Rep. John Hines

Maddy summaryHB 72 would have established the Mississippi Delta Medical Apprenticeship Program (MS DMAP) to create health care career pathways for high school students in 18 specific Delta counties facing critical shortages of health professionals. The program required public schools in those counties to partner with licensed medical facilities to provide students in grades 9-12 with academic and hands-on training, including reduced tuition for participants. Eligibility included a 2.25 GPA, teacher recommendations, residency in a Delta county, and health insurance, with parental consent required. However, the bill died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 94, the Youth and Community Safety Act, requires Mississippi schools to report unlawful incidents (like fights or drug use) to districts, which must submit quarterly reports to the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) starting in 2026. The MDE would then publish annual public reports showing student referrals to juvenile justice, broken down by race and ethnicity, and develop training for schools on reducing arrests through alternatives like restorative practices. The bill also mandates MDE to create strategies for schools, law enforcement, and communities to collaborate on preventing youth involvement in the justice system. However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 149 requires Mississippi's state workforce board and occupational licensing boards to accept military education, training, or service as equivalent to civilian requirements for professional licenses in multiple licensed professions (like nursing, engineering, and cosmetology). It directly affects veterans and military members transitioning to civilian careers by allowing them to use evidence of their military experience to meet licensing criteria. The bill mandates that applicants provide proof of military service completion, and boards must expedite licenses for active-duty personnel. It also requires public colleges and universities to develop policies for accepting military-acquired academic credits. The legislation applies to all 32 licensed occupations listed in the bill's Section 2.

Maddy summaryHB 132 requires residents aged 60+ in Mississippi nursing facilities, assisted living centers, personal care homes, or adult foster care facilities to obtain a preneed contract for final disposition services (like funeral or cemetery arrangements) within six months of admission. Existing residents aged 60+ on July 1, 2026, without such a contract must secure one by December 31, 2026. If residents fail to comply, facilities must purchase the contract and add the cost to the resident’s bill. The bill prohibits facilities from denying admission or taking adverse actions against residents solely for not having a preneed contract. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 69 creates an independent Office of State Hearing Officers to provide an alternative to agency-appointed hearing officers for individuals or businesses with disputes before state agencies. It allows people or entities to choose an independent hearing officer from this new office instead of the agency's own officer, with the office assigning hearing officers on a rotating basis. The bill establishes a two-step appeals process: first to a panel of three independent officers, then to a court for judicial review based on specific legal grounds. This directly affects anyone facing a state agency decision who wants an impartial hearing option, without changing the underlying agency rules or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 138 removes a requirement that Mississippi state employees must use one day of accrued personal leave (or take unpaid leave if they have none) before accessing major medical leave for serious health needs. This change directly affects all state employees covered under Mississippi's leave policies, including those with medical conditions requiring extended care. The bill modifies existing rules to allow employees to immediately use major medical leave without first exhausting personal leave days. It does not alter the accrual rates for either leave type or the eligibility criteria for medical leave. The policy change simplifies access to medical leave for employees and their immediate families during health crises.

Maddy summaryHB 133 amends Mississippi's Electric Power Association Law to revise election procedures for boards of directors in member-owned electric cooperatives. It changes director terms to all three-year staggered terms until July 2026, then shifts to four-year elections held on the same schedule as public school board elections (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November), with runoff elections three weeks later. The bill also requires directors to be members, mandates 50 member signatures for candidacy (though cooperatives may adopt lower thresholds via bylaws), and clarifies member access to board meetings. This bill directly affects Mississippi's electric power associations and their members, but it died in committee in February 2026 and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 142 establishes a licensing and regulatory system for professional midwives in Mississippi community settings. It requires midwives to obtain a license from the newly created State Board of Licensed Midwifery, defines their scope of practice (including pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care), and mandates that health insurance plans covering maternity care must also cover services provided by licensed midwives. The bill explicitly states that midwifery is a distinct profession separate from medicine and prohibits discriminatory language in health coverage plans regarding midwifery. It also creates oversight mechanisms, including mandatory board rules by 2027, confidentiality protections, and criminal penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 148 would have required all Mississippi public, private, parochial, and homeschool students in grades 9-12 to take a comprehensive course on Mississippi History (covering 19th-20th century political/social issues) and United States Government. It would have replaced the existing U.S. History end-of-course test with these new courses, discontinuing the test starting the 2026-2027 school year. The bill also amended education codes to mandate these courses and align curriculum standards. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 144 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 HIV/AIDS medications (antiretroviral drugs). It mandates that insurers cover at least one therapeutically equivalent version of these medications without prior approval, ensuring patients can access treatment without unnecessary barriers. The bill also requires insurers to publicly list HIV medication coverage exceptions on their websites and clarifies override processes for step therapy protocols. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.