Rep. Bill Kinkade

Maddy summaryHB 1661 would have provided Marshall County $800,000 from the state general fund to cover planning, engineering, and environmental costs for the Byhalia Railroad Bridge Project. The project involves constructing a bridge over BNSF Railroad and Highway 78, a bridge over Byhalia Creek, 1.5 miles of new road, and drainage improvements near Byhalia High School. This bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee but died there on February 26, 2025, meaning the funding was never approved. The bill did not become law and had no effect on policy or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 209 appropriates $10 million from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) for fiscal year 2026. The funds will directly assist in widening the lanes of the bridge over Mississippi Highway 78 in Olive Branch, addressing infrastructure needs for local traffic. This is a funding measure with no new policy provisions, solely providing financial support for a specific bridge upgrade project.

Maddy summaryHB 845 was a bill appropriating $10 million from the State General Fund to the City of Olive Branch for land acquisition and engineering services related to improvements on Mississippi Highway 305 during fiscal year 2026 (July 2025-June 2026). The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and never became law. It did not create new policy but provided funding for a specific infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryHB 1259 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to provide funding for the Town of Byhalia's construction of a new police department building and jail. The bill creates a special fund to receive bond proceeds, which will be disbursed specifically to cover costs for Byhalia's project. The state pledges its full faith and credit to repay the bonds, meaning state funds would cover repayment if needed. This bill directly affects Byhalia residents and its law enforcement operations by enabling the construction of new public safety facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1716 redirected $300,000 from Mississippi's 2024 Local Improvements Projects Fund to Marshall County's Board of Supervisors. The funds were intended to complete the Blackwater Road Bridge Project, which involves replacing two bridges and improving drainage to prevent road flooding. The bill, which died in committee on February 26, 2025, would have applied to the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This is a procedural funding adjustment, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1636 appropriates $1,941,952 from Mississippi's State General Fund to increase conservation officers' salaries at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) for fiscal year 2026. The bill mandates a 13.34% average annual salary increase across all ranks, with caps preventing officers' pay from exceeding the Executive Director's salary or the top step of their job classification. It also provides a $750 uniform allowance per officer. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 710 would exempt sales of both children's and adult diapers from Mississippi's sales tax. This change directly affects consumers who purchase these essential items, including low-income families and elderly individuals requiring adult diapers. The bill amends existing tax law to add diapers to the list of exempt items, similar to how food and medical supplies are currently treated. It does not change other tax rules but removes a tax burden specifically on these hygiene products. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1257 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to fund infrastructure improvements in the Town of Byhalia. The bill directly affects Byhalia (which would receive funds for projects like roads or water systems) and Mississippi taxpayers (who bear the state's obligation to repay the bonds). Key provisions include the State Bond Commission handling bond sales, proceeds going to a special fund, and the state pledging its full credit to repay bondholders. The bonds would mature within 25 years and be repaid from state funds if needed, with no new policy changes beyond the funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1715 appropriated $500,000 from the State General Fund to Marshall County for completing the Red Banks Road Improvement Project, an eight-mile stretch connecting I-22 to Mississippi Highway 302. The funding was intended for the fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) to finish road improvements. This bill was procedural, solely providing state funding without altering laws or regulations. The bill died in committee on February 26, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 554 authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to provide funds for the Town of Byhalia to repair and renovate the Byhalia Old School Commons building. The bill creates a special fund for these bonds, which would be paid by the state treasury if needed, and specifies that bond proceeds must be used solely for the building project's costs. This legislation directly affects the Town of Byhalia by providing state financial assistance for a specific local infrastructure project. The key mechanism is the state's issuance of bonds backed by its full credit, with no additional legislative steps required beyond the commission's resolution.