Rep. Brent Powell

Maddy summaryHB 672 allows counties, cities, tribes, or state agencies in Mississippi that already permit alcohol sales ("wet" jurisdictions) to authorize alcohol stores to sell packaged alcohol on Sundays between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. It does not require stores to open on Sundays - they may continue operating Monday through Saturday. The bill amends existing law (Section 67-1-83) to permit these Sunday hours, while maintaining the existing ban on Sunday sales elsewhere. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1566 amends Mississippi law to include Hinshaw natural gas pipelines within the state's public utility regulatory framework. It defines "Hinshaw natural gas pipeline" as systems physically in Mississippi, engaged in interstate commerce, providing gas for consumption in Mississippi, and exempt from federal regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938. The bill requires these pipelines to seek Public Service Commission approval before constructing, extending, or operating systems (excluding minor work) and mandates filing all third-party contracts with the Commission. This directly affects Hinshaw pipelines operating in Mississippi by subjecting them to state oversight on rates, services, and facility operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1458 modifies Mississippi's telephone solicitation law to allow calls about Medicare Advantage or Supplement plans under two specific conditions: (1) when a person has an established business relationship with the solicitor, or (2) when the person has previously requested contact about such plans. This change applies directly to insurance companies and their solicitors selling Medicare plans within Mississippi. The bill clarifies that these exceptions do not override federal preemption under 42 U.S.C. § 1395w-26(b)(3). Other sections of the bill make minor technical corrections to existing provisions but do not alter the core Medicare solicitation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4008 appropriates $10 million from the State General Fund to Rankin County's Board of Supervisors to assist with construction costs for a bridge over the Meridian Speedway railroad on Highway 18. The funds are specifically for the fiscal year 2026-2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027) and will be paid by the State Treasurer upon proper requisitions. This bill directly affects Rankin County by providing state funding for a local infrastructure project to replace a railroad crossing with a bridge. The bill does not alter laws or create new regulations - its sole purpose is to allocate state funds for this specific construction.

Maddy summaryHB 1868 increases the property tax homestead exemption for Mississippi homeowners aged 65 or older or who are totally disabled. The bill amends Section 27-33-75 to raise the exemption amount based on the assessed value of a home, using a tiered table (e.g., $6 for $1-$150 value, increasing to $300 for values over $7,350). This exemption reduces ad valorem taxes on the home's assessed value, split equally between school district and county general fund taxes. It directly affects qualifying seniors and disabled homeowners by lowering their annual property tax burden. The change applies to all eligible homeowners who meet the age or disability criteria under the existing homestead exemption rules.

Maddy summaryHB 4009 exempts admissions charged for athletic games or contests between universities or colleges from Mississippi's 7% sales tax. This directly affects colleges and universities that charge admission to intercollegiate sporting events. The bill amends Mississippi's tax code to explicitly include these admissions under the existing exemption listed in Section 27-65-22(3)(c), removing them from the standard sales tax calculation. The change applies only to admissions for games between educational institutions, not to professional sports or other event types covered under separate exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Mississippi grocery stores to sell wine in sealed, unopened bottles for take-home consumption. It requires stores with this new "wine-only" permit to earn at least 50% of their revenue from wine sales (excluding beer), prohibits on-premises consumption, and limits ownership to six such permits per person. Grocery stores must apply for this specific permit from the state Department of Revenue, and wine sales cannot include beer or other alcohol types. The law updates existing alcohol regulations to permit this change while maintaining key restrictions.

Maddy summaryMississippi's HB 1492 requires solar developers (called "grantees") to secure financial assurance for removing solar facilities and restoring land when agreements end. It mandates that solar power facility agreements include a decommissioning plan and require developers to provide increasing financial security: 5% of estimated removal costs at startup, 50% at 10 years, and full cost at 15 years. This protects landowners and communities from abandoned facilities by ensuring funds are available for safe removal and land restoration, covering all components except deeply buried utility lines. The law applies to solar facilities 5 megawatts or larger (unless specified otherwise in agreements), excluding smaller installations.

Maddy summaryHB 698 would have prevented Mississippi health insurance plans from changing benefit levels for specific prescription drugs during policy renewals. It directly affects residents taking medications covered in the prior year for medical or mental health conditions, prohibiting insurers from removing drugs from coverage, increasing costs, adding prior authorization requirements, or changing formulary tiers for those drugs. The bill allowed exceptions only if the FDA issues safety alerts, the drug manufacturer discontinues production, or the drug is removed from the market. The bill died in committee in February 2026 and never took effect.

Maddy summaryHB 673 redirects 18.5% of Mississippi's sales tax revenue collected from business activities on property owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (outside municipal limits) to fund the district directly. This specifically affects the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, which serves multiple counties in Mississippi, by providing a dedicated revenue stream for its operations. The bill amends existing tax distribution rules to allocate this portion of sales tax revenue - previously distributed to municipalities or other entities - exclusively to the water district. The policy change creates a permanent funding mechanism for the district's water supply infrastructure without altering other tax distribution formulas.