Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryHB 443 requires all Mississippi public, private, parochial, and homeschool programs to teach a comprehensive course in Mississippi History (covering from colonization to present, with emphasis on 19th-20th century social/political issues affecting diverse groups) and a U.S. Government course to every student in grades 9-12. The bill also eliminates the end-of-course U.S. History test, which previously was required for high school diplomas and accountability ratings. This policy change takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year, modifying state education codes to align with these curriculum requirements. The law directly affects all high school students and schools across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Mississippi's Department of Mental Health to establish minimum service and safety standards for privately-owned mental health clinics that do not receive state funding or operate as part of state programs. These clinics would need to meet the same certification standards as state-certified providers to maintain their status. The department can permanently waive specific requirements that don't align with a clinic's unique structure, environment, or services. The change directly affects non-state-funded private mental health providers, not existing state-operated facilities or funded providers.

Maddy summaryHB 445 amends Mississippi's election rules for boards of directors at member-owned electric power associations (cooperatives). It changes the election cycle from annual to every four years starting in 2026, aligning with public school board election timing, and requires all directors to be members of the cooperative. The bill also lowers the signature requirement for candidates (from 50 members to less, if allowed by the cooperative's bylaws) and clarifies that only members can vote in these elections. This directly affects electric cooperative members and their elected boards across Mississippi.

Maddy summaryHB 422 requires health insurers operating in Mississippi to use the same standard as Medicare Part A for deciding if a hospital stay is medically necessary - known as the "Two-Midnight Rule." This means insurers must follow Medicare’s criteria, which typically requires a patient to be expected to stay past two midnights for an inpatient admission to be covered. The law applies to all insurers authorized by the Mississippi Insurance Department and takes effect July 1, 2025. It aims to create consistency for hospitals, insurers, and patients in coverage decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 413 creates the Mississippi Hospital Recovery Trust Program to provide grants to public hospitals in Mississippi facing high financial risk - defined as poor profits, high debt, large uninsured patient volumes, or low cash reserves. The program, administered by the Department of Finance and Administration, requires hospitals to apply with documentation proving financial strain and prioritizes grants for facilities at immediate risk of closing. Grants must be approved and distributed within five business days of application, with funds coming from legislative appropriations or other designated sources. Public hospitals receiving grants must report how they use the funds annually to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. This bill directly affects Mississippi's public hospitals, aiming to prevent closures and maintain community healthcare access.

Maddy summaryHB 451 requires Mississippi public universities and colleges to provide annual mental health assessments to all student athletes on teams governed by national or regional sports associations. The assessments must evaluate cognitive functioning (thinking, reasoning, memory) using methods like interviews, observation, or digital tools, administered by qualified professionals like psychologists or counselors, with results kept confidential. Additionally, the bill mandates mental health assessments for any student in the general campus population with an arrest record, whether before or during enrollment. Institutions must partner with local behavioral health specialists to administer assessments and provide counseling, while also allowing consultation with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health for resources. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 426 requires elected or appointed Mississippi officials who participate in a malicious prosecution (unjustified legal action causing harm) to personally pay all associated costs, including legal fees and expenses. If a court finds malicious prosecution, the official faces penalties like termination from their position, disbarment (if they're a lawyer), and suspension of retirement benefits until costs are paid. The governing authority employing the official must calculate and report all costs to the presiding judge, who then issues a binding order for the official to reimburse the government. This law aims to hold officials financially accountable for abusive legal actions, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 415 creates an independent Office of State Hearing Officers to provide an alternative to state agency hearing officers for individuals or entities facing disputes with Mississippi state agencies. The office, led by a governor-appointed director and staffed by at least five contracted hearing officers, allows people to choose this independent body instead of the agency’s own hearing officer for their case. Decisions from the office can be appealed to a panel of three independent hearing officers, with final decisions subject to judicial review in court for limited legal grounds like lack of evidence or constitutional violations.

Maddy summaryHB 456 requires all Mississippi public school districts to adopt a dating violence policy by October 1, 2025, and include it in their student conduct codes. The State Board of Education must create a model policy by July 1, 2025, including definitions of dating violence, safety planning, reporting procedures, and staff training requirements. School districts must also integrate age-appropriate lessons on healthy relationships and dating violence warning signs into health courses for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This law directly affects students, school staff, and parents by establishing standardized policies and education to address dating violence in schools.

Maddy summaryHB 511 directs Mississippi's State Department of Health to establish WISEWOMAN (for women) and WISEMAN (for men) programs in all counties west of Interstate 55. These programs aim to reduce chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes through education, early screening, and prevention efforts targeting high-risk populations. The bill requires the Health Department to contract with proven clinics, seek CDC funding, and focus on specific conditions (e.g., breast cancer for women, prostate cancer for men). The bill was referred to committee but died there in February 2025 and has not become law.