Maddy summaryHB 750 reenacts and extends Mississippi’s "Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through Business Act" (SMART Business Act), creating a 25% rebate program for investors funding research at Mississippi colleges and research corporations. The bill directly affects private investors and academic institutions by allowing investors to claim rebates up to $1 million annually per project, with the state limiting total annual rebates to $3.5 million. Key mechanisms include requiring research agreements between investors and colleges, mandating applications to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) for approval, and requiring proof of payment for qualified research conducted within Mississippi. The rebate covers 25% of eligible research costs but excludes expenses already funded by grants, out-of-state research, or medical cannabis-related activities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill is a state-level resolution from the Mississippi Legislature urging the U.S. Congress to include authorization for a comprehensive reliability report on Marine Highway 65 in the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. The report would be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and would evaluate the condition, performance history, and risk profile of locks and navigation infrastructure along the waterway corridor, with specific attention to recent failures at the Demopolis, Holt, and Wilson locks. Marine Highway 65 is a critical inland waterway system that supports commercial barge transportation, economic development, and job creation across Mississippi and the southeastern United States. The resolution formally requests federal action to ensure the long-term reliability and resilience of this transportation infrastructure.
Maddy summaryHB 751 extends the expiration date for Mississippi's Capital City Water/Sewer Projects Fund, which provides state funding to support Jackson's water and sewer system upgrades. The bill delays the automatic lapse of unspent funds in the special fund from January 1, 2030, to a later date (though the new date isn't specified in the text). This procedural change directly affects the City of Jackson, which uses the fund for projects like infrastructure repairs and improvements. The bill does not alter the fund's existing structure or create new funding mechanisms - it only postpones when the fund would sunset.
Maddy summaryHB 1630 extends the expiration date of a law requiring Mississippi offenders on probation, parole, or field supervision to pay $55 monthly fees. The current law would end on June 30, 2029, but this bill delays that date, keeping the fee collection authority in effect longer. The collected fees fund the Community Service Revolving Fund, which supports restitution centers, drug identification programs, and supervision services. This change directly affects offenders under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Maddy summaryHB 1763 extends the expiration date of Mississippi's restrictions preventing certain corporations and nonresident aliens from purchasing public lands. Currently, these restrictions (including limits of 320 acres for industrial use and 5 acres for residential use by nonresident aliens) are set to expire on July 1, 2029, but this bill delays that repeal. The law directly affects entities seeking to buy public lands, maintaining existing limitations on ownership by corporations and nonresident aliens. The key mechanism is simply extending the repeal date, preserving the current rules until a later date specified in the final legislation. This is a procedural change to the existing statute, not a policy shift.
Maddy summaryHB 1764 extends the repeal date for Mississippi's statute governing premium payments under the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan. This change keeps the current funding structure in place, ensuring the state continues covering 50% of life insurance costs and 100% of basic health insurance costs (for eligible employees hired before or after January 1, 2006) without disruption. The bill directly affects state employees, public school staff, library workers, and community college employees covered under this insurance plan. It does not alter benefit levels or cost-sharing rules but delays the sunset of the existing funding mechanism.
Maddy summaryHB 1394 repeals the $10 fee for festival permits (currently listed as paragraph (y) in Section 27-71-5) effective July 1, 2026. This change directly affects event organizers and venues holding festival permits under Mississippi's alcohol licensing system. The bill reorganizes existing fee schedules for alcohol permits but does not alter most tax amounts or create new fees. It specifically removes the annual $10 charge for festival permits, which had been scheduled to expire on that date. This is a technical amendment to update the licensing code, not a substantive policy change to alcohol regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends Mississippi's banking commissioner's authority to jointly examine large banks with the Federal Reserve Bank by removing an expiration date. It directly affects Mississippi state-chartered banks with over $1 billion in assets and their holding companies, as the commissioner can now continue joining Federal Reserve examinations without the previous time limit. The key provision deletes a repealer that would have ended this joint examination authority, ensuring the commissioner can maintain collaboration with the Fed for oversight. The change requires no additional costs for banks participating in these joint examinations. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 4099 amends Mississippi's state income tax law (Section 27-7-15) to exclude Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation from taxable "gross income." This directly affects Mississippi student-athletes who earn NIL deals through endorsements, social media, or other commercial opportunities. The bill revises the definition of gross income to specifically exclude NIL compensation, meaning this income will no longer be subject to state income tax. The change applies to income earned by student-athletes under NIL agreements, aligning Mississippi tax treatment with the growing trend of NIL compensation in collegiate athletics.
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.