Rep. Timaka James-Jones

Maddy summaryHB 803 requires Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Leflore County officials, to study the feasibility of building an elevated pedestrian crossing or skybridge at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Sunflower Road (County Road 507) in Itta Bena. The study must examine funding sources, cost-benefit analysis, existing examples in Mississippi and other states, community benefits, previous efforts, and constraints like highway expansion plans. The report, due by December 15, 2026, will inform future decisions but does not authorize construction. This bill directly affects MVSU students, staff, visitors, and the local community seeking safer campus access.

Maddy summaryHB 1004, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed creating a voluntary state program for high school reproductive health education. The bill would have required parental permission for students aged 16+ to participate in curriculum covering reproductive anatomy, contraception, STI prevention, and healthy relationships, delivered by trained medical professionals or advocates. School districts could opt in to receive state support, but participation would not affect academic standing, and the curriculum must be inclusive and evidence-based. The program was intended to be funded through state budgets or grants, with annual reviews mandated, though it never advanced beyond committee.

Maddy summaryHB 869, the "One Fair Wage Act," establishes a phased increase in Mississippi's minimum wage for most workers, starting at $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2027, rising to $17.50 by 2030, and then adjusting annually based on the Consumer Price Index. It specifically addresses tipped employees by allowing employers to pay a lower base wage (as low as $12.00/hour in 2028) if total wages plus tips meet the minimum wage requirement, with the tip credit phasing out entirely by 2029. The law applies to most employers and employees in Mississippi, excluding state government, the U.S. government, tribal entities, and certain domestic workers. It explicitly states that federal law takes precedence and ensures the wage schedule is prospective, not retroactive.

Maddy summaryHB 1000 would establish Mississippi's first state-run paid family and medical leave program, providing eligible workers with partial wage replacement (up to 60-70% of average weekly wage) for up to 12 weeks annually to care for a newborn, adopted child, seriously ill family member, or address their own serious health condition. It would require employers to provide written notice about the program to employees and create a Family and Medical Leave Insurance Fund financed through premiums. The bill defines "covered individuals" as workers meeting specific earnings thresholds (e.g., $26x minimum benefit amount in their base period) and outlines benefits for medical leave, newborn/adoptive care, and military family needs ("qualifying exigency leave"). However, the bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1001 would have allowed voters who registered after Mississippi's 30-day election registration deadline but before Election Day to cast a ballot using an affidavit. The bill required voters to sign a written affidavit at the polling place confirming their registration status and providing personal details, with the ballot then processed separately. Voters casting such ballots would have had five business days after the election to provide acceptable photo ID or a Mississippi Voter ID card to ensure their ballot was counted. The bill, which died in committee in February 2026, proposed this as a specific mechanism for late registrants affected by the registration cutoff.

Maddy summaryHB 918 revises how payments from nuclear power plants (like Mississippi's Grand Gulf plant) replace local property taxes. It requires utilities to pay 2% of the plant's assessed value annually (minimum $20 million per year until 2026), with excess payments beyond $16 million distributed as $3.04 million yearly to counties where the plants are located. The bill updates the formula for allocating these payments, ensuring counties receive a fixed annual amount from the excess funds. This directly affects nuclear plant operators and the counties hosting these facilities, changing how tax-equivalent payments are distributed. The policy change applies to qualifying plants licensed to operate through 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 920 reclassifies Alcorn State University's president's residence from commercial to residential property. This change allows licensed residential builders (under Mississippi law) to perform construction or improvements on the residence without being restricted by standard height and square footage limits for residential dwellings. The bill directly affects Alcorn State University's president and the university's ability to hire qualified residential builders for the president's home. It amends two sections of Mississippi law to align with this reclassification, specifically removing limitations that previously applied to such properties. The bill makes a procedural adjustment to property classification for a single university residence, with no broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1493, the Mississippi Maternal Health Momnibus Act, would establish a grant program to fund community-based organizations providing maternal health services specifically for Black women, focusing on reducing maternal mortality and severe complications. The bill requires health care professionals in perinatal care to complete implicit bias training and exempts baby products like diapers, formula, and wipes from sales tax. It also expands Medicaid coverage to include services from this program, addressing social determinants such as housing, nutrition, transportation, and mental health support. These provisions target communities with high rates of racial disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 1519 revises Mississippi's Higher Education Legislative Plan Grant Program by adding a new eligibility pathway for students who have completed 45 semester credit hours and maintained a 3.5 GPA. This pathway requires legal residency in Mississippi, full-time enrollment at an eligible public or private institution, and meeting financial need and conduct standards. Existing eligibility criteria for new students (such as high school graduation within two years and a 2.5 GPA) remain unchanged. The grant covers tuition costs only, with students required to apply for federal aid before receiving state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1453 establishes a two-year pilot program within Mississippi's Department of Health to provide remote health monitoring for pregnant women with hypertension or diabetes. It targets eligible participants enrolled in Medicaid who are members of participating managed care organizations. The program uses FDA-approved technology to track blood pressure, glucose levels, and other health data remotely, with a clinical care team offering support and an escalation pathway for concerning readings. The pilot will enroll up to 300 participants across multiple counties and require a report within two years evaluating outcomes and recommending potential statewide expansion.