Rep. Fred Shanks

Maddy summaryHB 1199 authorizes Mississippi's Secretary of State to use the existing Land Records Maintenance Fund to contract with vendors for routine upkeep of unredeemed tax-sale lands (blighted properties) that remain unsold. This directly affects counties and municipalities responsible for maintaining these properties, allowing them to cover costs like mowing, debris removal, and minor repairs through competitive vendor contracts. The bill also prevents unspent funds in this dedicated account from lapsing into the General Fund at year-end. While the bill passed the House in January 2025, it died in the Senate Committee on Public Property and Appropriations on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 957 reenacts Mississippi's laws prohibiting bad faith patent infringement claims and extends the expiration date of these provisions from 2023 to July 1, 2028. The law directly affects businesses targeted by patent infringement demands, requiring patent holders to include specific details (like patent numbers and factual allegations) in communications to avoid being deemed bad faith. It establishes remedies for affected businesses, including actual damages, triple punitive damages, and attorney fees if they win a lawsuit against violators. The law also clarifies exemptions for state institutions, universities, and legitimate patent enforcement activities.

Maddy summaryHB 963 extends the deadline for a requirement that three state agencies (Finance, IT Services, and Personnel) assist in merging the State Board of Cosmetology and the Board of Barber Examiners. The bill delays the repealer date for this consolidation assistance provision from July 1, 2028, to a later date specified in the bill. This change directly affects the two licensing boards and the three agencies required to support the merger process. The key provision is simply extending the timeline for agencies to provide administrative support during the consolidation effort.

Maddy summaryHB 968 extends the expiration date of existing rules allowing Mississippi public entities (like schools, hospitals, and government agencies) to enter energy efficiency service contracts. It does not change the contract requirements or definitions but delays when those specific provisions will automatically expire. The bill ensures current energy efficiency contracting rules remain in effect longer, maintaining the process for entities to select qualified energy service providers and use performance-based contracts. This change applies to all public entities currently using or planning such contracts under the existing framework.

Maddy summaryHB 965 extends the expiration date for a provision allowing the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to use interest earnings from certain loans for the MDA's general support. Specifically, it delays the sunset date from July 1, 2028, to a later date (not specified in the text). This change does not alter how the Local Governments Capital Improvements Revolving Loan Fund operates for local governments or the loan terms themselves. The bill directly affects the MDA's budget flexibility by maintaining access to these interest earnings for operational costs, not for employee salary increases. It is a procedural extension of an existing funding mechanism, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 952 extends the expiration date of a Mississippi income tax credit for companies relocating their national or regional headquarters to the state from outside Mississippi. The bill amends Section 57-73-21 to delay the repealer (automatic expiration) of this credit, which currently allows qualifying businesses to receive tax credits based on new job creation. It directly affects companies moving headquarters to Mississippi, maintaining the existing credit structure without changing the dollar amounts or eligibility rules. The extension ensures the credit program remains available for businesses planning relocations or expansions under the current framework. The bill was passed by the House but died in committee on March 4, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 949 extends the expiration date of a Mississippi Department of Corrections program that contracts with Bolivar County Regional Facility for drug and alcohol treatment for up to 250 inmates. The bill specifically delays the program's automatic termination (originally set for July 1, 2028) without altering the program's structure, which includes inmate assessments, intensive treatment, post-release transition planning, and recidivism tracking. It directly affects inmates within 18 months of release who participate in the program, requiring facilities to remove violent or non-participating inmates within 72 hours. The bill died in committee on March 4, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 928 requires all Mississippi hospitals with emergency departments to have at least one qualified healthcare provider (physician, advanced nurse, or nurse practitioner) on duty during every shift who can conduct forensic exams and prepare evidence kits for sexual assault victims. The bill prohibits hospitals from refusing treatment to sexual assault victims and mandates they maintain sufficient evidence kits. It also specifies storage requirements for evidence kits in separate refrigeration units and allows hospitals to contract with forensic nurses for these services. This bill directly affects hospitals operating ERs and ensures timely, specialized medical care for sexual assault survivors in emergency settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1198 requires that land sold at a tax sale automatically transfers to the State of Mississippi if the purchaser does not demand a deed within 90 days after the redemption period ends. The chancery clerk must then certify the land to the Secretary of State within 30 days, and the taxing authority cancels any debt accrued during the redemption period. This applies to lands sold for nonpayment of taxes on or after July 1, 2025. The bill updates procedures for recording such land transfers and ensures the state gains clear title without requiring additional legal action.

Maddy summaryHB 954 is a procedural bill that removes a redundant legal reference. It repeals Section 73-5-45 of Mississippi law, which had previously been used to repeal sections creating the State Board of Barber Examiners (sections 73-5-1 through 73-5-43). These barber board sections were already repealed on January 1, 2025, by a 2024 law that merged the barber board with the Cosmetology Board. The bill serves only as a legal cleanup to eliminate the outdated repealer statute, with no new regulations or direct impact on individuals or businesses.