Rep. Oscar Denton

Maddy summaryHB 1402 designates a one-mile segment of Mississippi Highway 537 in Yazoo County as the "Colonel Donnell Berry Memorial Highway" to honor Colonel Donnell Berry. The Mississippi Department of Transportation will install and maintain signage along this highway segment. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026. This is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 788 modifies Mississippi's election rules to allow voters who are not registered in the jurisdiction they are voting in (but are otherwise eligible) to cast an affidavit ballot. This ballot will be used as their official voter registration, adding them to the statewide voter rolls as if they had completed a standard registration form. The bill also allows the affidavit ballot to serve as a written request to transfer voting precincts or wards, and automatically reactivates voters who were placed on inactive status (due to a confirmation notice) after they cast such a ballot. These changes aim to streamline voter registration and address common issues at polling places.

Maddy summaryHB 1126 increases base teacher salaries by $5,000 annually starting with the 2026-2027 school year, with an additional $3,000 annual supplement for licensed special education teachers and $6,000 for certified occupational therapists and school psychologists. It also raises assistant teachers' pay by $5,000 and caps superintendent salaries at 250% of equivalent teacher pay, including district supplements. The bill includes related provisions for retirement benefits for first responders and revised roles for student success coaches, but its core focus is direct compensation increases for educators.

Maddy summaryHB 1834 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds for capital improvements at Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi Valley State University. The bill directs bond proceeds to fund repairs, renovations, and upgrades to campus buildings, facilities, and infrastructure at these three public universities. The State Bond Commission would manage the bond issuance, with funds deposited into a special account for these specific projects. This is a funding mechanism, not a new program, and directly affects the operational infrastructure of these institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 1869 appropriates $950,000 from the state general fund to the City of Vicksburg for Year 1 of its three-year blight elimination plan, effective July 2026. The funds directly support Vicksburg residents by financing specific actions: creating a land bank ($150,000), demolishing 15 unsafe structures near schools ($150,000), launching a neighborhood cleanup program ($100,000), providing home repair grants to 30 low-income or elderly homeowners ($300,000), and stabilizing 5 historic buildings ($250,000). This bill enables the city government to address dilapidated properties and improve community safety and aesthetics in targeted areas. The appropriation is for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, with future years (2027-2028 and 2028-2029) planned for additional funding.

Maddy summaryHB 917 authorizes Mississippi to issue state bonds specifically to fund repairs and renovations at Alcorn State University needed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance standards for its buildings and facilities. The bill directs the State Bond Commission to handle bond issuance, with proceeds deposited into a dedicated fund for these upgrades. It directly affects Alcorn State University by providing funding for physical accessibility improvements, which would benefit students, faculty, and visitors using campus facilities. The legislation establishes the bond terms but does not specify exact renovation projects or timelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to fund repairs, renovations, expansions, and upgrades to the David L. Whitney (HPER) Arena Complex and Wellness Center at Alcorn State University. The State Bond Commission will manage the bond issuance process, including determining sale methods, setting interest rates within legal limits, and ensuring the bonds mature within 25 years. Funds raised from the bond sales will be placed in a special fund and used exclusively for the specified construction and improvement projects at the university facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 924 authorizes Mississippi to issue state general obligation bonds to cover preplanning costs for repairs, renovations, and upgrades to the Walter Washington Administration and Classroom Building at Alcorn State University. The bill creates a special fund to disburse bond proceeds specifically for these preplanning activities, not the physical construction work. The bonds would be backed by the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi, with repayment secured through state treasury funds if needed. This legislation directly affects Alcorn State University’s infrastructure planning and the state’s budget for higher education capital projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Mississippi State Bond Commission to issue state general obligation bonds to fund the construction and equipping of new housing facilities for faculty and staff at Alcorn State University. The legislation establishes the legal framework for selling these bonds, including provisions for interest rates, repayment terms up to 25 years, and the authority to sell through public bidding or negotiated sales. Once issued, the bond proceeds will be placed in a special fund to cover construction costs, with the full faith and credit of the state pledged for repayment. The bill requires standard legal procedures such as court validation and public notice of sales in Jackson newspapers.

Maddy summaryHB 922 authorizes Mississippi to issue general obligation bonds to fund repairs, renovations, and upgrades to the K.L. Simmons Technology Building at Alcorn State University. The bill directly affects Alcorn State University, which will use the bond proceeds for facility improvements, and ultimately impacts state taxpayers through the repayment mechanism. Key provisions include the State Bond Commission handling bond issuance and sale, with the full faith and credit of Mississippi pledged to repay the bonds from state treasury funds if needed. The funds are restricted to the specified building upgrades, with no mention of other uses or program changes.