Rep. Clay Mansell

Maddy summaryHB 1366 would have increased penalties for practicing dental hygiene or dentistry without a license in Mississippi. For unlicensed dental hygiene, fines would rise to $2,000-$5,000 or 2-6 months in jail (currently the same). For unlicensed dentistry, it would elevate the offense to a felony: first offenses could mean $3,000-$10,000 fines or 1-3 years in prison, with harsher penalties for repeat violations (up to $10,000 fines or 3-10 years). Courts could also order offenders to pay restitution for victim costs. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1268, the Mississippi Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, protects individuals and organizations from being sued for expressing opinions on public issues in government settings, such as legislative hearings or public debates. The bill allows defendants to file a special motion to dismiss such lawsuits within 60 days, automatically pausing all other court proceedings until the motion is decided. If the motion succeeds, the lawsuit is dismissed with prejudice, and the winning party may recover attorney fees. This law aims to prevent lawsuits designed to silence public participation in civic matters, applying to cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1269 would have prohibited overnight visitation between a child and a noncustodial parent when a court has determined not to grant that parent custody and has no plan for re-unification. The bill amended Mississippi’s custody law (Section 93-5-24) to add this specific restriction, directly affecting children in custody disputes where a parent is deemed unfit or unsuitable for reunification. Key provisions would require courts to block overnight visits in these scenarios, prioritizing child safety over visitation access. The bill died in committee in 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis proposed bill (HB 1417) would prohibit Mississippi courts from applying Sharia law or any other foreign legal system in divorce and child custody cases. It would void any contract or court order attempting to use such foreign law if it violates constitutional rights under U.S. or Mississippi law. The bill defines "foreign law" broadly but explicitly excludes U.S. and state laws, requiring courts to apply only Mississippi or U.S. legal standards in family matters. It affects all Mississippi family court proceedings involving marriage or parental relationships. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never became law.

Maddy summaryHB 1482 exempts certain internal agency documents from Mississippi's Public Records Act when they involve pre-decisional policy deliberations. It specifically covers preliminary drafts, notes, and recommendations created during an agency's process of formulating new policies, but only if the documents are genuinely deliberative and pre-decisional. Factual information within these documents remains accessible unless it is inseparable from the deliberative content or disclosure would disrupt the decision-making process. This bill directly affects state agencies managing public records and individuals seeking access to policy-related documents under the Public Records Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1416 proposes to let current homeowners request removal of a fraudulent registered agent address listed at their residence. It requires the occupant to submit a sworn form confirming they don't associate with the listed agent, after which the Secretary of State must remove the address from public records. The bill also clarifies that the Secretary of State must return refused business documents within 30 days (maintaining the existing timeframe, not expanding it as the title suggests). The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1415 establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for anesthesiologist assistants in Mississippi, requiring them to obtain a license from the State Board of Medical Licensure to practice. It mandates completion of an accredited education program, passing a certification exam, and working exclusively under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who delegates specific duties. The bill prohibits unlicensed practice, imposing criminal penalties for violations, and authorizes the Board to grant, revoke, or reinstate licenses based on disciplinary actions. This directly affects anesthesiologist assistants, defining their scope of practice and ensuring oversight by supervising physicians.

Maddy summaryHB 1418 requires Mississippi Medicaid to reimburse healthcare providers for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) surgical implant procedures performed on an outpatient basis in hospitals or ambulatory surgical facilities. This bill directly affects Medicaid patients needing VNS treatment (typically for conditions like treatment-resistant epilepsy) and the providers who perform these procedures. The key mechanism mandates specific reimbursement rates for VNS implants and requires managed care organizations to include this coverage in their contracts with providers. The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and was never enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 would have removed restrictions preventing anesthesiologist assistants from obtaining physician assistant licenses under Mississippi's existing law. It would have allowed applicants who passed the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) exam to qualify for licensure and removed prohibitions on physician assistants administering certain types of anesthesia. The bill directly affected anesthesiologist assistants seeking licensure and patients who might access these services. The legislation died in committee on February 3, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1480, the SECURE Act, would allow Mississippi candidates and elected officials to use campaign funds for security-related expenses like surveillance cameras, alarms, and monitoring services to address threats linked to their public roles. It sets a $10,000 annual cap per campaign cycle for physical security equipment/installation and prohibits using funds for firearms, family payments, or unrelated home improvements. All expenses would require itemized receipts, reporting to the Secretary of State, and public disclosure (excluding security schematics). The bill died in committee on February 3, 2026, and never became law.