Rep. Brent Powell

Maddy summaryHB 1187 would require Mississippi Medicaid to increase reimbursement rates for prescribed pediatric extended care centers services by 20% above the rates in effect on June 30, 2025. This change directly affects healthcare providers operating specialized pediatric care facilities that serve Medicaid-eligible children. The bill amends Section 43-13-117 of Mississippi's Medicaid code to mandate this specific reimbursement adjustment. The increase applies solely to payment rates for these services, without altering eligibility criteria or service coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 93 prohibits Mississippi health insurance plans from changing coverage for specific prescription drugs during policy renewal. It directly affects insured individuals who were covered for a drug in the previous year and have a current prescription for a medical or mental health condition. The bill bans insurers from removing drugs from coverage, adding prior authorization requirements, increasing costs, or restricting access to these drugs during renewal. Exceptions apply only if the FDA issues safety concerns or the drug is discontinued. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and would have taken effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 94 would allow grocery stores in Mississippi to sell wine in original sealed packages (not for on-premises consumption) under a new "wine-only retailer" license. Grocery stores obtaining this license must derive at least 50% of their revenue from wine sales and cannot sell beer. The bill also limits an individual to owning no more than six such licenses and revises permit requirements and tax rates for these stores. It directly affects grocery stores seeking to expand wine sales under these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 1466 is a procedural bill that reorganizes specific sections of Mississippi's veterinary practice laws (including those governing veterinary technician certification and veterinarian licensing) into a new location within the Mississippi Code of 1972. It moves existing provisions - such as requirements for technician education/exams, veterinarian-client-patient relationship rules, and penalties for unlicensed practice - to improve code organization for potential future amendments. The bill does not change any substantive requirements, penalties, or professional standards. It was referred to committee but died there in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1183 requires Mississippi state agencies to review rules with "significant economic impact" (defined as exceeding $1 million in annual compliance costs) at least every five years. It sets automatic expiration dates: all such rules adopted before July 1, 2025, expire on July 1, 2030, while newer rules expire within five years of adoption. The bill mandates agencies to conduct cost-benefit analyses for these rules and submit economic impact statements during the rulemaking process. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 1182 is a procedural bill that reorganizes three existing sections of Mississippi's emergency management code (33-15-5, 33-15-11, and 33-15-13) to make them more accessible for potential future amendments. It does not change current law but moves these sections to a more prominent position in the code to streamline future legislative review. The bill focuses on clarifying definitions (like "state of emergency" and "emergency management") and the Governor's authority during crises, without altering substantive emergency response procedures. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not advance to the full legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 95 redirects 18.5% of Mississippi's sales tax revenue collected from business activities within the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District's designated area (on district-owned property outside municipal limits) to fund the district directly. This changes the existing tax distribution formula, which previously allocated that portion to local municipalities. The bill specifically affects the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District by providing it with dedicated funding for its operations and infrastructure. The change applies to sales tax revenue collected in counties where the district operates, as defined by the bill's geographic scope. The bill was referred to committee but died there in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1178 would allow wine and distilled spirits manufacturers (with specific permits) to sell directly to Mississippi residents, bypassing the state's retail alcohol system. To do this, manufacturers must obtain a "direct shipper's permit" from the Department of Revenue, label shipments with age verification requirements, and submit quarterly reports on shipments (including recipient age and carrier details). The bill prohibits selling light wine, beer, or products already available through the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Division, limits annual purchases per consumer, and requires shipments be for personal use only (not resale). It also imposes a tax on direct sales, with part of the revenue directed to mental health programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1176 would allow wine manufacturers (with specific permits) to ship wine directly to Mississippi residents. To qualify, businesses must hold a Class 2 manufacturer’s permit or be licensed outside Mississippi, obtain a direct shipper’s permit, and comply with strict rules: shipments are limited to 72 cases per customer annually, require age verification (21+), and must be labeled with alcohol warnings. The bill prohibits shipping beer, spirits, or light wine, bans deliveries to schools, and requires wine to be for personal use only - no resale allowed. It also establishes a tax on direct wine shipments, with part of the revenue directed to mental health programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1195 prohibits retail electric suppliers (like utility companies) from passing the costs of owning or operating public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to electricity customers (ratepayers). It requires suppliers to file specific tariffs for selling electricity to EV charging station operators, banning demand charges and requiring billing based on kilowatt-hours. The bill also mandates that suppliers operate public EV charging stations through separate subsidiaries on non-discriminatory terms. These requirements would have applied to all rate-regulated suppliers by October 1, 2025, but the bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.