Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryHB 1500 requires Mississippi-licensed residential builders and remodelers to provide customers with a detailed cost breakdown (including materials, fees, and labor) within 15 days of a written request. It sets maximum fees: 20% of project costs for large jobs or $150 per hour for small projects, with the State Board of Contractors establishing these limits. Violating these rules could trigger disciplinary action by the Board or consumer protection lawsuits under state law. The bill directly affects contractors and customers in home renovation projects, aiming to increase transparency in billing practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1576 would have removed a requirement for Mississippi birthing centers to maintain a written agreement with a nearby hospital for patient transfers. Instead, it would have required centers to create a written transfer plan for when patients need referral and to periodically notify local hospitals about their operations and patient population. The bill directly affected licensed birthing centers operating in Mississippi, changing their regulatory obligations. However, the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 678, the Mississippi Doxxing Prevention Act, prohibits intentionally sharing restricted personal information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email) of specific protected individuals with the intent to harass or threaten them. It directly affects law enforcement officers, government employees, jurors, witnesses, and informants (defined as "covered persons") by creating criminal penalties: first offenses are misdemeanors (up to 6 months jail or $2,000 fine), while repeat offenses or cases involving violence become felonies (up to 10 years in prison or $10,000 fine). The bill also amends Mississippi’s public records law to exempt the restricted personal information of these covered persons from public disclosure. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee but died there on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1497 prohibits health insurance plans, Medicaid, and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or other protocols that delay or restrict access to FDA-approved antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment. It mandates that these plans cover at least one therapeutically equivalent ARV option without prior approval, ensuring patients can access prescribed HIV medications without unnecessary barriers. The bill also requires insurers to publicly list prior authorization requirements for HIV drugs in plain language on their websites. This legislation died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have directly affected people prescribed HIV medications in Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 1499 would exempt certain permanently disabled individuals convicted of sex offenses from Mississippi's sex offender registry if they are already exempt from registration in another jurisdiction due to a permanent disability that prevents them from caring for themselves without assistance. The bill amends state law to require the Department of Public Safety to automatically grant this exemption when a person has a valid exemption from another state based on such a disability. It does not change registration requirements for other sex offenders but applies only to those meeting the specific disability exemption criteria in another jurisdiction. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but died in committee.

Maddy summaryHB 453, the Youth and Community Safety Act, requires Mississippi public schools to annually report unlawful student activity (as defined in Section 37-11-29) to school districts, with districts submitting quarterly reports to the Mississippi Department of Education starting July 2025. The Department must publicly release annual reports via its MAARS database, including data on student referrals to juvenile justice and racial/ethnic classifications. The bill mandates the Department to develop and provide evidence-based staff training by July 2026, focusing on reducing referrals to law enforcement, cultural competency, restorative justice, and alternatives to arrest. It also requires collaboration strategies between schools, law enforcement, and community groups to improve student safety and reduce negative interactions with youth.

Maddy summaryHB 514 allows mechanics who repaired a vehicle to request the vehicle's title directly from a title loan company if the vehicle owner obtained a title loan *after* the repair work began and the owner fails to pay the mechanic. This specifically affects mechanics seeking payment for services and title loan companies holding liens on vehicles. The bill amends Mississippi law to grant mechanics a legal right to claim title from the title lender instead of pursuing a court case, streamlining the resolution of unpaid repair bills. The provision applies only when the title loan was secured *after* repairs started, not before. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 411 removes a requirement that Mississippi state employees must use one day of accrued personal or compensatory leave before accessing major medical leave. The bill directly affects all state employees covered under Section 25-3-95 (excluding some public university faculty not contributing to retirement systems). Under the change, employees can immediately use major medical leave without first exhausting personal leave days. This simplifies the process for employees needing medical leave for themselves or immediate family members, as certified by a physician. The bill does not alter the accrual rates, eligibility, or other provisions of major medical leave.

Maddy summaryHB 425 amends Mississippi law to require child care providers statewide to recommend individuals for appointment to the Child Care Advisory Council. The bill changes the council's composition from being appointed solely by the State Health Officer to requiring recommendations from child care providers, ensuring their input shapes council membership. The 12-member council will continue advising the licensing agency on regulations for child care facilities and interpreting relevant laws. This change directly affects child care providers by giving them a formal role in selecting council members who shape licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 510 increases the maximum duration for Mississippi workers to receive compensation under the state's workers' compensation law from the previous limit to 520 weeks. This directly affects workers with permanent total disability, temporary total disability, or permanent partial disability, extending their eligibility for income replacement benefits. The total compensation is calculated as 66.67% of the worker's average weekly wage for up to 520 weeks, excluding medical payments. The bill amends specific sections of Mississippi Code (71-3-13, 71-3-17, 71-3-21, and 71-3-25) to implement this change.