Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryHB 508 requires Mississippi's State Health Officer to develop a program targeting health disparities among all gender and racial groups. It mandates a statewide assessment of priority health areas (like infant mortality, cancer screenings, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) by 2031, with measurable outcomes and community partnerships. The bill allocates $250,000 to contract a Mississippi-based entity specializing in health disparities to lead planning, and requires biennial evaluations and reports to the Legislature. The program directly affects all racial and gender groups in Mississippi by focusing on reducing preventable health gaps through coordinated community initiatives and data-driven strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employees terminated from state or federally funded agencies, departments, institutions, or nonprofits from being hired by another similar organization using the same grant or contract funds. It directly affects workers terminated from roles supported by Mississippi or U.S. grant funding, blocking their rehiring at comparable entities. The key mechanism restricts employment at any organization utilizing identical grant funds, applying to both state and federal grant sources. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and does not apply to non-grant-funded positions.

Maddy summaryHB 416 requires Mississippi's statewide standardized tests for English Language Learner (ELL) students to be administered in their primary spoken language, except for English language arts tests, which must remain in English. The State Department of Education must translate and print these tests in the appropriate language for each grade level and provide translation assistance through proctors or observers when requested. School districts must report the number, grades, and primary spoken languages of ELL students to the Department and request translation support before testing. This bill directly affects all public and charter schools in Mississippi that administer statewide assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores the right to vote to Ivory Moore, a resident of Washington County, Mississippi, who had lost his voting privileges due to a 2001 shoplifting conviction. The legislation declares that Moore has successfully completed his sentence and has since behaved as a law-abiding citizen, thereby removing the legal barrier to his participation in elections. Once signed into law, this measure immediately reinstates his eligibility to cast ballots without requiring him to undergo any additional legal processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that asks the Library of Congress to replace two existing statues in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection with new ones honoring Senator Hiram Revels and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. Currently, Mississippi's contribution to the collection features statues of Jefferson Davis and James Zachariah George, which the bill proposes to remove to better reflect the state's modern values. The resolution does not change any laws or budgets but serves as a formal request to update the historical figures represented in the Capitol. If approved, the state of Mississippi would officially swap its current statues for these new ones to celebrate the achievements of Revels and Hamer.

Maddy summaryThis Mississippi bill updates state tax laws to officially include heated tobacco products under the existing definition of "tobacco." By amending the state code, the legislation ensures that these newer vaping devices are subject to the same excise tax rates as traditional cigarettes and other tobacco items. The law directly affects manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers by requiring them to collect and remit taxes on heated tobacco products sold within the state. This change clarifies how the state classifies and taxes emerging tobacco products to maintain consistency with current tax regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1823 allocates state funds to support K-12 education and related programs in Mississippi for the fiscal year 2025. The bill directs money from both the General Fund and special funds to the State Department of Education to cover operational expenses, student funding formulas, and specific initiatives such as literacy programs, special needs support, and early learning collaboratives. It also authorizes the creation of 453 new positions within the department, including permanent and time-limited roles, while establishing rules to ensure these funds are used for hiring rather than salary increases for existing employees. Additionally, the legislation provides specific appropriations for vocational technical education, grants for school district facilities, and services like vision screening and testing.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $1.44 billion from the state treasury to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Department of Transportation for the 2025 fiscal year. The funds are allocated to specific areas including highways, maintenance, debt service, and aeronautics, while also authorizing a permanent workforce of 2,698 employees. Key provisions include strict rules on salary increases, requiring written approval for any position escalations and prohibiting the use of these funds to replace withdrawn federal money. Additionally, the legislation mandates new project planning policies to track construction costs and restricts the construction of new highway segments under ten miles unless specific justifications are recorded and notified to legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 1825 allocates state funding to support the Mississippi Library Commission for the 2025 fiscal year, providing approximately $16 million from general and special funds. The bill authorizes a staff headcount of 48 permanent positions and one time-limited role while establishing strict rules to prevent salary increases for existing employees and ensuring funds are used only for approved vacancies. Specific portions of the budget are designated for the Magnolia database, health insurance for library staff, and grants to public libraries, alongside setting performance targets for services like workshops and interlibrary loans. Additionally, the legislation requires the commission to maintain detailed financial records and submit future budget requests in a specific format to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $7.7 million in state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Arts Commission for the 2025 fiscal year. The funding comes from the State General Fund, special source funds, and specific allocations for arts education and building projects. The legislation authorizes the commission to maintain 12 staff positions and includes strict rules ensuring that general funds cannot be used to replace federal money or increase salaries for current employees. Additionally, the bill mandates that the commission give purchasing preference to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind when buying goods or services. It also directs a portion of the funds toward arts training in public schools and the construction or repair of arts facilities.