusively for graduate medical education residency programs under existing Mississippi law. The bill did not advance beyond committee in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 419 appropriates $4 million from Mississippi's State General Fund to the Department of Health for the Mississippi Qualified Health Center Grant Program during fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). This funding directly supports community health centers that qualify under Mississippi Code § 41-99-1 et seq., helping them provide care to underserved populations. The bill establishes a specific funding amount for grants to these centers but does not create new eligibility rules or alter existing program requirements. It is a routine budgetary measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the allocated funding.

Maddy summaryHB 412 allocates $150 million in state funds to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) for grants under Mississippi's Hospital Recovery Trust Program. The funding comes from three sources: $13 million from the Health Care Expendable Fund, $2 million from the State BP Settlement Fund, and $135 million from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. The DFA must ensure all grants comply with federal guidelines for coronavirus recovery funds (ARPA), require recipients to certify eligible expenses, and prevent duplicate reimbursements. This appropriation is valid from enactment through June 30, 2026, and requires strict adherence to federal audit and spending rules.

Maddy summaryHB 409 appropriates $300 million from the State General Fund to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for equal funding to Jackson State University (JSU), Alcorn State University (ASU), and Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU). The funding is specifically for restorations and renovations on projects that have been requested by the Legislature for over two years, targeting delayed infrastructure needs at these three historically Black universities. The appropriation applies to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, with payments to be made via state warrants.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $750,000 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Health for physician grants under the existing Mississippi Qualified Health Center Grant Program for fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). It directly affects physicians working at qualified health centers in Mississippi by providing funding for their grants. The key mechanism is a specific annual appropriation to support this program, which aims to strengthen healthcare access in underserved areas. The bill does not change program eligibility or requirements, only authorizing the funding.